Taira san is a phenomenal martial arts exponent. Born and raised on Kume Island in Okinawa, he began his karate training at age 16 under the instruction of world renowned Karate Master Eiichi Miyazato Sensei. Upon graduating from High School Taira Sensei entered the police force. There, as a member of the riot police, he spent his days training Judo and Okinawa Goju Ryu Karate. To further illustrate how awesome this man is, determined not to be bettered by anyone he trained Judo from 9am until 5pm attaining his Shodan in Judo after just two months. His day as a member of the riot squad ended at 5pm whereby he would make the journey from Gushikawa City where he was stationed to the Jundokan in Naha where from 6pm to 10pm every night he would pursue his karate training with an equal dedication under the guidance of the late Eiichi Miyazato Sensei, founder of the Jundokan and heir to Chojun Miyagi Sensei. Thus Taira Sensei began a more than 39 year journey to karate perfection. A journey, he will tell anyone who is listening, is far from over yet.

While in his early years at the Jundokan he met a senior in the Dojo by the name of Shinko Gima Sensei. Gima Sensei is a very wiry, extremely strong man whose kata exudes power. Although a slight man, he is formidable in his speed and execution of technique. Realising they were on a similar path the two men teamed up and spent their time in the dojo training together. Both hating to lose there were many battle scars received on both sides. After the dojo on many occasions, taken by the spirit of perfecting their technique, they would make their way to the hills of Madanbashi approximately an hours walk from the Jundokan. There they would spend their time training until sunrise on some occasions. Being the hills and given Okinawa's tropical climate, the mosquito's were always in abundant supply giving them all the more reason to keep moving.

Taira Sensei painstakingly dissected the kata and trained his body to the point where he has mastered the inner workings of Goju Ryu Kata. He is now considered to be one of the world's leading exponents in the practical application of Goju Ryu Karate. His bunkai (application of the kata) are truly breathtaking. Even more so is his ability apply the kata in practical situations without altering the form.

In March of this year he retired from the police force and, at 55 years old, he has dedicated himself to the perfection of what he has already developed. This man must be seen to be believed.