Daishi Jorge Sosa, Pioneered Karatedo
Shito Ryu in Latin America

round the globe is well known that Soke Jorge Sosa was the sole responsible for the introduction, strenghtening and development of the Shito Ryu school in Latin América.
Daishi Sosa Sr. began his martial arts career in 1943, with Sensei Silvestre Mendez, who trained him in the art of Jujitsu or Jujutsu. Later he began to train in the art of Judo, being his first experiences in a Dojo in San Antonio, Texas. He then received technical support from German Sensei Peter Zpats, to continue later with the help of Sensei Yasuo Nakayama from Japan.
Sensei Nakayama introduced him to Sensei Nobuyoshi Murata, who began to train him in the art of KarateDo. Subsequently, Daishi Jorge Sosa Sr. receives training from Nidaime Kenei Mabuni in Mexico City, Guatemala, and Japan respectively. Daishi Sosa Sr., due to his dedication and effort is appointed by the Nidaime Mabuni and Daishi Nobuyoshi Murata, as the Representative for Guatemala and all Latin America, receiving such representation on October 1, 1962.
From that moment on, Daishi Jorge Sosa Sr. dedicated himself to the task of introducing and expanding Karatedo and other martial arts, first in Central America, and later in the Caribbean and South America. He then introduced it in the United States and Canada. His greatest achievements have been to be certified as the First World Referee of the American Continent in Japan, to be the first foreigner to train in several private places in Honshu, Japan, to be a member of the examination committee of referees in France, Paris in 1972, to be named the Father of Karatedo in Guatemala, as well as one of the introducers of Judo, Kendo, and Ryu Kyu Kobudo in Guatemala.
Daishi Sosa Sr. has left a great legacy that today is practiced in several countries around the world, such as: United States, Canada, Mexico, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, India, Sri Lanka, and Nepal.

About the author

This article was written by Maritza Stinson, our in-house Budo historian dedicated to research and document the different ways Japanese Martial Arts came to America.