When I first saw Master Shimabuku demonstrate, I was astounded!  There were three or four attackers being hit, kicked, thrown down and jumped on.  Two were high-ranked Okinawan Black Belts and two were Marines (the dojo was close to a couple of Marine bases)who were bigger than me.  I almost felt sorry for them because I could see their grimaces in their faces when they were hit or kicked.  Even though the Master was obviously holding back, it still was genuine pain.  I am 6', 195 pounds, was then about 180 pounds.  Master Shimabuku was 5'3" and 135 pounds.  But he struck fear and much respect in me and his GI students.  I stayed loyal and trained with Master Shimabuku for 30 years.  I have always revered him as my first main master.  I travelled back to Okinawa and across the county when he went to America on teaching tours.  I was promoted to the highest rank in the world, 8th degree Black Belt under the All Japan Karate Association.  Special Note:  Not only did Grandmaster Kanken Toyama promote Master Shimabuku, but he also signed my original Black Belt certificate.  I can't tell you how valuable that is to me.  I even have his original books from his Japan dojo, all in Japanese, of course.  They are autographed by Hidetaka Nishiyama, the current Grandmaster of Shotokan.  This was because he also was a brand new beginner under Toyama Sensei first.  Later, he trained with Gigen Funakoshi Sensei, who was a 5th Dan from Okinawa (and his direct disciple, Masatoshi Nakayama).  Funakoshi had trained in the very same system in Okinawa under a great master that Shimabuku trained under.  I also trained with Mr. Nishiyama and belonged to his organization, A.A.K.F. (still do) for 50 years.  I have the original karate textbook edition printed in 1960, which is autographed to me.  The cover was made of tatami and printed by Charles E. Tuttle, Tokyo, Japan.  I was the first person in history to be granted a lifetime membership to A.A.K.F., member #001.  
    The many karate masters, their styles, other martial arts I have earned rank in plus my adventures traveling around the world to train with the great masters, will all be provided in my new book that I am now writing.