__NOTOC__ Constantino 'Tino' Ceberano (born 24 September 1941) is a

karate (; ; Okinawan language, Okinawan pronunciation: ) is a martial arts, martial art developed in the Ryukyu Kingdom. It developed from the Okinawan martial arts, indigenous Ryukyuan martial arts (called , "hand"; ''tii'' in Okinawan) under the ...

master who is a key figure in Australian martial arts history. He is a direct student of Gōju Kai karate founder

Gōgen Yamaguchi Jitsumi Gōgen Yamaguchi (山口剛玄; January 20, 1909 – May 20, 1989), also known as Gōgen Yamaguchi, was a Japanese martial artist and student of Gōjū-ryū Karate under Chōjun Miyagi. He was one of the most well-known karate-dō ...

(1909–1989).Ceberano Martial Arts Academy: Our history
Retrieved on 15 December 2009. A native of Hawaii, Ceberano moved to Australia in 1966 at Yamaguchi's request, to establish Gōju Kai karate there.

Early life

Ceberano was born on the island of

Kauai Kauai, () anglicized as Kauai ( ), is geologically the second-oldest of the main Hawaiian Islands (after Niʻihau). With an area of 562.3 square miles (1,456.4 km2), it is the fourth-largest of these islands and the 21st largest island ...

, Hawaii,Brennan, K. (1974). "The main thing is the man himself," ''Black Belt'', 12(2):42–46. 24 September 1941. His father was a Filipino migrant who came to Hawaii as a professional boxer - the original spelling of his surname was Sobirano, but it was phonetically transcribed as Ceberano upon arrival.Golden Knights Martial Arts Group: Tino Ceberano
Retrieved on 15 December 2009. His mother was also a Filipino migrant. As a youth, Ceberano studied boxing and judo, attaining black belt ranking in the latter. Ceberano first learned karate, under the name of kempo, from a Korean War veteran. In a later interview, Ceberano said, "I was immediately attracted to karate's discipline, its intricate breathing methods, and the principles of mutual respect. This applied in the dojo, where the opponent or classmate was given equal respect—regardless of size, strength, or ability. And outside the dojo, the same principle was to be applied, regardless of the other man's race, color, or creed. I wasn't long in karate before I noticed all the usual physical benefits, but it was my mental improvement that really impressed me" (Brennan, 1974, pp. 42–43). In 1958, Ceberano's family left Kauai to settle in Honolulu. Ceberano's first Gōju Kai instructors were Anton Navas and Masaichi Oshiro. Ceberano joined the United States Marine Corps in mid-1959. Military life, and the associated travel, made continuity of training difficult, but Ceberano persisted, and attained 1st ''dan'' ranking in Gōju Kai karate under Oshiro in 1963.

Life in Australia

At Yamaguchi's request, Ceberano left Hawaii and moved to Melbourne in October 1966 to help establish Gōju Kai karate in Australia.Golden Knights Martial Arts Group: History
Retrieved on 15 December 2009. Ceberano was ranked 3rd ''dan'' at the time. Ceberano subsequently established a Gōju Kai karate ''dojo'' at Monash University.The origins of Go-Kan-Ryu karate
Retrieved on 19 December 2009. Mervyn Oakley had previously established a Gōju Kai ''dojo'' in New South Wales in 1963,Australian Goju Kai Karate: Merv Oakley
Retrieved on 20 December 2009. and travelled to Melbourne to assist. In 1989, following Yamaguchi's death, a meeting of senior Gōju Kai officials authorised Ceberano to form his own organisation: the International Gōju Karatedo (IGK).Outer Eastern IGK Martial Arts Club: The Goju story
Retrieved on 23 December 2009.
Retrieved on 15 December 2009. Another source, however, states that there was no such meeting, and Ceberano formed his own organisation without higher authorisation. Ceberano attained 7th ''dan'' ranking in February 1992. He played the role of Lau in ''Under the Gun'' (1995).Internet Movie Database: Under the Gun (1995)
Retrieved on 16 December 2009. Ceberano was appointed to the Australasian Sokeship Council in 2007,Australasian Martial Arts Hall of Fame: Historical record of appointment – Australasian Sokeship Council
Retrieved on 21 December 2009. and currently holds the rank of 9th ''dan'', which was awarded in 2008.Outer Eastern IGK Martial Arts Club: Kancho Tino Ceberano
Retrieved on 16 December 2009.

Personal life

Ceberano married Australian wife Cherie (née Joyce) in Melbourne in 1963. They had three children, Paul (a karateka who now runs the Ceberano Martial Arts Academy), Philip (a musician)Reinhold, L.
Phil Ceberano's death-defying wedding!
''Woman's Day''. Retrieved on 16 December 2009. and Catherine, a pop singerWickert, M.
Colin Johns: Hard as a rock-breaker
''Fight Times''. Retrieved on 15 December 2009.Dalton, T. (2007)
Nine lives
''Sunday Times'' (19 May 2007). Retrieved on 19 December 2009.Grant, D. (2009)

(15 August 2009). Retrieved on 19 December 2009. Kate Ceberano
on the SBS '' Who Do You Think You Are?'' site

References

External links

Tino Ceberano Martial Arts Schools - I.G.K.

Tino Ceberano Martial Arts Schools - I.G.K. Headquarters Victoria
Internet Movie Database: Tino Ceberano
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ceberano, Tino Living people 1941 births Australian male karateka American male karateka American people of Filipino descent Karate coaches Sportspeople from Hawaii Kate Ceberano