Takayuki Kubota

Takayuki Kubota, also known as Tak Kubota (1934 to 2024), was a Japanese and American karateka who founded the Gosoku-ryu style of karate and held the title of soke. Born in Kumamoto, he began martial arts training with his father at the age of four, taught hand-to-hand and baton combat to Tokyo police officers from 1947, and moved to the United States in the 1960s. He founded and presided over the International Karate Association, taught self-defense to military, law enforcement and civilian personnel, worked as a stuntman and actor, and invented and trademarked the Kubotan self-defense key chain. At his death he held a 10th dan in karate and black belts in judo, aikido, kendo and iaido.