Toshishiro Obata
Toshishiro Obata is the founder of Shinkendo. He is well known in Japan as a tameshigiri champion for several years in a row and is an authorized shitoka. He studied aikido under Gozo Shioda in the Yoshinkan Honbu Dojo, and studied the sword arts of Nakamura-ryu, Ioriken Battojutsu, Toyama-ryu, Yagyu Shinkage-ryu, Kashima Shin-ryu, Ryukyu Kobudo, and others. He moved to America in 1980 to start teaching and to develop his own sword art, based on his extensive experience. In 1990, the International Shinkendo Federation was officially established. The federation has grown to 80 branches internationally, and continues to expand. Obata, as the founder of the school, is referred to as Obata Kaiso by his students, and continues to travel across the globe to hold seminars for his students around the world.
Since 1986, Obata has appeared in several Hollywood films.
Acting
Movie
Demolition Man
as CryoCon
1993
Movie
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
as Tatsu
1990
Movie
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze
as Tatsu
1991
Movie
Black Rain
as Mediator
1989
Movie
Rising Sun
as Guard at Imperial Arms
1993
Movie
The Shadow
as Mongol
1994
TV
Walker, Texas Ranger
as Japanese Karate Instructor
1993
Movie
Showdown in Little Tokyo
as Sato
1991
Movie
The Hunted
as Ryuma
1995
Movie
China O'Brien
as Sommers's Henchmen Fighter (uncredited)
1990
Movie
China O'Brien II
as Man with Claws
1990
Movie
Rage and Honor
as Chan Lu
1992
Movie
Ghost Warrior
as Japanese Officer
1984
Movie
Blue Tiger
as Kunimatsu
1994
Movie
Red Sun Rising
as Oyabun
1994
Movie
The Sword of Bushido
as Yamaguchi
1990
Movie
Ulterior Motives
as Bull Neck Yakuza
1993
Movie
The Samurai
as self / swordsman
2003