==Early life== Demura was born on September 15, 1938, in Yokohama, Japan. At the age of 9, he began training in karate and kendo under an instructor named Asano. At the age of 12 he started training under Ryusho Sakagami in Itosu-kai karate. Demura received his 1st dan black belt in 1956, and won the East Japan Championships in 1957. In 1959, he b...