Constantino ‘Tino’ Ceberano is a karate master who is a key figure in Australian martial arts history. He is a direct student of Gōju Kai karate founder Gōgen Yamaguchi (1909–1989). A native of Hawaii, Ceberano moved to Australia in 1966 at Yamaguchi’s request, to establish Gōju Kai karate there.
Hanshi Tino Ceberano, our Master, trained under Gogen Yamaguchi and fulfilled his vision to bring and grow Goju karate in Australia. Hanshi Tino provided further refinement to the Goju style which he entitled International Goju Karate (IGK), aiming to maintain the traditional roots from which Goju stems.
From small beginnings the Melbourne school of Goju karate has grown and multiplied and is probably the most widely practiced of the styles in Australia. This is due in no small part to the skill and dedication of Tino Ceberano Hanshi.
Tino Ceberano Hanshi has travelled back and forth to Japan on many occasions for his own and for his students’ senior gradings, as well as taking teams across and hosting international teams here in Australia, all to maintain a standard at least equal to any karate anywhere in the world.
He maintains this standard through his control of the quality of his instructors and by maintaining a vigil by visiting dojos Australia wide, but perhaps mostly by his own rigorous training routine which maintains his position of Chief Instructor, in charge of the I.G.K.
With his involvement on the international karate scene over many years as Chief Referee of World Union of Karate Organisations (WUKO), as well as holding the title of Vice President of the same organisation (the most prestigious in the karate world) the reputation of his students is recognized, not only Australia wide, but throughout the karate world. He was without question the best known karate-ka (one who studies karate) in Australia.
In 2003, Tino Ceberano Hanshi was promoted to 8th dan and in 2006 was inducted into the Australasian Martial Arts Hall of Fame. In 2008, Tino Ceberano Hanshi was awarded his highest honour with his elevation to 9th Dan.