Tino Ceberano

Constantino 'Tino' Ceberano (born c. 1942) 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.

Early life

Ceberano was born on the island of Kauai, Hawaii, around 1942. His father was a Filipino migrant who came to Hawaii as a professional boxer. 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).