Master Funakoshi with a Bo.

At the age of 25, Taira Shinken left his work and traveled to mainland Japan intent on studying Judo.  A chance meeting in Tokyo with Gichin Funakoshi, who was working toward popularizing Karate-Do in mainland Japan, resulted in Taira Shinken entering Funakoshi's dojo as a live-in student in September of 1922.  He studied with Funakoshi Sensei for the next eight years, becoming his assistant instructor and one of Funakoshi's closest students.

Taira's interest in Budo did not stop at karate and in May of 1929, with Funakoshi Sensei's recommendation, Taira entered yabiku Moden Sensei's dojo to study Ryukyu Kobudo.

Funakoshi Sensei was working for the promotion of Karate-Do, as well as Ryukyu Kobudo on the Japanese mainland.  Both Yabiku Sensei and Funakoshi Sensei were quite well aquainted, having both received instruction in Shuri-te from Itosu Sensei on Okinawa.