The term Blue Wave was meant to denote youthful spirit and vitality. Lee moved to Japan when he was 19 years old in 1926. After attending middle school and high school in Japan, he then entered the law school of Chuo University. He then enrolled at Japan's Karate headquarters, the Song Do Kwan (Shotokan). Lee received Karate instruction from Shotokan Karate's father, Sensei Gichin Funakoshi. There, he also studied Karate with Byung Jick Ro, who would go on to found Song Moo Kwan.