 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
Shukokai Karate, translated liberally means "Way for
All". A more literal translation breaks the name down
to 3 parts which are translated as: Shu can be
translated to mean "Training"; Ko can be translated to
mean "Many people meeting, a crossing or
intersection, to come together."; Kai can be
translated to mean "Association, to train under one
roof." Shukokai is a traditional system of Okinawan
Karate, which has evolved from careful analysis of the
dynamics and principles of traditional karate. The
lineage of Shukokai can be considered a direct
descendant of it's parent style, Shito Ryu.
Shito Ryu Karate is accredited to Soke Kenwa Mabuni
(1890-1952). Mabuni, like many of the old karate
masters, was descended from the Okinawan warrior
class, or bushi. Mabuni family members had served
Okinawan lords for hundreds of years. At 13, Mabuni
became a student of Yasutsune "Ankou" Itosu (1830-
1915). Itosu taught Okinawan Shuri-Te and was
credited as the master who developed the Pinan Kata
and was instrumental in organising early karate into
the Okinawanschool system. Itosu himself was a
student of one of Okinawa's most famous karate
masters, Sokon Matsumura (1792-1887), the forefather
of Shorin-Ryu.
During his teens, Mabuni also studied under Kanryo
Higa(ashi)onna (1853-1915), a teacher of Naha-Te, a
particularly Chinese influenced karate style. Mabuni
was introduced to Higaonna by his friend, Chojun
Miyagi (who went on to become the founder of Goju-
Ryu karate). At this time, Mabuni was a highly
respected police officer, and often visited Japan
following Funakoshi's introduction of karate there in
1922.
In 1929, Mabuni relocated permanently to Osaka. Just
after he took up residence there, the governing body
for martial arts in Japan, the Butokukai, enforced that
all karate schools should officially register by their
style name. Initially, Mabuni named his style Hanko,
meaning "half-hard", but by the early 1930s, he was
using the name Shito-Ryu. Mabuni lived in Osaka
until 1952, devoting his life to promoting his Shito-Ryu
Karate. It was during this lifetime that one of his
students, Chojiro Tani was to further refine the style,
into Shukokai Karate.
Chojiro Tani was born in Kobe, Japan in 1921 and
began studying the art of Karate during Junior High
School at the Gojo School of Karate. He entered
Doshisha University in 1940 and furthered his studies
of karate under the direction of Ken-na Mabuni. Upon
receiving his Menko (Teachers Certificate) from
Kenwa Mabuni, Sensei Tani began teaching Tani-Ha
Shito Ryu at his own Dojo. He proudly hung a wood
carved sign above the entrance which said Shukokai -
"Way for All". He also organised clubs in Kyoto
University and Osaka College of Economics, Tottiro
University and Kobe University Medical School.
Outside of Japan, Tani's style spread mainly in Europe
(Kofukan International). Shigeru Kimura, one of the
students of Chojiro Tani then took Shukokai to Africa
and the United States, whilst Yoshinao Nambu
continued to teach in Europe. When Sensei Tani
retired as Chief Technical Director he appointed
Shigeru Kimura, 9th Dan, (1941—1995) as his
successor. (Kimura pictured in watermark).
Kimura Sensei had won the Japan All-Style
Championship 2 years in a row. After retiring from
active competition, Sensei Kimura established a
reputation of master level Shukokai Karate
throughout the world.
Being a direct descendant of Shito-Ryu, Shukokai
inherits the characteristics of both the Naha-te and
Shuri-te styles of Okinawan Karate. While Shukokai
shares many of the same punches, kicks, and blocks
found in other popular styles of Karate, it is in how
these are executed that sets Shukokai apart.
Sensei Tani and Sensei Kimura made their greatest
contributions to the style by continually refining each
technique to the highest degree, essentially re-
defining the basics that had been practiced for
centuries.
Both made the study of body mechanics their primary
focus with the end result being the delivery of the
greatest impact with the least amount of effort.
Another defining characteristic is that each technique
must be combat effective. Sensei Kimura believed
that a technique, no matter how powerful, was
useless if it could not be delivered under combat
situations.
His philosophy was that the outcome of a
confrontation should be decided in a single
technique, one hit one kill, which was the traditional
way of the Samurai. This drove him to continually
modify and test his technique throughout the course
of his life with the end result being the traditional, yet
combat effective style of Karate we call Shukokai.
Every technique executed within Shukokai has these
principles at it's core.
All". A more literal translation breaks the name down
to 3 parts which are translated as: Shu can be
translated to mean "Training"; Ko can be translated to
mean "Many people meeting, a crossing or
intersection, to come together."; Kai can be
translated to mean "Association, to train under one
roof." Shukokai is a traditional system of Okinawan
Karate, which has evolved from careful analysis of the
dynamics and principles of traditional karate. The
lineage of Shukokai can be considered a direct
descendant of it's parent style, Shito Ryu.
Shito Ryu Karate is accredited to Soke Kenwa Mabuni
(1890-1952). Mabuni, like many of the old karate
masters, was descended from the Okinawan warrior
class, or bushi. Mabuni family members had served
Okinawan lords for hundreds of years. At 13, Mabuni
became a student of Yasutsune "Ankou" Itosu (1830-
1915). Itosu taught Okinawan Shuri-Te and was
credited as the master who developed the Pinan Kata
and was instrumental in organising early karate into
the Okinawanschool system. Itosu himself was a
student of one of Okinawa's most famous karate
masters, Sokon Matsumura (1792-1887), the forefather
of Shorin-Ryu.
During his teens, Mabuni also studied under Kanryo
Higa(ashi)onna (1853-1915), a teacher of Naha-Te, a
particularly Chinese influenced karate style. Mabuni
was introduced to Higaonna by his friend, Chojun
Miyagi (who went on to become the founder of Goju-
Ryu karate). At this time, Mabuni was a highly
respected police officer, and often visited Japan
following Funakoshi's introduction of karate there in
1922.
In 1929, Mabuni relocated permanently to Osaka. Just
after he took up residence there, the governing body
for martial arts in Japan, the Butokukai, enforced that
all karate schools should officially register by their
style name. Initially, Mabuni named his style Hanko,
meaning "half-hard", but by the early 1930s, he was
using the name Shito-Ryu. Mabuni lived in Osaka
until 1952, devoting his life to promoting his Shito-Ryu
Karate. It was during this lifetime that one of his
students, Chojiro Tani was to further refine the style,
into Shukokai Karate.
Chojiro Tani was born in Kobe, Japan in 1921 and
began studying the art of Karate during Junior High
School at the Gojo School of Karate. He entered
Doshisha University in 1940 and furthered his studies
of karate under the direction of Ken-na Mabuni. Upon
receiving his Menko (Teachers Certificate) from
Kenwa Mabuni, Sensei Tani began teaching Tani-Ha
Shito Ryu at his own Dojo. He proudly hung a wood
carved sign above the entrance which said Shukokai -
"Way for All". He also organised clubs in Kyoto
University and Osaka College of Economics, Tottiro
University and Kobe University Medical School.
Outside of Japan, Tani's style spread mainly in Europe
(Kofukan International). Shigeru Kimura, one of the
students of Chojiro Tani then took Shukokai to Africa
and the United States, whilst Yoshinao Nambu
continued to teach in Europe. When Sensei Tani
retired as Chief Technical Director he appointed
Shigeru Kimura, 9th Dan, (1941—1995) as his
successor. (Kimura pictured in watermark).
Kimura Sensei had won the Japan All-Style
Championship 2 years in a row. After retiring from
active competition, Sensei Kimura established a
reputation of master level Shukokai Karate
throughout the world.
Being a direct descendant of Shito-Ryu, Shukokai
inherits the characteristics of both the Naha-te and
Shuri-te styles of Okinawan Karate. While Shukokai
shares many of the same punches, kicks, and blocks
found in other popular styles of Karate, it is in how
these are executed that sets Shukokai apart.
Sensei Tani and Sensei Kimura made their greatest
contributions to the style by continually refining each
technique to the highest degree, essentially re-
defining the basics that had been practiced for
centuries.
Both made the study of body mechanics their primary
focus with the end result being the delivery of the
greatest impact with the least amount of effort.
Another defining characteristic is that each technique
must be combat effective. Sensei Kimura believed
that a technique, no matter how powerful, was
useless if it could not be delivered under combat
situations.
His philosophy was that the outcome of a
confrontation should be decided in a single
technique, one hit one kill, which was the traditional
way of the Samurai. This drove him to continually
modify and test his technique throughout the course
of his life with the end result being the traditional, yet
combat effective style of Karate we call Shukokai.
Every technique executed within Shukokai has these
principles at it's core.
