Kenkojuku
Encyclopedia
Kenkojuku is a style of Shotokan
karate
similar to JKA style (which it predates by about 5 years). It was founded by the master Tomosaburo Okano. Kenkojuku karate is much more similar to the original teachings of Gichin Funakoshi
, and Funakoshi's son Yoshitaka (Gigo) Funakoshi, who introduced innovations such as jiyu kumite
(free sparring) and the high kicks such as mawashi geri
(roundhouse kick), yoko geri (side kick), and others. JKA Shotokan differs slightly in that it was Masatoshi Nakayama's version of Shotokan. However Okano's/Yoshitaka's Kenkojuku karate and JKA are becoming more similar among each other, than the other types of Shotokan such as Shigeru Egami
's Shotokai.
General description=
Since the style is more biomechanicaly sounded and self - defense oriented, there are notable differences in the way certain techniques are performed in Kenkojuku karate: the age-uke ( or rising block is performed using the outer flat part of the forearm and not the ulna bone as the usual jodan uke or high block), there is a wider arc made at the start- up position for the soto uke
or outside block, the double hand blocks have various "hands together" start-up positions, it originally had more demanding kokutsu dachi and neko ashi dachi stances, a more vertical shuto uke (or sabre hand block/ check), the mawashi geri
or roundhouse kick is performed in a slight downward angle, there are other variations within the movements of intermediate and advanced kata; for example: the kata
Niseishi (Chito Ryu version) is often included in the syllabus instead of the kata Nijūshiho
), in the kata Bassai, the " yama tsuki" or mountain punch is performed in a shorter arc. Finally, the free fighting position or "ju- dachi" is similar to a crouching lunge position holding both fists in a vertical forward position, protecting the body's center line resembling the way a japanese saber or katana
is held, and the style's kumite
is more focused on continuous fighting, and combinations like in boxing, rather than the usual stop-and-start sport kumite for points, or WKF sport karate kumite.
Kenkojuku karate also includes both traditional okinawan and japanese weapons training (kata and kumite) in kobudo
(bō
, tonfa
, sai
, nunchaku
, tekko
), and kendo
(japanese sabre) and Iaido
(japanese sabre drawing and cutting) within its syllabus.
Kenkojuku comes under the jurisdiction of the Kenkojuku Karate Association, which was founded by Tomosaburo Okano, a student of Gichin Funakoshi
, and a lead of the school of Shotokan
karate
. The association's motto is "Inner Strength with Outward Humility." Since Okano's passing the Kenkojuku Budokan is now run by his son Tomokatsu Okano, from the style's hombu dojo located in:
8-5, Minami-cho
Hachioji-Shi
Tokyo, 192
Japan.
The founder and chief instructor of the Kenkojuku Shotokan Federation was Tomosaburo Okano. Born in 1922, he was a direct student of Gichin Funakoshi
. He was a member of Funakoshi's karate association the Dai Nihon Karate-do Shotokai.
In 1942, Okano was given permission to start a karate research club named Kenkokai Karate-bu in his hometown of Hachiōji, Tokyo
. The club was started with the help of Suzuki Shinjo, Kaneko Isamu and Takagi Yoshitomo. He renamed the dojo Kenkojuku Budokan in 1948.
Okano's karate was influenced by both Gichin and Gigo Funakoshi, and eventually this branch of Shotokan became known as Kenkojuku Shotokan. He retained the Shotokai lineage as well as the name Shotokan.
Okano was on the panel of Masters of the Japan Karate-do Federation (JKF) and was declared a Living National Treasure of Japan before he died on July 19, 2003, at the age of 81.
Some of his most famous students were/are Takeshi Akuzawa, Toyotaro Miyazaki
, Kazuo Kuriyama, Masakazu Takahashi, Koji Sugimoto, Minoru Horie, John Slocum, Larry Durst, Ted Ratich, Bernard Pierce, Fred Hamilton, Stuart Hirschfield.
was born in Tokyo, Japan, and began his karate training at the age of 15 under Tomasaburo Okano at the Kenkojuku dojo. He trained in Shotokan Karate in Japan until his mid twenties, before going to the United States. He achieved fame as a fierce competitor in both kata and kumite. His skills put him on the covers of Black Belt magazine, Karate Illustrated and Official Karate.
Having been established in Flushing, New York over 30 years, Miyazaki taught thousands of students and has produced hundreds of black belts
, some of whom have become instructors at their own karate dojos.
Miyazaki was a former instructor of the Long Island University
Karate Instructor's Certification program. He is currently Head of the International Shotokai Federation. He retired from teaching in 2004.
Takahashi is an 8th degree Black Belt and head of the United States Kenkojuku Karate Association. Takahashi began his karate training in 1961 under Tomosaburo Okano. In 1971, he traveled to America to begin his teaching career in Kenkojuku karate. Originally teaching in Queens
, he has two dojos located in Mt. Kisco and Amityville, New York
that have been established for more than 20 years.
.
In 1970 Sugimoto Shihan was ranked one of the top ten in kumite in all of Tokyo. He has competed, judged, and refereed in the Far East, Europe, South America and the United States during 40 years. Under the guidance of Shihan Koji Sugimoto the Kenkojuku Shotokan style of karate is taught in Kenkojuku dojos throughout the United States, Europe, South and Central America, and the Caribbean.
His son kenji competes regularly in Mixed Martial Arts tournaments.
Shotokan
is a style of karate, developed from various martial arts by Gichin Funakoshi and his son Gigo Funakoshi . Gichin was born in Okinawa and is widely credited with popularizing karate through a series of public demonstrations, and by promoting the development of university karate clubs, including...
karate
Karate
is a martial art developed in the Ryukyu Islands in what is now Okinawa, Japan. It was developed from indigenous fighting methods called and Chinese kenpō. Karate is a striking art using punching, kicking, knee and elbow strikes, and open-handed techniques such as knife-hands. Grappling, locks,...
similar to JKA style (which it predates by about 5 years). It was founded by the master Tomosaburo Okano. Kenkojuku karate is much more similar to the original teachings of Gichin Funakoshi
Gichin Funakoshi
was the creator of Shotokan karate, perhaps the most widely known style of karate, and is attributed as being the 'father of modern karate.' Following the teachings of Anko Itosu, he was one of the Okinawan karate masters who introduced karate to the Japanese mainland in 1921...
, and Funakoshi's son Yoshitaka (Gigo) Funakoshi, who introduced innovations such as jiyu kumite
Kumite
Kumite means sparring, and is one of the three main sections of karate training, along with kata and kihon. Kumite is the part of karate in which you train against an adversary, using the techniques learned from the kihon and kata....
(free sparring) and the high kicks such as mawashi geri
Mawashi geri
can be translated as "spin kick", although it is also sometimes referred to as a roundhouse kick. It is a kick used in Japanese martial arts.-Technique:Mawashi-geri may be executed from a variety of stances, and there are several methods of proper execution...
(roundhouse kick), yoko geri (side kick), and others. JKA Shotokan differs slightly in that it was Masatoshi Nakayama's version of Shotokan. However Okano's/Yoshitaka's Kenkojuku karate and JKA are becoming more similar among each other, than the other types of Shotokan such as Shigeru Egami
Shigeru Egami
was a pioneering Japanese master of Shotokan karate who founded the Shōtōkai style. He was a student of Gichin Funakoshi, who is widely recognized as the founder of modern karate.-Early life:...
's Shotokai.
General description=
Since the style is more biomechanicaly sounded and self - defense oriented, there are notable differences in the way certain techniques are performed in Kenkojuku karate: the age-uke ( or rising block is performed using the outer flat part of the forearm and not the ulna bone as the usual jodan uke or high block), there is a wider arc made at the start- up position for the soto uke
Soto uke
A soto uke is a karate blocking technique used for blocking mid-level incoming attacks. It is translated as "From outside block" like in O Soto Gari , which comes from the block's final resting point centered on the blocker's body.Soto uke is performed by bringing one hand to the ear, keeping the...
or outside block, the double hand blocks have various "hands together" start-up positions, it originally had more demanding kokutsu dachi and neko ashi dachi stances, a more vertical shuto uke (or sabre hand block/ check), the mawashi geri
Mawashi geri
can be translated as "spin kick", although it is also sometimes referred to as a roundhouse kick. It is a kick used in Japanese martial arts.-Technique:Mawashi-geri may be executed from a variety of stances, and there are several methods of proper execution...
or roundhouse kick is performed in a slight downward angle, there are other variations within the movements of intermediate and advanced kata; for example: the kata
Kata
is a Japanese word describing detailed choreographed patterns of movements practised either solo or in pairs. The term form is used for the corresponding concept in non-Japanese martial arts in general....
Niseishi (Chito Ryu version) is often included in the syllabus instead of the kata Nijūshiho
Nijushiho
Nijūshiho is an advanced kata practiced in Shotokan karate.The origin of Nijūshiho is unknown, but it is presumed that it originates from one of the Chinese "Dragon" styles. In introducing karate from Okinawa to Japan, Gichin Funakoshi changed the name of the kata from Niseishi to Nijūshiho...
), in the kata Bassai, the " yama tsuki" or mountain punch is performed in a shorter arc. Finally, the free fighting position or "ju- dachi" is similar to a crouching lunge position holding both fists in a vertical forward position, protecting the body's center line resembling the way a japanese saber or katana
Katana
A Japanese sword, or , is one of the traditional bladed weapons of Japan. There are several types of Japanese swords, according to size, field of application and method of manufacture.-Description:...
is held, and the style's kumite
Kumite
Kumite means sparring, and is one of the three main sections of karate training, along with kata and kihon. Kumite is the part of karate in which you train against an adversary, using the techniques learned from the kihon and kata....
is more focused on continuous fighting, and combinations like in boxing, rather than the usual stop-and-start sport kumite for points, or WKF sport karate kumite.
Kenkojuku karate also includes both traditional okinawan and japanese weapons training (kata and kumite) in kobudo
Kobudo
or Ko-budō, a Japanese term meaning "old martial way", may refer to:* Koryū: in contrast to budō, which has become more competitive, a type of martial art which has kept its ancient mode of training and has been preserved and handed down from generation to generation .* Okinawan kobudō: the martial...
(bō
Bo
-People:*Bo , name origin, plus people with the name*Bo , name origin, plus people with the surname**Bo , Chinese family names*Bo people , extinct minority population in Southern China famous for hanging coffins...
, tonfa
Tonfa
The tonfa , also known as tong fa or tuifa, is an Okinawan weapon. It is a stick with a handle, and is about 15-20 inches long. It was traditionally made from red oak and wielded in pairs...
, sai
Sai
-Education:*self-accrediting institution, a three-letter acronym in use in higher education in Australia to describe universities and other SAIs-Fiction:*Fujiwara no Sai, a character in Hikaru no Go media*Sai , a character in Naruto media...
, nunchaku
Nunchaku
is a traditional Okinawan weapon consisting of two sticks connected at their ends with a short chain or rope.-Etymology:The Japanese word nunchaku is the Kun'yomi reading of the Kanji term for a traditional Chinese two section staff....
, tekko
Tekko
The , which originated in Okinawa, Japan, falls into the category of a "fist-load weapon".By definition, a fist-load weapon increases the mass of the hand so that, given the physical proportionality between the fist's momentum and its mass, it increases the force the bearer can deliver...
), and kendo
Kendo
, meaning "Way of The Sword", is a modern Japanese martial art of sword-fighting based on traditional Japanese swordsmanship, or kenjutsu.Kendo is a physically and mentally challenging activity that combines strong martial arts values with sport-like physical elements.-Practitioners:Practitioners...
(japanese sabre) and Iaido
Iaido
is a modern Japanese martial art associated with the smooth, controlled movements of drawing the sword from its scabbard, striking or cutting an opponent, removing blood from the blade, and then replacing the sword in the scabbard...
(japanese sabre drawing and cutting) within its syllabus.
Kenkojuku comes under the jurisdiction of the Kenkojuku Karate Association, which was founded by Tomosaburo Okano, a student of Gichin Funakoshi
Gichin Funakoshi
was the creator of Shotokan karate, perhaps the most widely known style of karate, and is attributed as being the 'father of modern karate.' Following the teachings of Anko Itosu, he was one of the Okinawan karate masters who introduced karate to the Japanese mainland in 1921...
, and a lead of the school of Shotokan
Shotokan
is a style of karate, developed from various martial arts by Gichin Funakoshi and his son Gigo Funakoshi . Gichin was born in Okinawa and is widely credited with popularizing karate through a series of public demonstrations, and by promoting the development of university karate clubs, including...
karate
Karate
is a martial art developed in the Ryukyu Islands in what is now Okinawa, Japan. It was developed from indigenous fighting methods called and Chinese kenpō. Karate is a striking art using punching, kicking, knee and elbow strikes, and open-handed techniques such as knife-hands. Grappling, locks,...
. The association's motto is "Inner Strength with Outward Humility." Since Okano's passing the Kenkojuku Budokan is now run by his son Tomokatsu Okano, from the style's hombu dojo located in:
8-5, Minami-cho
Hachioji-Shi
Tokyo, 192
Japan.
Tomosaburo Okano
Gichin Funakoshi
was the creator of Shotokan karate, perhaps the most widely known style of karate, and is attributed as being the 'father of modern karate.' Following the teachings of Anko Itosu, he was one of the Okinawan karate masters who introduced karate to the Japanese mainland in 1921...
. He was a member of Funakoshi's karate association the Dai Nihon Karate-do Shotokai.
In 1942, Okano was given permission to start a karate research club named Kenkokai Karate-bu in his hometown of Hachiōji, Tokyo
Hachioji, Tokyo
is a city located in Tokyo, Japan, about 40 kilometers west of the center of the special wards of Tokyo.As of January 1, 2010, the city has an estimated population of 551,901 and a population density of 2,962.27/km². The total area is 186.31 km². It is the eighth largest city in the...
. The club was started with the help of Suzuki Shinjo, Kaneko Isamu and Takagi Yoshitomo. He renamed the dojo Kenkojuku Budokan in 1948.
Okano's karate was influenced by both Gichin and Gigo Funakoshi, and eventually this branch of Shotokan became known as Kenkojuku Shotokan. He retained the Shotokai lineage as well as the name Shotokan.
Okano was on the panel of Masters of the Japan Karate-do Federation (JKF) and was declared a Living National Treasure of Japan before he died on July 19, 2003, at the age of 81.
Some of his most famous students were/are Takeshi Akuzawa, Toyotaro Miyazaki
Toyotaro Miyazaki
Master Toyotaro Miyazaki is the Head of the International Shotokai Federation.Master Miyazaki, who was born September 25, 1944 in Tokyo, Japan, began his karate training at the age of 15 under Master Tomasaburo Okano at the Kenkojyuku Dojo...
, Kazuo Kuriyama, Masakazu Takahashi, Koji Sugimoto, Minoru Horie, John Slocum, Larry Durst, Ted Ratich, Bernard Pierce, Fred Hamilton, Stuart Hirschfield.
Toyotaro Miyazaki
Toyotaro MiyazakiToyotaro Miyazaki
Master Toyotaro Miyazaki is the Head of the International Shotokai Federation.Master Miyazaki, who was born September 25, 1944 in Tokyo, Japan, began his karate training at the age of 15 under Master Tomasaburo Okano at the Kenkojyuku Dojo...
was born in Tokyo, Japan, and began his karate training at the age of 15 under Tomasaburo Okano at the Kenkojuku dojo. He trained in Shotokan Karate in Japan until his mid twenties, before going to the United States. He achieved fame as a fierce competitor in both kata and kumite. His skills put him on the covers of Black Belt magazine, Karate Illustrated and Official Karate.
Having been established in Flushing, New York over 30 years, Miyazaki taught thousands of students and has produced hundreds of black belts
Black belt (martial arts)
In martial arts, the black belt is a way to describe a graduate of a field where a practitioner's level is often marked by the color of the belt. The black belt is commonly the highest belt color used and denotes a degree of competence. It is often associated with a teaching grade though...
, some of whom have become instructors at their own karate dojos.
Miyazaki was a former instructor of the Long Island University
Long Island University
Long Island University is a private, coeducational, nonsectarian institution of higher education in the U.S. state of New York.-History:...
Karate Instructor's Certification program. He is currently Head of the International Shotokai Federation. He retired from teaching in 2004.
Masakazu Takahashi
Queens
Queens is the easternmost of the five boroughs of New York City. The largest borough in area and the second-largest in population, it is coextensive with Queens County, an administrative division of New York state, in the United States....
, he has two dojos located in Mt. Kisco and Amityville, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
that have been established for more than 20 years.
Koji Sugimoto
Shihan Koji Sugimoto is a 7th degree Black Belt, He was born in Tokyo, Japan in 1947. At the age of fourteen he began his study of karate under Master Tomosaburo Okano, one of the original students of Master Gichin Funakoshi, founder of the Shotokan kenkojuku style of karate. Shihan Sugimoto continues to expand his knowledge and skills of the art of karate under Master Okano to the present. he currently teaches in Miami, FloridaFlorida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
.
In 1970 Sugimoto Shihan was ranked one of the top ten in kumite in all of Tokyo. He has competed, judged, and refereed in the Far East, Europe, South America and the United States during 40 years. Under the guidance of Shihan Koji Sugimoto the Kenkojuku Shotokan style of karate is taught in Kenkojuku dojos throughout the United States, Europe, South and Central America, and the Caribbean.
His son kenji competes regularly in Mixed Martial Arts tournaments.
External links
- Kenkojuku Budokan World Honbu (Tomosaburo Okano & Tomokatsu Okano)
- International Shotojuku Federation (Toyotaro Miyazaki & Kai Leung)
- USA Kenkojuku Association (Masakazu Takahashi)
- Shotokan Kenkojuku Karate Federation (Koji Sugimoto)
- Kenkojuku Karate of South Jersey (Andrew Faupel)
- Kenkojuku Style of Shotokan (Jimmy Bowden)
- Original Miyazaki Karate Dojo (Defunct) (Toyotaro Miyazaki)
- http://www.shotokanforever.com/