is a style of 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,...

 founded by Kori Hisataka (Seiki Kudaka in Okinawan) (1907–1988) shortly after World War II

World War II

World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...

 in Japan

Japan

Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...

. It is a unique blend of Okinawan kobudo

Okinawan kobudo

Okinawan kobudō is a Japanese term that can be translated as "old martial way of Okinawa"...

 and Shorinji Ryū Karate

Shorinji Ryu Karate

is a form of karate derived from the teachings of Kanga Sakukawa.-History:The name Sakugawa Koshiki Shorinji-Ryu Karatedo reflects both its orthodox transmission of Sakugawa's techniques and its descent from the original Shaolin system.Sakugawa's student Sokon Matsumura served as security agent for...

, Japan

Japan

Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...

ese aikijujutsu, judo

Judo

is a modern martial art and combat sport created in Japan in 1882 by Jigoro Kano. Its most prominent feature is its competitive element, where the object is to either throw or takedown one's opponent to the ground, immobilize or otherwise subdue one's opponent with a grappling maneuver, or force an...

, kenjutsu

Kenjutsu

, meaning "the method, or technique, of the sword." This is opposed to kendo, which means the way of the sword. Kenjutsu is the umbrella term for all traditional schools of Japanese swordsmanship, in particular those that predate the Meiji Restoration...

, and Chinese

China

Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...

 bājíquán

Bajíquán

Bājíquán is a Chinese martial art that features explosive, short-range power and is famous for its elbow strikes. It originated in Hebei Province in Northern China, but is also well-known in other places today, especially Taiwan...

.
The style is responsible for a number of innovations to karate training including:

• Use of the heel when kicking
• Whole body is put into action when executing a technique, using a follow through motion
• Use of the vertical fist (tate ken)
• Practice of yakusoku kumite
• Use of protective equipment to allow the karatedo student to test their techniques without having to hold back their power
• Practice of weapons (buki ho)

In many aspects, Shorinjiryu Karate has a strong resemblance to Japanese Koryu Budo, in that it has a great emphasis on 2 person pre-arrange drills (yakusoku kumite). One person kata is an important practice, and the main kata taught in the style in its early days were versions of Naihanchin, Nijushiho, Sanchin, Chinto and Kusanku, as well as a Bo (6 ft staff) kata (Shishiryu no Bo), a Jo (4 ft staff) kata and a Sai (iron truncheon) kata (Nijushiho no Sai). Other kata were introduced later, mainly by the son of the founder, Masayuki Hisataka

Masayuki Hisataka

is head of Shorinjiryu Kenkokan Karate.He is a descendant of Seiwa and son of the founder of Shorinjiryu Kenkokan Karate, Kōri Hisataka. He started his training in judo and karate at the age of three and obtained a shodan in both disciplines by the time he was 13.He won the All-Japan Open Karatedo...

.

Following Kori Hisataka's retirement in 1974, his son Masayuki Hisataka

Masayuki Hisataka

is head of Shorinjiryu Kenkokan Karate.He is a descendant of Seiwa and son of the founder of Shorinjiryu Kenkokan Karate, Kōri Hisataka. He started his training in judo and karate at the age of three and obtained a shodan in both disciplines by the time he was 13.He won the All-Japan Open Karatedo...

 took over as head of the organization. He has greatly expanded the reach of the style worldwide and has founded schools and trained karateka all over the world, on every continent. In Australia the mainline Shorinjiryu Kenkokan is directed by Scott Brown Shihan a direct student of Masayuki Hisataka. He has also written two books about Shorinjiryu: "Scientific Karatedo" 1976 and "Essential Shorinjiryu" 1995. Another volume published only in French focused on tournament fighting and other technical aspects. One major innovation has been the koshiki tournament system developed using highly specialized protective equipment for the face and chest area. With controlled strikes to these targets, hand techniques and knees scoring one point and kicks scoring two, koshiki provides a safe, realistic, and effective form of competition and training. Koshiki federations currently exist on every continent and competitions occur regularly at the local, national, and international levels.

Grading structure

Like many styles of karate to date, the grading structure runs on a belt system with black being one of the most prestigious and honorary colours in the belt system. However, the belts do not stop at black belt as it is commonly believed, and instead continues on through to tenth dan, with black belt being the 1st dan which is the 1st belt after the kyu grading system. In all, there are twenty belts to be achieved; and the kyu's go as follows:

• 10th kyu
  Kyu
  is a Japanese term used in martial arts, chadō, ikebana, go, shogi such as Japanese traditional culture, and academic tests and in other similar activities to designate various grades or levels or class of proficiency or experience...
  
   - White
• 9th kyu - Yellow/White stripe
• 8th kyu - Yellow
• 7th kyu - Orange/White Stripe
• 6th kyu - Orange
• 5th kyu - Green/White Stripe
• 4th kyu - Green
• 3rd kyu - Brown/White Stripe
• 2nd kyu - Brown
• 1st kyu - Black/White Stripe

Then finally we move into the dan gradings which start from 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6h, 7th, 8th, 9th and tenth dan.
Currently, in the style of Shorinjiryu Kenkokan Karatedo, Masayuki Hisataka is the only 9th Dan with the title hanshi.

External links

• shorinjiryukenryukan.com
• Shihan Shigeru Ishino