Shūkōkai
Encyclopedia
is a group of closely related styles of Karate
, based on Tani-ha Shitō-ryū, a branch of Shitō-ryū developed by Chōjirō Tani in the late 1940s, and refined by his student Shigeru Kimura.
in Kyoto
. After a few years, Miyagi Chōjun returned to Okinawa and the founder of Shitō-ryū, Kenwa Mabuni
took over the teaching. Upon graduating from university, Tani began learning Shuri-te and then Shitō-ryū from Mabuni as well. After many years of training under Mabuni and becoming one of his most senior students, Tani received the certificate of succession from him and became the head of Shitō-ryū, enabling him to use the name Tani-ha Shitoryu.
Chōjirō Tani began teaching the Karate style Shūkōkai (meaning the way for all) at a dojo
in Kobe
, Japan
in 1946. Shūkōkai was designed around the study of body mechanics, is very fast due to its relatively high stance aiding mobility, and is known for the double hip twist, which maximises the force of its strikes; making it one of the most hard-hitting Karate styles.
Tani's most senior student, Sensei Shigeru Kimura, left Japan in 1965 to teach Shūkōkai in Africa
. He developed Shukokai even further, emphasising its power and strength; and was regarded as an expert on the style. He continued to teach after travelling to Europe
, before settling in the United States
in 1970 at the age of 29, where he taught at Yonezuka's Cranford dojo for two years; creating the first Shukokai World Tournament in 1981. When he was 37 years old, he was the youngest ever to have held the 7th Dan with an acknowledged style. Sensei Kimura died of a heart attack at the age of 54. Tani died on 11 January 1998.
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,...
, based on Tani-ha Shitō-ryū, a branch of Shitō-ryū developed by Chōjirō Tani in the late 1940s, and refined by his student Shigeru Kimura.
History
Chōjirō Tani (谷 長治郎 Tani Chōjirō) was born in 1921, and started his formal karate training under Miyagi Chōjun, who founded the Gojū-ryū style, while a student at the Doshisha UniversityDoshisha University
, or is a prestigious private university in Kyoto, Japan. The university has approximately 27,000 students on three campuses, in faculties of theology, letters, law, commerce, economics, policy, and engineering...
in Kyoto
Kyoto
is a city in the central part of the island of Honshū, Japan. It has a population close to 1.5 million. Formerly the imperial capital of Japan, it is now the capital of Kyoto Prefecture, as well as a major part of the Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto metropolitan area.-History:...
. After a few years, Miyagi Chōjun returned to Okinawa and the founder of Shitō-ryū, Kenwa Mabuni
Kenwa Mabuni
was one of the first karateka to teach karate on mainland Japan and is creditied as developing the style known as Shitō-ryū .-Achievements:# Funakoshi Gichin learned kata from Kenwa Mabuni: In order to expand his knowledge he sent his son Gigō to study kata in Mabuni's dōjō in Osaka.# Kenwa Mabuni,...
took over the teaching. Upon graduating from university, Tani began learning Shuri-te and then Shitō-ryū from Mabuni as well. After many years of training under Mabuni and becoming one of his most senior students, Tani received the certificate of succession from him and became the head of Shitō-ryū, enabling him to use the name Tani-ha Shitoryu.
Chōjirō Tani began teaching the Karate style Shūkōkai (meaning the way for all) at a dojo
Dojo
A is a Japanese term which literally means "place of the way". Initially, dōjōs were adjunct to temples. The term can refer to a formal training place for any of the Japanese do arts but typically it is considered the formal gathering place for students of any Japanese martial arts style to...
in Kobe
Kobe
, pronounced , is the fifth-largest city in Japan and is the capital city of Hyōgo Prefecture on the southern side of the main island of Honshū, approximately west of Osaka...
, 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...
in 1946. Shūkōkai was designed around the study of body mechanics, is very fast due to its relatively high stance aiding mobility, and is known for the double hip twist, which maximises the force of its strikes; making it one of the most hard-hitting Karate styles.
Tani's most senior student, Sensei Shigeru Kimura, left Japan in 1965 to teach Shūkōkai in Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
. He developed Shukokai even further, emphasising its power and strength; and was regarded as an expert on the style. He continued to teach after travelling to Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, before settling in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1970 at the age of 29, where he taught at Yonezuka's Cranford dojo for two years; creating the first Shukokai World Tournament in 1981. When he was 37 years old, he was the youngest ever to have held the 7th Dan with an acknowledged style. Sensei Kimura died of a heart attack at the age of 54. Tani died on 11 January 1998.
Grading
The white belt (10th Kyu) is assigned to beginning students, who then progress to brown belt (1st Kyu), before reaching black belt (Dan). Certain Shukokai Karate associations do not have a red belt grade, making the white belt a ninth Kyu. In addition, certain associations also require a probationary black belt grade (Shodan-Ho) before progressing to fully fledged dan grading.| Shūkōkai Karate Belt Order | |
| Black (Dan) | |
| Brown (3rd, 2nd and 1st Kyu) | |
| Purple (4th Kyu) | |
| Blue (5th Kyu) | |
| Green (6th Kyu) | |
| Orange (7th Kyu) | |
| Yellow (8th Kyu) | |
| Red (9th Kyu) | |
| White (10th Kyu) |
Branches
Shūkōkai split into several independent branches throughout the world- Kimura Shukokai International grew out of the Shūkōkai school taught since 1978 in Hackensack, New JerseyHackensack, New JerseyHackensack is a city in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States and the county seat of Bergen County. Although informally called Hackensack, it was officially named New Barbadoes Township until 1921. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was 43,010....
, USA and later in Tenafly, New JerseyTenafly, New JerseyTenafly is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 census, the borough population was 14,488. Tenafly is an affluent suburb of New York City....
by Shigeru Kimura, a long time student of Tani. After Kimura's death in 1995, this international organization was formed to promote his style, co-led by his four senior students: Eddie Daniels, head of Shukokai Karate Federation, Bill Bressaw, head of American Shukokai Karate Union, Chris Thomson and Lionel Marinus of South Africa. This branch has also been brought to the forefront by Gavin Armstrong who still maintains a dojo in Tenafly, New JerseyTenafly, New JerseyTenafly is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 census, the borough population was 14,488. Tenafly is an affluent suburb of New York City....
, and Ken Domney who maintains a dojo in Ridgewood, New JerseyRidgewood, New JerseyRidgewood is a village in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the village population was 24,958. Ridgewood is an affluent suburban bedroom community of New York City, located approximately northwest of Midtown Manhattan.The Village of Ridgewood was...
. - Kobe Osaka InternationalKobe Osaka InternationalKobe Osaka International is an international organization dedicated to teaching the Shūkōkai style of Karate. Founded by Tommy Morris in 1991 in Scotland, KOI has affiliates and member dojos in more than 40 countries worldwide and is a member of the World Karate Federation...
, founded in 1967 in GlasgowGlasgowGlasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
, ScotlandScotlandScotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
(as Kobe-Osaka Club) by Tommy Morris, a student of Yoshinao Nanbu and Chōjirō Tani. - Shukokai Karate Union, founded in 1969 in SheffieldSheffieldSheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...
, EnglandEnglandEngland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, and currently led by Stan Knighton, a student of Tani and Kimura. - Sankukai, founded in 1971 in ParisParisParis is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, FranceFranceThe French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
by Yoshinao Nanbu, a student of Chōjirō Tani. Yoshinao Nanbu abandoned the style to create Nanbudō in 1978, and Sankukai is currently taught by several national organizations throughout the world. - Kofukan International founded in BrusselsBrusselsBrussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
, BelgiumBelgiumBelgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
in 1974 as Shūkōkai World Karate Union Europe but renamed in the early 1980s to distinguish itself from the numerous Shūkōkai organizations. Kofukan was founded by Yasuhiro Suzuki, a student of Tani, and is currently managed by Keiji Tomiyama and Naoki Omi. - KenYu-Kai Karate founded in 1980 by Terry Pottage in LancashireLancashireLancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
and Greater ManchesterGreater ManchesterGreater Manchester is a metropolitan county in North West England, with a population of 2.6 million. It encompasses one of the largest metropolitan areas in the United Kingdom and comprises ten metropolitan boroughs: Bolton, Bury, Oldham, Rochdale, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford, Wigan, and the...
, England. - Samurai Karate International founded in 1980 by Paul Mitchell in AustraliaAustraliaAustralia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, who is a student of Masutatsu ŌyamaMasutatsu Oyama, more commonly known as Mas Oyama, was a karate master who founded Kyokushinkai Karate, considered the first and most influential style of full contact karate. He was born Choi Yeong-eui . A Zainichi Korean, he spent most of his life living in Japan and acquired Japanese citizenship in 1964...
of KyokushinKyokushinis a style of stand-up, full contact karate, founded in 1964 by Korean-Japanese karate master, who was born under the name Choi Young-Eui . Kyokushinkai is Japanese for "the society of the ultimate truth". Kyokushin is rooted in a philosophy of self-improvement, discipline and hard training...
, Chōjirō Tani and Kimura of Shuko-kai - Miyake Shuko-Kai International founded by Kunio Miyake, a student of Chōjirō Tani, in 1985 in Westminster, CaliforniaWestminster, California-Government:In the state legislature Westminster is located in the 34th, Senate District, represented by Democrat Lou Correa and Republican Tom Harman respectively, and in the 67th and 68th Assembly District, represented by Republicans Jim Silva and Van Tran respectively...
, currently headquartered in McAllen, TexasMcAllen, TexasMcAllen is the largest city in Hidalgo County, Texas, United States. It is located at the southern tip of Texas in an area known as the Rio Grande Valley and is part of the . Its southern boundary is located about five miles from the U.S.–Mexico border and the Mexican city of Reynosa, the Rio...
. - Battistello Shukokai Karate founded in 1989 by Luc Battistello and Sonia Leonardi of Australia, who trained under Alan Murdoch, a student of Thomas Morris, Shigeru Kimura, and Chojiro Tani. Alan Murdoch was the first to bring Shukokai to Australia.
- Shukokai Karate Association founded in 1991 by Malcom Hudson of KenYu-Kai karate in the West MidlandsWest Midlands (region)The West Midlands is an official region of England, covering the western half of the area traditionally known as the Midlands. It contains the second most populous British city, Birmingham, and the larger West Midlands conurbation, which includes the city of Wolverhampton and large towns of Dudley,...
of EnglandEnglandEngland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. - Dudley Shukokai Karate Club founded in the early 1990s in West Midlands and DorsetDorsetDorset , is a county in South West England on the English Channel coast. The county town is Dorchester which is situated in the south. The Hampshire towns of Bournemouth and Christchurch joined the county with the reorganisation of local government in 1974...
, England, now headed by Mandie Read, a student of Kimura. - Kobushi Shukokai Karate Association founded in 1998 by John Harris, a student of Kimura, in West Midlands.
- Kawata-ha Seikukai Karate founded in Kawanishi, HyōgoKawanishi, Hyogois a city located in Hyōgo Prefecture in the northwestern part of the Kansai Region of Japan, about 5 km north of Osaka Itami Airport. It is bordered on the west by Inagawa River.-History:...
, Japan after the passing of Chōjirō Tani in 1998 by Kawata Shigemasa, his most senior student - Shito-ryu Shukokai Karate Union founded in 1998 by Haruyoshi Yamada, a student of Chōjirō Tani, in Amagasaki, HyōgoAmagasaki, Hyogois an industrial city located in Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan. The city was founded on April 1, 1916. Its population is around 460,000, below its peak of over 554,000 in 1971.-History:...
, Japan, with branches in 12 other countries. - Shito-ryu Shukokai Karate Union Europe The Shito-Ryu Shukokai Union officially decided to be represented in Europe and appointed the Shito-Ryu Shukokai Union Europe. Actually it is led by KAMOHARA Tsutomu sensei, 8th dan as Chief instructor and Mr. HAUSNER Thomas, 6th dan as President. Its headquarter is located in Vienna, Austria, where Mr. Hausner resides. Member countries are: Austria, England, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Jersey, Scotland, Wales.
- Alliance of Shukokai Karate founded in 2001 by George Campbell , Adrian Coan and Stewart Proctor of Kimura tradition, in North West England
- Shūkōkai World Karate Association, a union of Seikukai and Samurai Karate International with headquarters in Kobe, Japan, founded in 2004
- The Horan Shukokai Cente Founded in 2005 by Andy Irvine 3rd Dan who trained under John Horan 7th Dan and is based in Blackpool, England.
- The Garforth Shukokai Club has been noted as combining traditional karate with competition Karate in the North of England.