OUR MASTERS
SHUKOKAI LINEAGE
Soke Chojiro TANI (Founder of SHUKOKAI) 1921-1998
Born in Kobe, Hyogo in Japan. Graduated from Doshisha University in Kyoto. Started karate just after his entry into university. Learned Goju-ryu for a short while from the founder, Chojun MIYAGI. Later from Kenwa MABUNI of Shito-ryu. Founded SHUKOKAI 1948 while he was a high school teacher.
Soke Tani fought his entire life for Budo in its noblest sense. Founding his own school called SHUKOKAI with the agreement of his Okinawan master Kenwa MABUNI, he was a pioneer in the transition of a Karate adapted to modern life. A great educator and creator, he left behind a solid organization with a world-wide presence.
Most of all, he left behind and attitude of openness and experimentation precious for all other budokas.
From the treasure of traditional arts, this discrete man was able to capture at once the wealth of technique which needed to be understood and translated for others, as well as the universal cultural message.
Tani-ha Shito-ryu SHUKOKAI
"SHUKOKAI" means to master various things through interaciton.(Way for All)
Shigeru KIMURA (1941-1995)
Born in Kobe, Hyogo in Japan. Mr. Kimura's martial arts career began with Judo which he started when he was 12. He then turned his attention towards karate when he was 16, began karate training at Soke TANI's dojo in Kobe.
He won the title of All-Japan SHUKOKAI Championship in1962 and 1964. He left Japan when he was 24 to cultivate South Africa and Great Britain and he eventually settled in USA.
Kimura SHUKOKAI International
Shito-ryu SHUKOKAI Karate Do Union
Hanshi Haruyoshi YAMADA (1938-
Born in Akita, Japan. He became a disciple of Soke TANI, the founder of Shukokai in Kobe. After years of study and training under Soke TANI, Hanshi YAMADA became one of the highest ranking pupils within the organization. Hanshi YAMADA is the founder and president of Gishinkan, a faction of SHUKOKAI based in Amagasaki City with approximately 3,000 members nationwide, Gishinkan is especially strong in the Kansai area (Kobe, Osaka and Kyoto districts). Each year the Gishinkan Cup attracts over 1,500 competitiors throughout Japan.
The heritage of the two currents of Karate: Naha Te and Shuri Te:
Kenwa MABUNI, founder of the SHITO RYU style, emigrated from Okinawa to Osaka, Japan in 1929. In Osaka, he first called
his school "Mabuni Ryu" then, in 1938, he changed the name to "Shito Ryu" in honor of his two masters ITOSU and HIGAONNA
(ITO being pronounced as SHI, for ITOSU, and HIGA of HIGAONNA). Sensei Tani received the authorization to found SHUKOKAI
in 1947, while preserving the characteristics of SHITO RYU.
The faithfulness of MABUNI not only expressed itself through names, but also through the katas he taught. Because of this fact,
katas taught in SHITO RYU and consequently those of SHUKOKAI have a double origin; first the one inherited from the teachings
of Kanryu HIGAONNA, which are in the tradition of NAHA TE (short, slow and strong techniques in the SHOREI style),
and second, the ones learned from Anko ITOSHU who was in the tradition of SHURI TE (long, flexible and fast techniques, in the SHORIN style) Because of this, about 50 katas are taught in our school today.
SHITO RYU SHUKOKAI KARATE DO UNION USA
