 |
Shorinjiryu Kenkokan Karatedo was founded by Kaiso Masayoshi Kori Hisataka shortly after World War II in Fukuoka prefecture, Kyushu. Kaiso Hisataka was born in Shuri , Okinawa. on 22 April 1907. He was a direct decendant of Seiwa, the fifty-sixth Emperor of Japan. Kaiso Hisataka started training in budo at a young age, and being of a noble family he was he had the benefit of training with many of the leading Masters of the time. Some of his early teachers included Kensei Ankoh Asato, Master Chotoku Kyan and Master Sanda Kanagusuku. As a young man he often had exchange training with some of the founders of the modern Karate styles, these included Master Chojun Miyagi the |
|
founder of Gojuryu, Master Kenwa Mabuni the founder of
Shitoryu, and master Gigcin Funakoshi the founder of Shotokan Karate.
Kaiso Hisataka also toured both Taiwan and China where he had opportunity to train with different masters from different systems. Kaiso Hisataka formed Shorinjiryu Kenkokan Karate to encompass the best attributes of all the different systems he had learnt. This has made Shorinjiryu Kenkokan Karate the most versatile and well rounded system of martial arts
practised today, as it advocates all aspects of the fighting arts, these include
Striking, Throwing, Choking, Joint locking, Grappeling, Pressure point
techniques aswell as the practice of weapons, to allow any individual to
develope the fighting style that best suits his or her abilities. Kaiso Hisataka
also developed the use of Two-person prearranged fighting forms ( Yakusoku
randori kumite ). He also saw the need for protective equipment in Karatedo, and
adapted Kendo armour for use in Karate training and competition. This led to
development of the Koshiki Tournament system by his son Hanshi Masayuki Kukan
Hisataka.
|
|
Hanshi Masayuki Kukan Hisataka, kenmei, ninth Dan, was born on
13th November, 1940, a descendent of Seiwa, the fifty-sixth emperor of Japan the
first son of Kai Kori Hisataka, kensei, tenth Dan, the founder of
Shorinjiryu Kenkokan Karatedo. He commenced training in karatedo and judo at the
age of three, and had attained black belt rankings in both arts by the time he
was thirteen. Hanshi Hisataka has never lost a fight in karatedo
competition, winning the All Japan Open Karatedo Championships in 1961 and 1962,
and the Shorinjiryu Kenkokan Karatedo Championships each year from 1958 to 1962.
In 1963 he traveled to North America, and with the help of Shihan Shunji
Watanabe, established schools in both the United States and Canada. Hanshi
Hisataka represented Japanese Budo at the New York World's Fair of 1964-65, also
in 1967 he was again asked by the Japanese Government to demonstrate karatedo
and judo at World Expo '67 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. After the 67 Expo he
remained in Montreal to teach Shorinjiryu Kenkokan Karatedo until 1976 when he
returned to Japan to assume the position of Chief Instructor of Shorinjiryu
Kenkokan Karatedo, following his father's retirement from full time teaching.
Two of Hanshi Hisataka's most Senior and talanted students in Canada were Hanshi
Brian Aarons and Hanshi Doug Roberts who went on to found the Shorinjiryu Kudaka
Karate Federation. Another of Hanshi Hisataka's noted senior Canadian students
was Shihan Wayne Donivan who went on to found the Shorinjiryu Kentokukan Karate Federation.