SHORINJIYU KENKOKAN KARATEDO
Shinan Masayoshi Kori Hisataka
(Seiki Kudaka in Okinawa)was born on April 22, 1907 in Naha City, (Shuri) Okinawa and died on August 13, 1988 in Tokyo, Japan. He was born of lesser nobility and his family was awarded an island off Okinawa.
As a youth, he began his studies with Ankoh Asato. Shortly, thereafter, he studied weaponry with Ufuchiku Kanegushiku (Sanda Kinjo)- a rather interesting personality in Okinawa. His main instructor, however, was Chotoku Kyan (Kitake in Japanese), one of the greatest Okinawan masters whose favorite techniques included a side step or forward in movement followed by an immediate counter-attack all executed with great speed and body shifting. This very basic theory of taisabaki is a cornerstone of all the Shorinjiryu schools of karatedo.
In 1929, he toured Taiwan for almost a year with Master Kyan where legend recorded he never lost a match. Shortly, thereafter, he went to Tokyo and studied judo under Master Sampo Toku at the Kodokan. Interestingly, he attained the rank of fourth degree black belt in a single year. During this period of time he also studied Kendo. Wishing to improve his skills, he returned to China where he mastered Shorinjiryu-Kempo and delved into Pa Kua Chuan.
During the 1930's, he traveled throughout Thailand, Korea, Burma, Afghanistan, Russia, and Mongolia. While in the armed forces, he trained extensively and demonstrated his skills of karate-do at various tournaments and exhibitions.
With the news that his instructor Master Kyan passed away, Kori Hisataka had the alternative to establish a new school in Fukuoka Prefecture on Kyushu or remain with other dojo mates (it is reported that he was even asked to become one of Miyagi's dojo instructors). What he chose to do was to form the Kenkokan School of Shorinjiryu of Karatedo. Acknowledging and reflecting his two main sources of knowledge - Shorinryu and Shorinjiryu Kempo. An interesting bit of information is that Shinan Kori Hisataka was invited to demonstrate his style in Japan in the same manner of Funakoshi.
As a result of the knowledge which he gained through years of practice and practical application, Kori Hisataka realized that individualism must be acknowledged in the dojo. Stress was placed upon the full follow through of techniques, thereby creating greater torque. The use of the heel and the tate ken or vertical fist for added strength, safety, and natural movement was instituted - the vertical fist first being was used in China, and then, in Tomari, Okinawa.
Yakusoku kumite or prearranged fighting forms proved an effective training tool allowing for delivery of techniques, evasive moves and body control while maintaining safety. And, finally, he insisted upon the use of bogu or armor. The use of protective equipment proved to be an excellent method of preventing injury while allowing for full contact. Most schools dropped such equipment during World War II, as the costs were extremely prohibitive. Yet, Shinan Kori Hisataka insisted upon this effective training tool when he introduced his new system in 1946. The anzen bogu or safety armor used today is used by all Shorinjiryu schools.
In 1964, by special invitation of the Japanese Government, Shorinjiryu was introduced to the United States at the New York World's Fair held in Flushing Meadow Park. Shortly thereafter, many of the various Japanese Shorinjiryu instructors opened schools on the east coast and Canada. In the early and mid-70's after the Shinan retired virtually every one of the schools separated from the original school forming their own associations and federations. None of these attempts were successful in bringing back together the various schools.
Koshiki Karate: History
Koshiki Karatedo is a controlled contact competition and training system that allows you to truly test your Karate techniques through the use of Supersafe protective equipment. The development of this ultra - light, resilient, and streamlined equipment enables you to fully develop your kicking, punching, and striking techniques without injuring your partner. This means that all people - women, children, and seniors alike - can rapidly hone in on their karate skills in a pragmatic and realistic manner.
Together with Koshiki Karatedo's progressive set of competition rules, competitors can now aggressively display their karate skills in the form of combination attacks and formerly prohibited techniques such as open-hand strikes, thereby allowing the advancement of a more free and creative style. Koshiki Karatedo is not limited to any particular school or style of karatedo, and has been designed to permit practitioners of all martial arts to test their skills against one another under conditions of safety, fairness, and impartiality.
Koshiki karatedo has its roots in the bogu kumite (sparring practice making use of kendo armour) developed by Kaiso Masayoshi Kori Hisataka (10th Dan Karatedo, 6th Dan Judo), the founder of Shorinjiryu Kenkokan Karatedo, and the traditional competition system employed in this style. However, the steel mask covering the kendo face guard imposed certain restrictions since it could not be struck with the bare hands or feet without the risk of injury
Although a number of other karatedo sensei were also experimenting with kendo armour, boxing gloves and the like at and even before Kaiso Hisataka's time, the high cost of such equipment and their inherent limitations when applied to karatedo caused this form of training and competition to take second place to sundome , or non-contact karate. Nevertheless, it should be noted that many karatedo instructors viewed sundome as a temporary measure to be implemented until a more effective system could be introduced
Hanshi Masayuki Kukan Hisataka (9th Dan Karatedo, 5th Dan Judo), building on his father's knowledge and experience, consequently adopted a scientific approach to the development of a superior form of protection scientifically suited to meet karatedo's needs. He also drew upon the knowledge he had acquired from studying the protective equipment used in Western sports such as football, hockey, boxing, and fencing when teaching karatedo in the U.S and Canada during the 1960s and 1970s
After much intensive research, laboratory testing and impact studies, Hanshi Hisataka finally perfected the Supersafe protective equipment currently utilised in Koshiki Karatedo. This equipment consists of two major components: a face guard and body protector. The face guard's visor is made of transparent lightweight, bullet-proof material, giving complete protection to teeth, jaw, nose, and eyes, thus preventing facial injuries which commonly occur at both non-contact and full-contact karate tournaments, while still allowing a clear and unimpaired field of vision. The body protector covers the chest and stomach to just above the groin, surrounds the ribs under the armpits, and has two extensions protecting the collarbones. It is light, easy to put on, and does not hamper or restrict the users' movement techniques. In order to ascertain the efficiency and suitability of this equipment, a Technical research committee composed of instructors from a wide range of karatedo styles was formed.
Who made the greatest contribution?
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When did work on rules start and how?
Hanshi Hisataka was also able to draw on years of training, competition and teaching in both the non-contact and full-contact arenas in Japan and overseas. As early as 1961 he had already established a name for himself by meeting a group of kempo practitioners who he challenged and defeated, and all other styles of karatedo in full contact matches with gloves. He won all his fights by knockouts, crediting his victories, which saved the reputation of karatedo in Japan, to the fact that Shorinjiryu Kenkokan Karatedo stresses controlled-contact techniques using special protection.
In trying to overcome the inherent weakness and shortcomings of non-contact and full-contact competition systems, Hanshi Hisataka also acquired invaluable assistance from leading karatedo instructors such as Professor Wayne Donivan of Canada, Dr. Laurence Van Niekerk of Australia, Dr. David Chu of Switzerland, and Alain Houred-Baight of Africa.
Eleven international Koshiki Karatedo tournaments have already been held to date. The first three were in Tokyo, Japan, followed by Venezuela, Australia, U.S.A, Canada, Amsterdam, the Netherlands and once again in Tokyo, Japan, India, and once again in Australia. Tournaments have been held in these and a host of other countries as well, such as Algeria, India, Spain, Switzerland, Russia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Philippines. It is hoped that Koshiki Karatedo will help Karate to become immersed in school systems around the globe and to bring karate into the Olympic Games.
CHARACTERISTICS OF THIS TOURNAMENT
The characteristics of this tournament are first of all, the hard match by Koshiki rules which permits actual hitting. Like baseball and tennis, there are two types in Karatedo. Koshiki Karatedo is said to be hard style controlled contact competition system and the Non Contact rule (Sundome) is soft. Taking wrestling and swimming as examples, Koshiki (hard) is the same as free style, and the Non-Contact rule (soft) is common with Greco-Roman and butterfly. Secondly, former judging methods of Sundome (soft) had been reducing points, but the new Koshiki rule is advanced to judge by adding points. For instance Sundome (soft) denies "aiuchi", ignoring both performances made coincidently. But according to the new Koshiki rule, both performances are admitted and given points. In short, Sundome (soft) rule only admits the former art but not the coincidental or latter arts. So that it is advantageous for larger competitors with long arms and legs. However, Koshiki rule admits all the arts and gives points to each, so that the active performance of continuous art of counterattack would be meaningful. Hence success in the match depends on the skill and the degree of training, bringing the original spirit of Japanese martial art "the small could get the better of big". Therefore the hope of small players taking an active part in the sport comes back again. Thirdly, by using the Super Safe guard, safety is assured and players can compete without worrying about getting injured by the actual executing techniques. The effect and result of performance can be judged easily. The Koshiki rule revives many banned arts of Karatedo under the Sundome rule due to the danger of getting injured. Open hand attacks toward the Jodan such as Knife-hand strike, Ridge-hand strike, Hammer fist, Karate chops etc. Varied leg techniques toward the Chudan, including elbow strikes, knee kicks (low kick) as setting up techniques (entrance) can be used under the principal of "unbalancing the opponents posture for the next art". These infinite arts of Karatedo could make the essence of Karatedo to be of greater interest. Players with the same aims gathering from all over the world will co-operate in order to exchange friendly ideas and skills of Karatedo and improve each other with the respect of each style and school, under fair conditions. This tournament must do a major service to the future of Karatedo as a popular, international sport by improving techniques and enriching the content of the competition