The ''Byakuren Kaikan'' (Japanese'':'' 白蓮会館 ''-'' literally translated: "''White Lotus Association''") or Byakuren Karate is a
full contact karate
Full contact karate is any format of karate where competitors Sparring, spar (also called Kumite) full-contact and allow a knockout as winning criterion.
History
Full contact karate competition comes in several different formats developed for th ...
style founded in 1984 by
Sugihara Masayasu (Japanese'':'' 杉原 正康).
The Byakuren Kaikan is a member of the Japan Fullcontact Karate Organization (JFKO)
The Byakuren Kaikan is registered in Japan as a nonprofit organization (NPO).
History
Despite being classified as a
Karate
(; ; Okinawan language, Okinawan pronunciation: ) is a martial arts, martial art developed in the Ryukyu Kingdom. It developed from the Okinawan martial arts, indigenous Ryukyuan martial arts (called , "hand"; ''tii'' in Okinawan) under the ...
school its origins date actually back to the
Shorinji Kempo
is a Japanese martial art claimed to be a modified version of Shaolin Kung Fu. The name ''Shōrinji Kempo'' is the Japanese reading of ''Shàolínsì Quánfǎ''. It was established in 1947 by , a Japanese martial artist and former military ...
, a martial art considered to be derived from Shaolin Kung Fu. Henceforth, Byakuren Kaikan, much like its parent, divides the techniques into two main categories: ''Gōhō'' (剛法 - i.e. "''hard techniques''": punches, kicks, etc.) and ''Jūhō'' (柔法 - "''soft techniques''": throws, joint locks, etc.).
Sugihara Masayasu (Born in Osaka, Japan, In 1951) started practicing Judo and Karate from a very young age, and eventually discovered and trained mainly under Shorinji Kempo. By the age of 28, Sugihara held a 6th Dan rank in the art, and he was a bodyguard and close student of the founder of Shorinji Kenpo
Dōshin Sō.
This martial art did not allow its followers to take part in contact competitions but Sugihara, eager to test his fighting skills against real opponents, decided to enroll anyway in a Karate contest. In 1983 he joined a national tournament organized by the Seidō Kaikan using "''Byakuren Kaikan''" as pseudonym for his school. Although he ended up among the winners the truth was soon to be discovered and to avoid further trouble to the Shorinji Kenpo organization he decided in 1984 to establish his own style which he called "International Karate-Kempo Federation Byakuren".
There are three reasons why the name was chosen: the bodyguard corps which he belonged to in Shorinji Kempo was called "''Byakuren''"(White Lotus), it was also the name of a technique of the martial art; furthermore, since he was about to undertake a new path in Karate, he would have had to start from the very beginning using the white belt.
Despite the rather acrimonious split from the Shorinji Kempo organization, Sugihara expressed great gratitude for his previous master.
Unlike many other schools of the time, since its foundation the members of Byakuren began to participate in many competitions organized by other styles, becoming a new contender on the scene. In the full contact karate environment Sugihara will earn the title of "''Fighting Master''" and "''invader''".
![Byakuren Karate](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/81/Byakuren_Karate.jpg)
Since 1985 the Byakuren Kaikan regularly organizes regional and national Full Contact Karate tournaments.
In 2004, on the 20th anniversary of the foundation, the Byakuren Kaikan organized its first world Karate tournament in Osaka.
Currently the style is present with schools all over Japan and in the following countries: Russia, the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Italy, India, Sri Lanka, Canada, USA, New Zealand, Korea, Hong Kong.United Arab Emirates (UAE)
Techniques and Training
Practice in Byakuren Karate can be divided into four main categories:
''Gōhō'' (剛法): i.e. "''hard techniques''". These include punches, kicks, knee and elbow strikes. Students are also taught how to dodge, block, counterattack and in a final phase how to anticipate the intentions of the opponent.
''Jūhō'' (柔法): the "''soft techniques''" are mostly focused on self-defense. They include throws, pins, joint locks and submission techniques.
Muscle strengthening and physical training: Byakuren Karate in strongly aimed at competition matches, therefore the curriculum includes many exercises to improve endurance, speed and power.
''
Tameshiwari
Breaking is a martial arts technique that is used in competition, demonstration and testing. Breaking is an action where a martial artist uses a striking surface to break one or more objects using the skills honed in their art form. The striking ...
'' (試割り): for artistic and demonstration purposes at the highest levels breaking techniques are also imparted.
Byakuren Karate employs the principles of ''
Sabaki'' (体さばき) for dodging and counterattack the opponent. The fighting pose is relaxed and natural.
Since competition rules include winning by K.O. great emphasis is placed on ''
Kumite
Kumite ( ja, 組手, literally "grappling hands") is one of the three main sections of karate training, along with kata and kihon. Kumite is the part of karate in which a person trains against an adversary.
Kumite can be used to develop a partic ...
'' (組手 - fighting with a real opponent) which is integral part of the training since the lower grades.
The employment of ''
Kata
''Kata'' is a Japanese word ( 型 or 形) meaning "form". It refers to a detailed choreographed pattern of martial arts movements made to be practised alone. It can also be reviewed within groups and in unison when training. It is practised ...
'' (型) is more limited compared to more traditional Karate styles. There is a number of customized katas mainly performed during tests for upgrading to the next belt.
The rules for competition are those of the traditional Japanese Full Contact Karate as established by the
Kyokushin Kaikan
is a style of karate originating in Japan. It is a style of stand-up fighting and is rooted in a philosophy of self-improvement, discipline, and hard training.
Kyokushin Kaikan is the martial arts organization founded in 1964 by Korean-Jap ...
: upper limb strikes are prohibited to neck and face, attacks with the lower limbs can also be thrown to the head instead; it is forbidden to pull or grab the opponent, hitting the genitals or the knees directly from the front.
In training and matches protectors are worn on legs, knees, hands and genitals. No protectors are employed in competitions among black belts.
Philosophy
Despite being highly focused on competition, the Association values are based on humility, respect and altruism. Seriousness and dedication is required while training but also to be able to recognize one's own limits in order to avoid injuries.
The ultimate purpose of the ''
dōjō
A is a hall or place for immersive learning or meditation. This is traditionally in the field of martial arts, but has been seen increasingly in other fields, such as meditation and software development. The term literally means "place of the ...
'' is not to churn out absolute champions but must be a place of growth and aggregation. What is learned at the Byakuren Kaikan must be brought in one's everyday life in order to be helpful.
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Championships results
2008 World Cup (Pattaya, Thailand)
2009 International tournament (Osaka, Japan)
2010 International tournament (Pattaya, Thailand)
2011 All Japan Championship (Osaka, Japan)
Men
Women
2012 World Cup (Osaka, Japan)
Men
Women
2013 All Japan Championship (Osaka, Japan)
Men
Women
2014 All Japan Championship (Osaka, Japan)
2014 All Japan Open Championship (Osaka, Japan)
2015 All Japan (Osaka, Japan)
2016 International tournament (Pattaya, Thailand)
2016 World Cup (Osaka, Japan)
Men
Women
2017 World Open Championship (Pattaya, Thailand)
2017 Japan tournament (Okinawa, Japan)
2018 Japan tournament (Okinawa, Japan)
Men
Women
2018 Japan Byakuren kaikan Championship results
'. Byakuren Kaikan. 1: 1. 28 May 2018.
References
External links
Byakuren Kaikan Home Page
Byakuren Kaikan official Facebook page
World Kumite Organization
{{Karate schools
Full contact karate
Japanese karate
Kenpō
Japanese martial arts7