, literally "the hall for the study of the way of karate," is a Japanese school of
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 ...
developed by
Kanken Toyama (1888 – 1966).
It was the total headquarters of
Japan Karate Federation
The Japan Karate Federation (JKF), a.k.a. Japan Karatedo Federation, is a national governing body of sport karate in Japan. The JKF is officially affiliated with the Japan Olympic Association (JOC), World Karate Federation (WKF), Japan Sports As ...
(old).
Characteristics of Shudokan karate include large circular motions with an emphasis on covering and its own unique ''
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 ...
''.
History
Toyama's karate training began at the age of nine in 1897 with
Itarashiki, although he studied with
Yatsusune Itosu for 18 years, until the latter's death in 1915. In 1907 Toyama was appointed "''shihandai''" (assistant master) to Itosu at the Okinawa Teacher's College, and he and
Gichin Funakoshi
was a japanese martial artist who is regarded as the founder of Shotakan karate, perhaps the most widely known style of karate, and is known as a "father of modern karate". Following the teachings of Anko Itosu and Anko Asato,Funakoshi, Gichi ...
, who later developed
Shotokan
is a style of karate, developed from various martial arts by Gichin Funakoshi (1868–1957) and his son Gigo (Yoshitaka) Funakoshi (1906–1945). Gichin Funakoshi was born in Okinawa and is widely credited with popularizing "karate do" throu ...
karate, were the only two students to be granted the title of ''shihanshi'' (
protégé
Mentorship is the influence, guidance, or direction given by a mentor. A mentor is someone who teaches or gives help and advice to a less experienced and often younger person. In an organizational setting, a mentor influences the personal and p ...
).
In 1924 Toyama moved his family to
Taiwan
Taiwan, officially the Republic of China (ROC), is a country in East Asia, at the junction of the East and South China Seas in the northwestern Pacific Ocean, with the People's Republic of China (PRC) to the northwest, Japan to the nort ...
, where he taught in an elementary school and studied Chinese
Ch'uan Fa, which included Taku, Makaitan, Rutaobai, and Ubo from teachers Chen Fo-Chai (陳佛濟) and Lin Hsien-Tang (林献堂).
In early 1930 he returned to
Japan
Japan ( ja, 日本, or , and formally , ''Nihonkoku'') is an island country in East Asia. It is situated in the northwest Pacific Ocean, and is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan, while extending from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north ...
and on March 20, 1930, he opened his first
dojo
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 ...
in
Tokyo
Tokyo (; ja, 東京, , ), officially the Tokyo Metropolis ( ja, 東京都, label=none, ), is the capital and largest city of Japan. Formerly known as Edo, its metropolitan area () is the most populous in the world, with an estimated 37.468 ...
. He named his dojo ''Shu Do Kan'' meaning "the hall for the study of the karate way." Toyama taught what he had learnt from Itosu and the Ch'uan Fa and did not claim to have originated a new style of karate. In 1946, Toyama founded the All Japan Karate-Do Federation (AJKF) with the intention of unifying the various forms of karate of Japan and Okinawa under one governing organization.
As Toyama did not view the Shu Do Kan as a distinct style of karate, but merely a place for training, he did not appoint a successor. Thus, the organization he founded fragmented after his death in 1966, although his student
Toshi Hanaue maintained the original Shu Do Kan.
A few other schools based on Toyama's teachings still exist such as
Doshinkan. Today, a minimal overseeing of the Toyama lineage of Karate is done by
Kanken Toyama's son,
Ha Toyama.
Overview
Shudokan learning is based on three factors: Katas, fighting alone and fighting in a group.
Kata
Shidokan employs following kata:
* Rohai
* Seiru
* Kyoku series: Shodan, Nidan, Sandan, Yondan, Godan, Rokudan, Shichidan
* Taikyoku series: Shodan, Nidan, Sandan
* Empi Iwa
* Empi Taki
* Penpei
* Penpo
* Shimpatan
* Shimpasho
Shudokan Today
Shudokan karate today is essentially a compound system, including
Kobudo (i.e. "ancient art," referring to the specialized weapons practice of traditional Okinawan karate) and
Shorin-Ryu (also known as ''Itosu-ha''). Many other principles from other styles have found their way into Shudokan as it was
Toyama
Toyama may refer to:
Places and organizations
* Toyama Prefecture, a prefecture of Japan located in the Hokuriku region on the main Honshu island
* Toyama, Toyama, the capital city of Toyama Prefecture
* Toyama Station, the main station of Toyama, ...
's wish that Shudokan not stagnate, that it should grow in efficiency and flourish.
Influence on Taekwondo via Korean students
Four of the nine schools (or Kwan's (Kan)) that merged to form
Taekwondo
''Taekwondo'', ''Tae Kwon Do'' or ''Taekwon-Do'' (; ko, 태권도/跆拳道 ) is a Korean form of martial arts involving punching and kicking techniques, with emphasis on head-height kicks, spinning jump kicks, and fast kicking techniques. T ...
have lineages that trace back to Toyama through three Korean men who trained in Japan while Korea was under Japanese occupation. These three men were
Kim Ki Whang
Kim Ki-whang (1920 – September 16, 1993), also known in the United States as Ki-whang Kim, was a Korean martial arts grandmaster. He was chairman in the US of the Tang Soo Do Moo Duk Kwan Association, Chairman of the US Olympic Taekwond ...
,
Yun Kwae-byung, and
Yoon Byung-In. Yun and Yoon both trained with Toyama and are both listed in his student role books as "''
Shihan
is a Japanese term that is used in many Japanese martial arts as an honorific title for expert or senior instructors. It can be translated as "master instructor".
The use of the term is specific to a school or organization, as is the process of ...
''."
Both these men taught a mixture of Toyama's methods along with the Chuan Fa they learned in Manchuria, before the Taekwondo unification movement. At that time, they founded
Tang Soo Do
Tang Soo Do (Hangul: 당수도, Hanja: 唐手道 ) refers to a Korean martial art
based on Karate and may include fighting principles from subak (as described in the Kwon Bup Chong Do), as well as northern Chinese martial arts. Before the Ni ...
or
Kong Soo Do
Kong Soo Do (공수도) is a name used to refer to Korean martial arts derived from Karate, that was used
by couple of the original kwan (martial arts), kwans before the unification and creation Taekwondo as the universal striking art of Korea. ...
schools in Korea.
The first Kwan (Kan) where they worked as teachers was the Yunmookwan (later:
Jidokwan
Jidokwan is one of the original nine schools of the modern Korean martial arts that became Taekwondo and was founded in what is now South Korea at the end of World War II. Its name translates as "School of Wisdom". The Jidokwan in Korea stil ...
).
Kim Ki Whang
Kim Ki-whang (1920 – September 16, 1993), also known in the United States as Ki-whang Kim, was a Korean martial arts grandmaster. He was chairman in the US of the Tang Soo Do Moo Duk Kwan Association, Chairman of the US Olympic Taekwond ...
received his 3rd dan from Toyama and had moved to the United States in the early 1960s to teach
Taekwondo
''Taekwondo'', ''Tae Kwon Do'' or ''Taekwon-Do'' (; ko, 태권도/跆拳道 ) is a Korean form of martial arts involving punching and kicking techniques, with emphasis on head-height kicks, spinning jump kicks, and fast kicking techniques. T ...
. Later, the Chang Moo Kwan, Han Moo Kwan, and Kang Duk Won branched off from the first Kwan. This is according to Han Moo Kwan founder Kyo Yoon Lee as written in his book Global Taekwondo 2009, and, A Modern History of Taekwondo, by Won Sik Kang and Kyong Myung Lee (1999).
Notable practitioners
*
Kim Ki Whang
Kim Ki-whang (1920 – September 16, 1993), also known in the United States as Ki-whang Kim, was a Korean martial arts grandmaster. He was chairman in the US of the Tang Soo Do Moo Duk Kwan Association, Chairman of the US Olympic Taekwond ...
*
Dr. Yun Kwae-Byung - founder of
Jidokwan
Jidokwan is one of the original nine schools of the modern Korean martial arts that became Taekwondo and was founded in what is now South Korea at the end of World War II. Its name translates as "School of Wisdom". The Jidokwan in Korea stil ...
.
*
Yoon Byung-In - founder of
Chang Moo Kwan
Chang Moo Kwan is a style of Korean martial arts that was founded by Yoon Byung-in and Lee Nam Suk.
History
At the end of World War II, several Kwans were set up to teach martial arts to Korean public. In the late 1950s, spearheaded by Choi ...
,
*
Bong Soo Han
Han Bong-Soo (Hangul: 한봉수; August 25, 1933 – January 8, 2007), also known as Bong Soo Han, was a Korean martial artist, author, and the founder of the International Hapkido Federation. He was one of the foremost and recognized practit ...
- brought Hapkido to United States and founder of International Hapkido Federation.
* Walter Todd
* Hanshi Morris Mack
Shihan Mike Franco (Jr.)
See also
*
Tang Soo Do
Tang Soo Do (Hangul: 당수도, Hanja: 唐手道 ) refers to a Korean martial art
based on Karate and may include fighting principles from subak (as described in the Kwon Bup Chong Do), as well as northern Chinese martial arts. Before the Ni ...
*
Kong Soo Do
Kong Soo Do (공수도) is a name used to refer to Korean martial arts derived from Karate, that was used
by couple of the original kwan (martial arts), kwans before the unification and creation Taekwondo as the universal striking art of Korea. ...
*
Kanbukan
Kanbukan (韓武舘, roughly translated as ''"Hall of Korean Martial Arts"'' or ''"Korean Martial Hall"'') was one of the earliest Karate organizations made in Post-War Japan and is considered the birthplace of the Bōgutsuki Karate.
Kanbukan i ...
References
Federacion Shudokan Internacional
Shudokan Martial Arts AssociationAmerican Shudokan Association Hombu dojo for the USKaratedo International DoshinkanShudokan MexicoShudokan Argentina
{{DEFAULTSORT:Shudokan
Japanese karate
Traditional karate
Japanese martial arts