is a style of

Karate (; ; Okinawan language, Okinawan pronunciation: ), also , is a martial arts, martial art developed in the Ryukyu Kingdom. It developed from the Okinawan martial arts, indigenous Ryukyuan martial arts (called , "hand"; ''tī'' in Okinawan) un ...

, based on Tani-ha Shitō-ryū, a branch of

Shitō-ryū is a form of karate that was founded in 1934 by . Shitō-ryū is synthesis of the Okinawan Shuri-te and Naha-te schools of karate and today is considered one of the four main styles of the art. History Kenwa Mabuni (Mabuni Kenwa 摩文� ...

developed by Chōjirō Tani in the late 1940s, and refined by his students, including Yamada Haruyoshi, Kimura Shigeru and Ishitobi Kazuo.

History

Chōjirō Tani (谷長治郎 ''Tani Chōjirō'') was born in 1921, and started his formal karate training under Miyagi Chōjun, who founded the Gojū-ryū style, while a student at the

Doshisha University , also referred to as , is a private university in Kyoto, Japan. Established in 1875, it is one of Japan's oldest private institutions of higher learning, and has approximately 30,000 students enrolled on four campuses in Kyoto. It is one of Japa ...

Kyoto Kyoto ( or ; Japanese language, Japanese: , ''Kyōto'' ), officially , is the capital city of Kyoto Prefecture in the Kansai region of Japan's largest and most populous island of Honshu. , the city had a population of 1.46 million, making it t ...

. After a few months, Miyagi Chōjun returned to

Okinawa most commonly refers to: * Okinawa Prefecture, Japan's southernmost prefecture * Okinawa Island, the largest island of Okinawa Prefecture * Okinawa Islands, an island group including Okinawa itself * Okinawa (city), the second largest city in th ...

and recommended Mabuni Kenwa, the founder of

, to Tani Chōjirō to carry on his learning. Upon graduating from university, Tani began learning

Shuri-te Okinawan martial arts refers to the martial arts, such as karate, tegumi and Okinawan kobudō, kobudō, which originated among the indigenous people of Okinawa Island. Due to its location (between "Mainland Japan" and Taiwan), Okinawa was influenc ...

and then

from Mabuni as well. After many years of training under Mabuni and becoming one of his most senior students, Tani received the certificate of succession from him and became the head of Shitō-ryū, enabling him to use the name Tani-ha Shitoryu. Chōjirō Tani began teaching the Karate style Shūkōkai (meaning ''the way for all'') at a

dojo A is a hall or place for immersive learning, experiential learning, or meditation. This is traditionally in the field of martial arts. The term literally means "place of the Tao, Way" in Japanese language, Japanese. History The word ''d� ...

Kobe Kobe ( ; , ), officially , is the capital city of Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan. With a population of around 1.5 million, Kobe is Japan's List of Japanese cities by population, seventh-largest city and the third-largest port city after Port of Toky ...

, Japan, in 1946. Shūkōkai was designed around the study of body mechanics, is very fast due to its relatively high stance aiding mobility, and is known for the ''double hip twist'', which maximises the force of its strikes; making it one of the most hard-hitting Karate styles. One of Tani's most senior students, Sensei Shigeru Kimura, left Japan in 1965 to teach Shūkōkai in

Africa Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most populous continent after Asia. At about 30.3 million km2 (11.7 million square miles) including adjacent islands, it covers 20% of Earth's land area and 6% of its total surfac ...

. He developed his own version of Shukokai, emphasizing its power and strength; and was regarded as an expert on the style. He continued to teach after travelling to

Europe Europe is a continent located entirely in the Northern Hemisphere and mostly in the Eastern Hemisphere. It is bordered by the Arctic Ocean to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the west, the Mediterranean Sea to the south, and Asia to the east ...

, before settling in the

United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...

in 1970 at the age of 29, where he taught at

Yoshisada Yonezuka , was a Judo instructor and two time U.S. Olympic Judo Team coach. Personal life He began training in track and sumo as a child. In 1954, he began to train in judo in high school and became the Northern Japan High School Champion in 1955. He en ...

Cranford, New Jersey Cranford is a Township (New Jersey), township in Union County, New Jersey, Union County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey, located southwest of Manhattan. As of the 2020 United States census, the township's population was 23,847, an increas ...

dojo for two years; creating the first Shukokai World Tournament in 1981. Sensei Kimura died of a

heart attack A myocardial infarction (MI), commonly known as a heart attack, occurs when Ischemia, blood flow decreases or stops in one of the coronary arteries of the heart, causing infarction (tissue death) to the heart muscle. The most common symptom ...

at the age of 54. Tani died on 11 January 1998.

Kata

Jion kata group Ji'in, Jion, and Jitte form a group of kata used in Shotokan and other karate styles, beginning with the same characteristic kamae of the left hand covering the right, which apparently has roots in ancient Chinese boxing. Their origin is thought ...

which includes Jion and Ji'in *

Pinan The Pinan ( Chinese: 平安, Píng'ān; Japanese: ピンアン, Pin'an) ''kata'' are a series of five empty hand forms taught in many karate styles. The Pinan kata originated in Okinawa and were adapted by Anko Itosu from older kata such a ...

Nidan (Heian) *

Shodan (Heian) *

Sandan (Heian) *

Yondan (Heian) *

Godan (Heian) * Bassai Dai * Seienchin *Shiho Zuki (Ich - Go) *Jurokono * Chinte *Matsukaze * Saifa * Annanku *Shiho Kosokan * Sōchin *Seipai * Tensho (kata) * Sanchin * Bassai Sho * Nijūshiho *Seiryu * Chintō *Tomori no Bassai *Na-Pa-Pu *Kurunnfa *Kosokun dai *Supa Rinpei

Branches

Shūkōkai has evolved into several independent style branches throughout the world over the past few decades: * Kimura Shukokai grew out of the Shūkōkai school taught since 1978 in

Hackensack, New Jersey Hackensack is the most populous municipality in and the county seat of Bergen County, New Jersey, Bergen County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey.

, United States and later in

Tenafly, New Jersey Tenafly () is a borough in Bergen County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the borough's population was 15,409, an increase of 921 (+6.4%) from the 2010 census count of 14,488, which in turn reflected an ...

by Shigeru Kimura, a long time student of Tani. After Kimura's death in 1995, this international organization was formed to promote his style, co-led by his four senior students: Eddie Daniels, head of Shukokai Karate Federation, Bill Bressaw, head of American Shukokai Karate Union, Chris Thompson and Lionel Marinus of South Africa. * Sankukai, founded in 1971 in

Paris Paris () is the Capital city, capital and List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants, largest city of France. With an estimated population of 2,048,472 residents in January 2025 in an area of more than , Paris is the List of ci ...

, France, by Yoshinao Nanbu, a student of Chōjirō Tani. Yoshinao Nanbu abandoned the style to create Nanbudō in 1978, and Sankukai is currently taught by several national organizations throughout the world. * Kawata-ha Seikukai Karate founded in

Kawanishi, Hyōgo 270px, Lake Chimyo 270px, Aerial view of Kawanishi city center 270px, Tada-in is a city located in Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 155,165 and a population density of 2900 persons per km². The total area of ...

, Japan after the death of Chōjirō Tani in 1998 by Kawata Shigemasa, his most senior student

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Shukokai Shitō-ryū Okinawan kobudo Japanese martial arts