Shito-Ryu Shūkōkai Karate Union
Japan
Shūkōkai literally translated as “An Association of friends training together under the same roof” is an association of those who study together.
After the death of the founder of Shito-Ryu Shūkōkai, Mr Chojiro Tani on the 11th of January 1998, there was a conference of the Shukokai general council on the 28th of June 1998 to determine the future continuance Shūkōkai and the Tani-ha sect of Shito-Ryu.
The proceedings of the conference were recorded and minuted, and it was decided the Shukokai name would become the “Shito-ryu Shūkōkai Karate-do Union”, the proper successor to the original Shūkōkai organisation, found by Mr Tani.
It was also decided and agreed that the first leader of this new organisation, would be Yamada Haruyoshi Sensei (10th Dan Hanshi).
Yamada Haruyoshi Sensei remained head of the SSKU until his death on 7th January 2018, at which time the Union reorganised, with Yazu Kaicho Sensei becoming the head of the Shito-Ryu Shūkōkai Karate-Do Union^.
^ – The Shito-Ryu Shūkōkai Karate-Do Union branch was formed after the passing of Yamada Sensei, who’s original organisation, Yamada-Ha Shito-Ryu Shūkōkai Karate-Do Union is now headed by KAMOHARA Tsutomu Sensei.
Australia &
Oceania
The Australian and Oceania branch of the Shito-Ryu Shukokai Karate-Do Union, is headed by Sensei Stephen Kelly, Kyoshi 8th Dan, based in the Brisbane suburb of Sumner Park.
The Shito-Ryu Shukokai Karate-Do Union Oceania has dojos across Brisbane, Melbourne, ACT, NSW and New Zealand.
Through the Union, members have the opportunity to travel to Japan to train with numerous Sensei’s. Members also have the opportunity to train with Ishitobi Kazuo Sensei Hanshi 8th Dan, SSKU Chief Technical Instructor along with Mizaguchi Sensei 5th Dan when they visit Australia each year.