History of Shūkōkai

Shūkōkai literally translated as “An Association of people training together under the same roof” is an association of those who study together.

The style Shūkōkai, was founded and developed in 1949 by Chojiro Tani (born 1921 in Kobe, Japan) who was ranked 9th Dan. Sensei Tani began studying Goju Karate while at Junior High school. He started his formal karate training just after his entry into Doshisha University in Kyoto, and trained under Chojun Miyagi the founder of Goju-Ryu. After Sensei Tani obtained his Nidan grading, Miyagi Sensei returned to Okinawa and Sensei Kenwa Mabuni, founder of Shitoyru took over the teaching. In defence to his friend, who he had assisted on his arrival in Japan, Mabuni Sensei only taught Naha-te at the university dojo.

Mabuni Sensei is still considered one of the greatest Karateka of all time. Sensei Tani evolved the Shukokai technique over a period of years and in 1949 founded the Shukokai World Karate Union. On graduation from university Sensei Tani followed Mabuni learning first the Naha-te system and then the Shuri-te sysem, ultimately developing the Shitoryu system. After many years of training under Mabuni as one of his most senior students, Sensei Tani received the certificate of succession (Menko – Teachers certificate), entitling him to use the name Tani-ha Shito-Ryu (the Tani sect of Shitoryu). Tani Sensei began teaching Tani-Ha Shito Ryu at his own Dojo in 1948. In 1949 Sensei Tani, whilst still a high school teacher, founded his own school, which he called Shūkōkai.

Sensei Tani sought to perfect his style by studying the mechanics of the human body and developed techniques which can be delivered with maximum efficiency. Over a long period of time Sensei Tani evolved and developed Shūkōkai. He always laid stress on the importance of etiquette, discipline and mental control and was at pains constantly to promote the improvement of technique.

On the death of Mabuni Kenwa, in 1952, many of the senior students went their own way and at this time Tani Sensei adopted the name bestowed by Mabuni, Tani-ha Shitoryu – and with two other senior students, Fujiwara and Fujitani, began creating the world wide system, for which he is now so respected. Fujiwara Sensei died some years ago and Fujitani Sensei now heads his own organization called Myobukai.

Shūkōkai has been taught outside Japan mainly by three senior instructors, Kimura, Nanbu and Suzuki, between them assisting in the creation of a world wide recognition and respect for their style.

Chief Technical Master of Shūkōkai was Shigeru Kimura, 8th Dan. Sensei Kimura commenced karate at the age of 16 under Sensei Tani. At 21 he won the All Japan Shito-Ryu Championship, and after winning that title for the second time in 1964, ceased participating in championship Karate to devote his life to developing the style of Karate now known and respected throughout the world as Shūkōkai. At 34, Sensei Kimura was the youngest ever 7th Dan from an internationally recognised style and reached the rank of 8th Dan Hanshi (Master).

Sensei Tommy Morris was Sensei Kimura’s highest graded instructors. Sensei Morris eventually left Sensei Kimura’s organisation and developed his own brand of Shūkōkai mixed with traditional Shito-Ryu (from which Shūkōkai originally developed). He is Chief Instructor of “Kobe Osaka International.” Shūkōkai originally was not the name of a style of karate but actually the name of Sensei Tani’s Dojo and means “Way for All.”

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 Shūkōkai 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 Shūkōkai name would become the “Shito-Ryu Shūkōkai Karate-do Union”, the proper successor to the original Shukokai organisation, found by Mr Tani.

It was also decided and agreed that the first leader of this new organisation, would be Mr Haruyoshi Yamada (10th Dan Hanshi)

Shūkōkai Karate is found throughout Europe, South Africa and Australia.