A small string of islands linking the main islands of southern Japan to the Chinese offshore island of Taiwan can be accredited as the birthplace of Karate. The Japanese call these islands the Ryukyu Islands. The largest island of the chain is Okinawa, which is also the capital.
Shukokai Karate, "The Way for All" is a dynamic form of Okinawan Karate, which has evolved from careful analysis of the dynamics and principles of traditional karate. The lineage of Shukokai is such that it can be considered a direct descendant of its parent style, Shito Ryu.
Chojiro Tani was born in Kobe, Japan in 1921 and began studying the art of Karate during Junior High School at the Gojo School of Karate. He entered Doshisha University in 1940 and furthered his studies of karate under the direction of Ken-na Mabuni. Upon receiving his Menko (Teachers Certificate) from Kenwa Mabuni, Sensei Tani began teaching Tani-Ha Shito Ryu at his own Dojo. He proudly hung a wood carved sign above the entrance which said Shukokai - "Way for All". He also organised clubs in Kyoto University and Osaka College of Economics, Tottiro University and Kobe University Medical School.
Shigeru Kimura, one of the students of Chojiro Tani then took Shukokai to Africa, the United States and Europe. Kimura Sensei had won the World All-Styles Championship when only 21 years of age and had twice been the All-Japan Champion before retiring from active competition. Sensei Kimura established a reputation of master level Shukokai Karate throughout the world.
Being a direct descendent of Shito-Ryu, Shukokai inherits the characteristics of both the Naha-te and Shuri-te styles of Okinawan Karate. While Shukokai shares many of the same punches, kicks, and blocks found in other popular styles of Karate, it is in how these are executed that sets Shukokai apart.
Sensei Tani and Sensei Kimura made their greatest contributions to the style by continually refining each technique to the highest degree, essentially re-defining the basics that had been practiced for centuries.
Both made the study of body mechanics their primary focus with the end result being the delivery of the greatest impact with the least amount of effort.
Another defining characteristic is that each technique must be combat effective. Sensei Kimura believed that a technique, no matter how powerful, was useless if it could not be delivered under combat situations.
His philosophy was that the outcome of a confrontation should be decided in a single technique, "one hit one kill", which was the traditional way of the Samurai. This drove him to continually modify and test his technique throughout the course of his life with the end result being the traditional, yet combat effective style of Karate we call Shukokai.
