Genseiryu Karate-do International Federation

The Genseiryu Karate-do International Federation was established in 1962 by Kunihiko Tosa and junior co-worker Yoshimitsu Furuya.

Dojo-kun

* Hitotsu - Ooinaru Yuki-wo Yashinau-koto ("One - Gain great courage")
* Hitotsu - Reigi-wo Taisetsu-ni Suru-koto (O"ne - Be polite")
* Hitotsu - Haji-wo Shiru-koto ("One - Be aware of shame")
* Hitotsu - Doryoku-no Seishin-wo Yashinau-koto ("One - To make efforts")
* Hitotsu - Seijitsu-wo Mune-to Suru-koto ("One - Be honest")

History

The master of Genseiryu, Kunihiko Tosa, started training Karate as a student of Seiken Shukumine (the founder of Genseiryu Karate-do) in 1952, which is one year earlier than the official naming of Genseiryu in 1953. In 1962 Seiken Shukumine left the world of Karate-do with almost al of his students, in order to pursue his newest creation Taido, which is a completely new martial art. Kunihiko Tosa continued promoting Genseiryu, as he declined Seiken Shukumine's offer to join him in Taido. In 1962 Kunihiko Tosa established his own domestic organisation: The Nippon Karate-do Genseiryu Butokukai, because Seiken Shukumine started the Japan Taido Association thus leaving the Karate scene in pursuit of Taido.

The Tokyo Honbu Dojo ("headquarters") established by Kunihiko Tosa way back in 1959, became the new honbu dojo of the domestic NKGB organisation up until 1965. In 1965 the honbu dojo moved from Oizumi to Asaka. The only official Genseiryu organisation prior to 1962 was established by Seiken Shukumine in 1953. This organisation was dissolved in late 1961 or early 1962, which is also part of the reason for Kunihiko Tosa to establish the Nippon Karate-do Genseiryu Butokukai. Butokukai is a member, and the official worldwide Honbu Dojo of the Genseiryu Karate-do International Federation. Butokukai is the name of Kunihiko Tosa's own personal dojo.

The Genseiryu Karate-do International Federation has around 150 dojos worldwide. Kunihiko Tosa is the Saiko-Shihan (supreme master) and president of this organisation and is today recognized as 9th dan (9th black belt) in Genseiryu, and officially recognized as 8th dan inside the All Japan Karate-do Federation (JKF). No one has ever before been awarded this high rank in Genseiryu. Even the founder, Seiken Shukumine, was awarded 8th dan.

The Genseiryu Karate-do International Federation is the only officially recognized organisation of Genseiryu Karate-do in Japan. No other organization is in any way whatsoever recognized as such.

Reasons why Seiken Shukumine left the karateworld

During the years, Seiken Shukumine developed Genseiryu as he believed he could make a system in which a small and weaker person could overcome a larger and bigger person. As he was experimenting with Genseiryu, he found out that karate was 'too two-dimensional'. In other words, he thought karate was limited by its linear mode of training. He reconsidered his view upon Budo and he finished the last fundamentals for establishing his new art, called "Taido". So, to realize his believes he made Genseiryu Taido.

In karate competitions length and strength are preferred rather than techniques. That is why Seiken Shukumine tried to change that within the national karate federation. Vainly, he didn't succeeded. Thus leaving the karate world, in order to pursuit his believes.

Literature

Genseiryu Karate-do Kyohan

Kunihiko Tosa wrote/published the first book ever on Genseiryu in 1984. The book's title is: Genseiryu Karate-do Kyohan 2 - Kata Collection and contains a preface by Seiken Shukumine (1925-2001) who is the founder of Genseiryu Karate-do. The preface can be read in its entirety in both Dutch, English, Japanese and Danish at this site of: [http://www.genseiryu.com/dk/en/organization/kyohan2.html GKIF-Denmark] . This book contains pictures and detailed descriptions of the 9 advanced kata of Genseiryu (a total of 23 kata are taught and practiced in Genseiryu). A short history of each kata can as well be read at the before mentioned site. These are translations from the book and are of course copyrighted material and should be treated as such at all times. The versions of the kata in this book are the official versions recognized in Japan by i.e. the All Japan Karate-do Federation (JKF). Any other versions or interpretations of these kata are not to be considered as Genseiryu Karate-do.

The author, Kunihiko Tosa, planned a 2 volume series, one containing the basics of Genseiryu and the other containing the advanced kata of Genseiryu. Due to the costs of issuing two volumes at that time (early 1980s), Kunihiko Tosa decided to first issue the sequel. Kunihiko Tosa assumed that such a book containing the advanced kata was much more needed than a book on the basics of Genseiryu. Kunihiko Tosa will publish the first volume containing the basics of Genseiryu at a later date, thus completing the Genseiryu volume series.

Curriculum

As Kunihiko Tosa shihan promoted Genseiryu karate, he made standard for all practitioners.

Kihon Gyogi

The kihon gyogi is a system in which the student meets the techniques used in Genseiryu. It contains all Shihō- and Happō-exercises. Shihō can be translated as 'four directions', as the combination of techniques are performed in these four directions. Same thing with Happō, but Happō is performed in eight directions.

* Shihō Tsuki (zenkutsu-dachi)
* Shihō Tsuki (kokutsu-dachi)
* Shihō Tsuki Keri (zenkutsu-dachi)
* Shihō Tsuki Keri (kokutsu-dachi)
* Shihō Nuki
* Happō Nuki

Kata

Kihonkata

* Taikyoku
* Heian Shodan
* Heian Nidan
* Heian Sandan
* Heian Yondan
* Heian Godan

Tanrenkata

* Naihanchi
* Wankan
* Shukumine no Bassai
* Shukumine no Bassai Sho
* Sansai
* Rohai
* Koshokun Dai
* Koshokun Sho
* Chinto

Shitei kata

* Jion
* Kanku Dai
* Bassai Dai
* Seienchin

Kobudo kata

* Bōjutsu Kihon Kata
* Bōjutsu Kumite Kata
* Nunchaku Kihon Kata
* Nunchaku Kumite Kata

Grading

The youth (under 15 years) has a different belt system than the seniors (15+). Grading starts with 10th kyu, while seniors are being graded starting with 9th kyu. Also the the subject are different from each curriculum.

Outcasts

During the years Kunihiko Tosa shihan received many letters, or any other way of contact from people outside the federation who wished to join the federation. For many years Kunihiko Tosa kept a friendly relationship with them, up until he founded out they abused his name.This gave Kunihiko Tosa the reason to cut the relationship with them and they have never been recognized by the GKIF.Nowadays, most of these outcasted people found each other and formed the World Genseiryu Karatedo Federation. In 14 November 2003 all of them came to Oviedo, Spain for a meeting. At this meeting they all signed an agreement where they state a.o. that they will follow Sensei Shukumine's book "Shin Karate-do Kyohan" as a guideline to train what is considered by the W.G.K.F. to be the original Genseiryu. Especially the basic kata Ten-i, Chi-i and Jin-i no kata are considered by the W.G.K.F. to be important kata.

Worldwide Head Quarters

* [http://www.genseiryu.jp/ Japan & WorldWide] ("headed by Saiko-Shihan Kunihiko Tosa")
* [http://geocities.yahoo.com.br/GENSEIRYU_BR/ Brazil & South America] ("headed by Mr. Antonio de Souza Lima")
* Dominica ("headed by Mr. Mamoru Hidaka")
* Spain ("headed by Mr. Justino Aguilera")
* [http://www.genseiryu.dk/ Denmark] & [http://www.genseiryu.com/ Europe] ("headed by Mr. Peter Lee")
* [http://www.gensei.com/ Australia] ("headed by Mr. Mauro Sagginelli")
* Sri Lanka ("headed by Mr. Anura A, Kathihriarachshi")
* [http://www.indiangenseiryu.com/ India] ("headed by Mr. Sandeep M.Gade")