Shukokai

nihongo|Shukokai|修交会|"shūkõkai" is a group of closely related styles of Karate, based on Tani-ha Shito-ryū, a branch of Shito-ryū developed by Chojiro Tani in the late 1940's. The first dojo where Tani taught his style was opened in Kobe, Japan in 1946 and named Shuko Kai, meaning the "Way for All" Club [ [http://www.shuriway.co.uk/chojirotani.html Chojiro Tani] on Shuriway.co.uk] [ [http://www.shukokai.com/WhatIsShukokai.htm What is Shukokai] on www.shukokai.com] . Shukokai was designed around the study of body mechanics, and is famed for its 'double hip twist' to maximise the force of its strikes. Due to this, Shukokai is known as one of the hardest-hitting Karate stylesFact|date=October 2007.

Branches

Shukokai split into several independent branches throughout the world
* [http://www.kimura-shukokai.com/ Kimura Shukokai International] grew out of the Shukokai school taught since 1978 in Hackensack, New Jersey, USA and later in Tenafly, New Jersey by Shigeru Kimura, a long time student of Tani. [ [http://www.shuriway.co.uk/kimura.html Shigeru Kimura] on shuriway.co.uk] [ [http://www.shukokai.com/Kimura.htm About Shigeru Kimura] on shukokai.com] . 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 [http://www.shukokai-skf.com Shukokai Karate Federation] , Bill Bressaw, head of [http://www.shukokaikarate.com American Shukokai Karate Union] , Chris Thomson and Lionel Marinus of South Africa.
* [http://www.miyake-shukokai.com/ Miyake Shuko-Kai International] founded by Kunio Miyake in 1985 in Westminster, California, currently headquartered in McAllen, Texas [ [http://www.miyake-shukokai.com/sensei.htm Kunio Miyake] on miyake-shukokai.com] .
* [http://www.kofukan.org.uk Kofukan International] founded in Brussels, Belgium in 1974 as Shukokai World Karate Union Europe but renamed in the early 1980's to distinguish itself from the numerous Shukokai organizations. Kofukan was founded by Yasuhiro Suzuki, a student of Tani, and is currently managed by Keiji Tomiyama and Naoki Omi. [ [http://www.kofukan.org.uk/page3.html History of Kofukan] at kofukan.org.uk]
* Sankukai, founded in 1971 in Paris, France by Yoshinao Nanbu, a student of Chojiro Tani. Yoshinao Nanbu abandoned the style to create Nanbudo in 1978, and Sankukai is currently taught by several national organizations throughout the world.
* [http://www.sku.org.uk/ Shukokai Karate Union] , founded in 1969 in Sheffield, England, and currently led by Stan Knighton, a student of Tani and Kimura. [ [http://www.karateadvice.co.uk/about%20stan.html Stan Knighton] on sku.org.uk]
* [http://www.kenyukai.co.uk/ KenYu-Kai Karate] founded in 1980 by Terry Pottage in Lancashire and Greater Manchester, England.
* Kobe Osaka International, founded in 1967 in Glasgow, Scotland (as Kobe-Osaka Club) by Tommy Morris, a student of Yoshinao Nanbu and Chojiro Tani.
* [http://www.shukokaikarate.org.uk Shukokai Karate Association] founded in 1991 by Malcom Hudson of KenYu-Kai karate in the West Midlands of England. [ [http://www.shukokaikarate.org.uk/ska/indexmh.htm Malcolm Hudson] on shukokaikarate.org.uk]
* [http://www.kobushishukokai.com Kobushi Shukokai Karate Association] founded in 1998 by John Harris, a student of Kimura, in West Midlands.
* [http://www.shukokai.info Alliance of Shukokai Karate] Founded in England by George H. Campbell, Adrian Coan and Stewart Proctor. Headed by George H. Campbell student of Kimura and ex founder member of Ken Yu-Kai Karate.
*Samurai Karate International, headed by Shihan Paul Mitchell which teaches a style of Shukokai developed by Sensei Kimura, and then furthur by his senior student Kawata. Kawata's own school of Shukokai Karate is now known as Seikukai (a title of succession awarded to him by his teacher Kimura).

References