Shōrin-ryū Shidōkan

Infobox martial art group

logocaption = Shidō-kan logo
logosize = 100px


imagecaption =
imagesize =
name = Shōrin-ryū Shidōkan
aka =
date founded = 1969
country = flagicon|Japan Okinawa, Japan
founder = Katsuya Miyahira
head = Katsuya Miyahira
arts = Karate
ancestor_arts =
descendant_arts =
ancestor schools = Kobayashi Shorin-ryū
descendant schools=
notable pract = Seikichi Iha
website =Nihongo|Shorin-ryu Shidokan|小林流志道館|Shōrin-ryū Shidōkan is a branch of the Kobayashi Shorin-ryū style of Okinawan Karate, developed by Katsuya Miyahira, "Hanshi 10th Dan".

It should not be confused with Shidokan, another style of Karate.

History

Origin of Shidō-kan

In October 1948, Katsuya Miyahira opened his first karate dojo in Kanehisa, Nishihara, Okinawa, [http://www.ihadojo.com/Origins/miyahira.htm Katsuya Miyahira] ] after receiving his "Shihan" (4th rank) Certificate from Choshin Chibana. [http://www.ihadojo.com/Origins/ Origins of Shidō-kan Karate] ] Miyahira chose to name his dojo Shidō-kan (志道館, "House of the Way of the Warrior"). [ [http://www.ihadojo.com/Association/shidokanorigin.htm Origin of the name Shidō-kan] ] "Shidō" was taken from the Analects by Confucius, chapter seven, verse six in book four of the twenty volume collection; which reads:

Determine in your heart to forever follow the way. Stay close to the sun of virtue and do not stray. Trust in the power of benevolence for support. Take pleasure from these abilities.

Creation of Shorin-ryū Shidō-kan

Upon Chibana's death in 1969, Chibana's most senior student, Katsuya Miyahira, received the "hanko" (official seals of the organization) and was voted president of the Okinawa Shorin-ryū Karate-dō Association. Chibana most senior students split the style of Shorin-ryū karate into various schools, Miyahira heading the Shidō-kan (志道館) style.

Spread

Argentina: Shoei Miyazato [ [http://www.miyazatodojo.com Miyazato Dojo] ] , another student of Miyahira's, moved to Argentina in 1959. Miyazato began teaching Shidō-kan in his new hometown, Cordoba. [ [http://www.miyazatodojo.com/SoHombuDojo/Autoridades/shoei.php Shoei Miyazato] ] In the early 1990s, Miyazato left Shidō-kan to head his own style of karate. Beginning in 1996, Shidō-kan in Argentina was reestablished by Jorge Garzón, 6th Dan, who has a dojo in La Plata, Buenos Aires. Garzón is a student of Takeshi Miyagi, an 8th Dan who previously lived in Argentina, but currently resides in Okinawa. Miyagi is a student of Miyahira. [ [http://www.shidokanarg.com/dojo_eng.htm Karate Do Shorin-ryu Shido-kan in Argentina] ]

Philippine Islands: In 1963, Miyahira received a request to supply a Shorin-ryū instructor to the Philippine Islands. Seikichi Iha, a student of Miyahira's, was selected, and spent 11 months in Manila at the dojo of Latino Gonzales. [http://www.ihadojo.com/IhaSensei/index.htm Seikichi Iha Sensei] ] [ [http://okinawanshorinryu.tripod.com/ Cebu City Sports Center (Region 7) Shido-kan] ]

United States: In 1967, Iha went to Los Angeles, California, USA to teach at the American-Okinawan Club. After 7 months, Iha opened the Shureikan Dojo on Olympic Blvd with two other 7th "Dan" black belts. A year later, Iha started his own dojo on West Pico Blvd and named it Shidokan Karate Dojo. Iha moved to Lansing, Michigan in April 1975, and began teaching at the Original Okinawa Karate Dojo. Iha is currently ranked Hanshi, 10th Dan.

Guam: In 1969, Iha and Seigi Shiroma traveled to Guam. Shiroma stayed there and opened a dojo. Shiroma is currently ranked 9th Dan.

Germany: Shidō-kan Germany is headed by Joachim Laupp, 8th Dan, who teaches in Trier. [ [http://www.shorinryu.de/public/familie/meister/laupp/laupp.html Sensei Joachim Laupp] ]

Australia: Shidō-kan Australia is headed by Abet Presincula, 7th Dan. Presincula has a dojo in Albion, Victoria, and is a student of Iha. [http://www.ihadojo.com/Association/shibu.htm Beikoku Shibu Dojos] ]

Brazil: In August 1990, Kazunori Yonamine, began teaching Shidō-kan in the city of São Vicente, Brazil. In subsequent years, Yonamine's students spread Shidō-kan throughout Brazil to the cities of Piracicaba, São Paulo, Santos and Itajubá. Today there are up to 17 Shidō-kan dojos across these towns. Yonamine is currently a 9th Dan. [ [http://www.shidokan.com.br/shidokanbr.php História da Shidokan do Brasil] ]

Canada: Roy Paul, 5th Dan, is the head of Shidō-kan in Canada. He is a student of Iha and has a dojo in Guelph, Ontario. [ [http://www.shidokancanada.com/training/ Shido-kan Canada] ] Shidō-kan Canada celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2006. [ [http://www.shidokancanada.com/news/Shido-kan Canada - News] ]

France: Shidō-kan in France is headed by Dick Kevork, 7th Dan, Kyoshi. He began teaching Shidō-kan in Marseilles in September 1988. [ [http://www.shorinryufrance.fr/dick_kevork.htm Dick KevorK] ]

Israel: Amit Michaeli, 4th Dan, has a dojo in Jerusalem, Israel. He is a student of Paul Snader, 6th Dan, who trains in New Jersey under Iha. [ [http://www.okinawankarateandkobudoinstitute.com/israel_shido.htm Israel Shido-kan Karate Dojo] ] [ [http://www.shidokanisrael.com/ Shido-kan Israel] ]

Russia: Dmitry Uritsky, 2nd Dan, has a dojo in Moscow, Russia. He is also a student of Snader. [ [http://www.okinawankarateandkobudoinstitute.com/russia_shido.htm Russia Shido-kan Karate Dojo] ]

Shidō-kan today

Today, Shidō-kan is one of the largest styles of karate in Okinawa, with over 25 dojo in the prefecture. [http://www.ihadojo.com/Origins/historysr.htm History of Shorin-ryū] ] Within Okinawa, Shidō-kan is well known for its success in the Okinawan Bare Knuckle karate tournaments, largely due to Koichi Nakasone. [ [http://www.shorinryu.de/public/familie/meister/nakasone/nakasone.html Koichi Nakasone] ]

Basic techniques

Punches & Strikes

* High punch - jodan zuki
* Middle punch - chudan zuki
* Knife hand strike - shuto uchi

Kicks

* Front snap kick - mae geri
* Side kick - yoko geri
* Roundhouse kick - mawashi geri
* Back thrust kick - ushiro geri
* Stomping kick - fumikomi geri

= Blocks =

* High block - jodan uke
* Outside block - soto uke
* Inside block - uechi uke
* Low block - gedan barai
* Hooking hand block - kagite uke

= Stances =

* Attention stance - musubi dachi
* Natural stance - shizentai dachi
* Basic stance - kihon dachi
* Back stance - ukiashi dachi
* Straddle stance - shiko dachi
* Forward stance - zenkutsu dachi
* Horse stance - kiba dachi
* Layout back stance - kokutsu dachi

Kata

The kata practiced in Shidō-kan varies by dojo. The following series of kata are common to all: Kihon, Naihanchi, Pinan, Passai, Kusanku, Chinto, Gojushiho, and Teisho (created by Miyahira). Additionally, some schools practice Jion.

Beikoku Shido-kan

The Beikoku Shido-kan Karate-do Association is the North American branch of Shorin-ryū Shidō-kan karate, headed by Seikichi Iha, Hanshi 10th Dan and senior student of Katsuya Miyahira. Its headquarters are located in Lansing, Michigan, and there are member dojo located throughout the United States, Canada, Australia, Israel, and Russia. [http://www.ihadojo.com/Association/ Beikoku Shido-kan Association] ]

According to Iha, the following is the rational for the design of the Beikoku Shido-kan Association seal:

The colors of the bands represent the obi of the highest degree,which is the ultimate goal of students pursuing the Way of Karate.

The circle depicts harmony, cooperation, and friendship.These are the goals of the students pursuing the Way of Karate.

The measure means courtesy and forbearance.These are the goals of the students pursuing the Way of Karate.

The four poles signify advancement.The goal is to become a respected person of characterthrough the discipline of the Way of Karate. [http://www.ihadojo.com/Association/seal.htm Seal of the Beikoku Shido-kan Association] ]

See also

* Makiwara
* Hojo undō

External links

* [http://shidokan.com.br/ Shidō-kan do Brasil]
* [http://www.ihadojo.com/ Iha Dojo - Main Dojo: Lansing, MI]
* [http://www.karatestl.com/iha.html St. Louis Dojo]
* [http://www.shidokancanada.com/training/ Shido-kan Canada]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7CUCvrcnWuc Examples of Kata and other Belt requirements]
* [http://www.kokoro-karate.com/index.cfm?page=12 Belt progress from Maryland Dojo]
* [http://www.okinawankarateandkobudoinstitute.com/seikichi_iha.htm Interview with Sensei Iha]
* [http://www.okinawankarateandkobudoinstitute.com/okinawan_karate.htm Article from Fair Lawn, NJ's Shido-kan Dojo about Okinawan Karate-do]
* [http://www.ss-kdojo.com/ Sussex New Jersey Dojo]

References

* http://www.shorinryu.de/