Sankukai

Sankukai karate (三空会 - Japanese) is a style of karate founded by Yoshinao Nanbu in 1971. It originates from technics from Aikido, Judo, Shito ryu and Shukokai. Its symbol are three circles(two are red, one is white) which represent Earth, Moon and Sun.

History

Kenwa Mabuni was born in 1889 in Okinawa. He started to train karate when he was thirteen under two masters. They taught different styles of karate, one was Naha-Te(Kanryo Higaonna), and the other was Shuri-te(Anko Itosu). Learning two different styles made him recognize all the advantages and disadvantages of each particular style. When his teachers died, he continued to train in both styles. He also began to train Kobudō and by uniting everything he knew, he formed his own style of karate. In honour of his teachers, he named it Shito ryu (beginnings of both names).

Kenwa Mabuni died in 1952, leaving behind many masters like Chojiro Tani and his son Kenei Mabuni.

Chojiro Tani formed his karate known as Tani Ha Shito Ryu. A few years later he renamed it to Shukokai. Unlike Shito ryu, Shukokai has more emphasis on strike rather than defence.

One of Chojiro Tani students was Yoshinao Nanbu.

Yoshinao Nanbu was born in 1943 in Japan. With his five years he started to train Judo and Kendo and later he trained Aikido and Karate by sensei Someko. With his eighteen years, he started to train by Chojiro Tani. In year 1964 he went to France where he first got an idea to form his own style. Then later in 1968 he came back to Japan and he concretized his idea. In 1971 he showed his style for the first time. That was in France, and the name of style was Sankukai.

Grading

Sankukai karate has similar grading system as other karate styles. Beginners have white belt and when they have taken enough classes, they can apply for examination for higher belt. Kyu belts are school belts, and dan belts are master belts.

Sankukai Karate has different belt colours in different karate schools; below are two of them.

External links

* [http://www.sankukai.org Sankukai Karate Slovenia]
* [http://www.sankukai.si/video.html Sankukai Demonstration]
* [http://www.sankukaikarate.co.uk/ British Sankukai Karate Association]
* [http://www.fsks.net/ Federation Sankukai Karate-do Scotland]

References