THE MEANING OF SHUKOKAI
THE WORD SHUKOKAI IS SOMEWHAT DIFFICULT TO TRANSLATE. IT IS EASIER TO BREAK THE WORD DOWN INTO IT’S COMPONENTS TO OBTAIN A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT IT MEANS.
- SHU CAN BE TRANSLATED TO MEAN; TRAINING.
- KO CAN BE TRANSLATED TO MEAN; MANY PEOPLE MEETING; CROSSING; INTERSECTION; COME TOGETHER.
- KAI CAN BE TRANSLATED TO MEAN; ASSOCIATION; TRAIN UNDER ONE ROOF.
SENSEI TANI
Sensei Tani began studying Goju Karate while at Junior High school. When he entered the Doshisha University, he began studying Shito Ryu Karate. Upon receiving his Menko (Teachers Certificate) from Kenwa Mabuni, Sensei Tani began teaching Tani-Ha Shito Ryu at his own Dojo in1948. He proudly hung a wood carved sign above the entrance which said Shukokai.
>Sensei Tani sought to perfect his style by studying the mechanics of the human body and developed techniques which can be delivered with maximum efficiency. Over a long period of time Sensei Tani evolved and developed Shukokai. He always laid stress on the importance of etiquette, discipline and mental control and was at pains constantly to promote the improvement of technique.
After the death of the founder of shito-ryu shukokai, Mr Chojiro Tani on the 11th of january 1998, there was a conference of the shukokai general council on the 28th of june 1998 to determine the future continuance shukokai and the tani-ha sect of shito-ryu.
The proceedings of the conference were recorded and minuted, and it was decided the shukokai name would become the “shito-ryu shukokai karate-do union”, the proper successor to the original shukokai organisation, found by Mr Tani.
It was also decided and agreed that the first leader of this new organisation, would be Mr Haruyoshi Yamada (10th Dan Hanshi). Yamada sensei passed away in Amagasaki in 2018. Yazu Kaicho is the current head of the Shitoryu Shukokai Union.
SENSEI YAMADA
Born 1938 in Akita prefecture. Locally initiated in the rudiments of karate-do as well as judo. In 1956, became a disciple of Mr. Chojiro Tani now standing as the head of Shukokai, the tani school of karate-do in Kobe city.
After years of study and training under the instructor Tani, promoted to one of the most high-ranking pupils.
At present, in such capacity, presiding over gishinkan, a shukokai drill hall having its base in amagasaki city, with approximately 3,000 followers nationwide, mainly in the kyoto-osaka-kobe districts.
Serves karate-do through abundant experience.
Haruyoshi yamada possesses several professional titles:
- HANSHI 9TH DAN, TANI-HA KARATE-DO
- PRESIDENT OF SHUKOKAI GISHIN-KAN
- 8TH DAN, JAPAN KARATE FEDERATION (JKF)
- 4TH DAN KODOKAN JUDO
- PRESIDENT OF WEST JAPAN WORKERS’ KARATE FEDERATION
- SUPREME JUDGE DIRECTOR CLASS A, JKF
- REFEREE OF KUMITE & KATA, JKF
- GAME DIRECTOR, JAPAN SOCIETY FOR PHYSICAL CULTURE
