BANBURY SHUKOKAI KARATE SCHOOLS
What
is Shukokai?
Shukokai Karate History Shukokai
way for all is a traditional fast dynamic style of karate which
can trace its ancestry directly back to shito ryu its parent style.
Shukokai founder soke chojiro tani was a senior student of kenwa
mubuni shito ryu founder, mubuni (1890-1952) was one of the early
karate pioneers who was decended from okinawan warrior class (bushi).
His training and insruction came two legendary masters itosu and
higgaonna, itosu was a shurite practioner whilst higgaonna taught
naha te which teaches softer circular technique compared to shurite
which is very much more linear ballistic style supposedley decended
from shoulin boxing. Mubuni also received instuction from gokenki
a master of fukien white crane kung fu , gokenki was a chinese tea
merchant living in okinawa at this time. Through his teachings we
still have the katas ni pi po, hakaku, paipuren, which to this day
are still practised by some but not all shukokai/shito ryu schools.
Mubuni eventully moved to Japan to promote the shito style and it
was during this time tani became his student and after many years
refined the style into shukokai. Mr Tani himself was born in Kobe,
Japan in 1919 and started to learn karate at jnr high school.In
1948 he opened the shukokai school where he taught tani-ha shito
ryu asect of the parent style. Shukokai spread to europe eventually
with the arrival of yoshinao nambu and shigeru kimura both students
of chjiro tani. Nambu heads his own style and organisation now called
nambudo whilst sensei Kimura devoted his life to refining and developing
shukokai, he passed away in 1995.
Shukokai Technical Principles Shukokais
development has emerged through kinetics (a study of the body in
motion),with an emphasis to increase body velocity through using
hip twists whilst gaining traction from the floor,transmission of
mass + acceleration = impact. For example a double hip twist (ie
pulling back the hip against resistance of the standard stance and
allowing natural movement to engage the forward hip recoil with
the fist firing naturally in a whip or catapult action) this not
only gains amuch greater acceleration on impact but you also achive
a one two reaction via the floor through traction of the feet. This
one two reaction is the final process of the double hip twist by
the transmission of weight on to the legs via the hip pullback and
recoil throwing the weight from rear to front leg. All basic techniques
are performed from this one stance which is a short zenkutsudachi
with the front knee bent covering the toes the rear foot forms a
45 degree angle through a straight lock in the back leg. From this
standard stance all technique can be exucuted by useing the aformentioned
hip twist.
Kata A
compendimum of fighting techniques recorded and preserved into unique
pre-set forms they are the very soul of traditional karate. These
kata are the legacy of masters of old , time capsules recording
brutal and very effective close range fighting techniques and principles
which include kicks ,srikes ,punches,locks and holds,stangles ,and
throws. Due to strict secracey these ancient forms were passed down
from master to student orally and never recorded in ink ,they were
often practised in secret in a secluded location probabley at night.
The majority of kata can trace there heritege back to china and
eventually refined by the okinawans in the eighteenth century even
today the names of some of these forms pay tribute to there creator
ie ..kushanku ,chinto,wansu. It is probably fare to say that the
katas were much longer and more intricate before there arrival on
okinawa where they were shortened blended within okinawas fighting
system of te.
Kata Performance Kata
is fighting, fighting is kata, keep this thought in mind when practising
a form and your kata will come to life . You must perform every
technique as if your very existence relied upon each combative move.
Master itosu himself said quote "You must imagine yourself
fighting on a battlefield when performing a kata, when blocking
and striking make the eyes glare, drop the shoulders, and harden
the body. Now block the enemies punch and strike. Always practice
with this spirit so that when on the real battlefield you will naturally
be prepared". Kata has no superfluous movements. Every punch,
kick , strike and block etc has a meaning and function, bear this
in mind when you imagine your enemy surrounding you. You must absorb
every move and you repeat the kata time and time again. This way
all the offensive and defensive skills shall become imprinted on
the brain. Instinct will then replace thought. Automatic, natural
response given to any violent situation. As a karateka learns to
synchronise the correct method of breathing in unison with technique,
apply speed, balance power along with zanchin. Kiai to intensify
the impact shock of your technique by exhaling all the breath from
your lungs, this will also stop the enemy from knocking the wind
out of your body. To
comprehend all the above, it is essential you train and attend classes
on a weekly basis and to watch, listen and take guidance from your
sensai. Always approach and ask if unsure and do not understand.
Kata Origin Listed below is the syllabus kata requires for promotion within the Banbury Shukokai Karate Schools.Although many more kata are taught from the Naha-te and Tomari systems along with Bunkai (application) and understanding. PINAN
(peaceful mind) JIIN
(temple ground)
SEIENCHIN (to pull in and battle)
Grades The
Shukokai Karate Association (SKA) has a series of gradings. These
range from the novice through the Kyus (10th Kyu to 1st Kyu) to
the Dans (Black belts 1st dan and upwards). Each Grade is attained
by a mixture of experience and passing an assessment- both criteria
have to be met before progression can be made. As you would expect,
earlier grades have less demanding assessments (but still appropriate
to the experience) between set time limits. The SKA Grading structure is shown below. It is based on a student training twice a week. There are titles for the grades - 1st Kyu and 1st Dan are referred to as sempai (senior), 2nd Dan to 5th Dan are referred to as sensai (teacher) whilst 6th dan and above are shihan (master). 10th
Kyu - white belt with red stripe -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Grade:
10th Kyu - white belt with red stripe Grade:
9th Kyu - Red belt Grade:
8th Kyu - Yellow belt Grade:
7th Kyu - Orange belt Grade:
6th Kyu - Green belt Grade:
5th Kyu - Blue belt Grade:
4th Kyu - Purple belt Grade:
3rd Kyu - Brown belt Grade:
2nd Kyu - Brown belt with white stripe Grade:
1st Kyu - Brown belt with red stripe Grade:
Shodan 1st Dan - Black belt with 1 red tab Grade:
Nidan 2nd Dan - Black belt with 2 red tabs Grade:
Sandan 3rd Dan - Black belt with 3 red tabs Grade:
Yondan 4th Dan - Black belt with 4 red tabs |