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The Beginning
The Shukokai school of Karate was founded by Tani Sensei.
He began his study of Karate at high school, practicing Go Ju Ryu. He continued his training at the Doshisha University in Kyoto where he studied under Chojun Miyagi Sensei, who was the founder of Go Ju Ryu and who had trained under Higaonna Sensei.
Later when Sensei Miyagi returned to Okinawa, Tani Sensei also trained under Kenwa Mabuni.
Tani Sensei
Immediately after the Second World War Tani Sensei started to teach Karate in Kobe and his group (Shukokai) soon grew; within a year he was able to build his own Dojo attached to his house.
In 1946 Tani Sensei was presented with the scroll of succession from Mabuni Sensei and was given permission to start up his own school, Tani-Ha Shito-Ryu.
Tani Sensei passed away on Sunday 11th January 1998 and after his death the reconstruction of Shukokai began.
Shukokai and Yamada Sensei
A Shukokai general meeting chose the Shitoryu Shukokai Karate-do Union (SSKU) as the official successor to Tani Senseiâs original Shukokai; the SSKU is led by Yamada Haruyoshi, a student of Tani Sensei, and an 8th Dan Hanshi officially recognised by the Japanese Karate Federation.
Yamada Senseis view of the martial art is similar to that of Tani Sensei; One makes ones own Karate. So, students of the same teacher will develop their own Karate based on their own abilities, their own views on life and experience.
