15/10/2024
Sensei Darryl has some big news to share with you.
I'm really excited to announce that our school has a new name!
Shukokai Karate Dojos will now become Shogokan Karate Dojos.
Why the name change?
On my most recent trip to Japan, Ish*tobi Hanshi (my teacher) honoured me by naming our school. This is a tradition that dates back with many schools having been given their name by their teacher. In fact Hanshi's school, Hishokan name was given to him by the founder of our style Tani Sensei.
What does the name mean?
Hanshi takes great care and thinks deeply of how to name schools.
For our name, Shogokan, Hanshi has taken the Sho from his school name (Hishokan) and the kanji for Australia, Go and combined it with the kanji kan (school).
Combined it means, Spread your wings and fly high.
For our school to have a direct link to the name created by Tani Sensei is quite special.
Our new badge, kanji and logos.
Hanshi has graciously helped design our new badge (on a serviette at dinner one night) incorporating the wings from his clubs badge. In his words, we are Hishokan family we should have the wings.
As new designs are completed I will share them with you.
You'll see the photos of the badges below. The red, black and silver will be our standard club badge, the blue (Hishokan blue), black and silver will become our new black belt badges.
What will happen next?
Officially our new name takes effect immediately. However, many things will take quite sometime to change. So, you'll see both names within our dojos for quite a while.
Initially you will see new certificates, new badges, new stationery etc. Followed by the website and new merchandise.
I understand you might have questions, please feel free to reach out.
I hope that you are as excited about this great news as I am.
Thank you for your continued support.
Sensei Darryl Thornton
Head Instructor
Shogokan Karate Dojos