The Shukokai style was founded in 1950 by Chojiro Tani who studied Sh*to-Ryu under Kenwa Mabuni. Shukokai means “Way for All” and this reflects how the style has developed although it keeps its purity. The style is very fast using a relatively high stance to aid mobility. The Martial Arts Commission of Great Britain has also stated in its Official Handbook that “Shukokai punches are the strongest
to be found in Karate”. The style stresses controlled contact in competition sparring. However, real experience of full-power techniques is enabled by the use of pad work. Shukokai, as taught by Chojiro Tani, had a distinctive double hip twist creating a motion that ensured that punches were delivered using the big muscles of the upper leg and with body rotation. Shigeru Kimura was not happy that this produced the fastest or strongest technique. In 1966 he left Japan and spent 3 years travelling throughout Africa and Europe studying and refining his techniques. These techniques also stressed rotation, utilising the strongest muscles but was also faster, saving time by having the body already rotated in the ready stance. The style was adopted by the Shukokai Karate Union who appointed Mr Kimura as Chief Instructor. In 1980 a 3-way split occurred leaving the original Shukokai Karate Union and 2 others, one of which was the Ken Yu Kai Karate Association (when translated this means “Hands that move in harmony”) with their Chief Instructor Terry Pottage. The Shukokai Karate Association was founded in 1991 when senior instructors decided to form their own association. Since then the association has flourished, now having over 20 clubs with hundreds of members. The SKA has maintained the teachings of Shigeru Kimura (8th Dan) with whom Malcolm Hudson had the privilege of training for several years before Mr Kimura sadly passed away.
