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Japan Karate-Do Shito-Ryu International Renshikan - World Federation

About - JKSIR Karatedo 

The Japan Karate-Do Shito-Ryu International Renshikan is an international organization recognized in Japan and having it's international headquarters in India.
We at JKSIR inherently practices and teaches 'Shitoryu Karatedo & Ryukyu Kobujutsu' and accepts dojos from all traditional Japanese and Okinawan Karate Styles. 

We are continually evolving and refining the Shito-Ryu Karate technique through the continuous efforts of its qualified instructors. Our aim and objective are to share our knowledge, skills, and art with all members worldwide, creating the best of modern technical innovation, along with the true essence of karate’s history, traditions, and Bu-Do values.

Our organization is open for individuals and groups that would like to practice and preserve the traditional & technical integrity of Bujutsu.
All members will have access to qualifications for Dan Grade Examinations, Seminars and events hosted by JKSIR branches worldwide. 

The JKSIR presents you with an opportunity to network with open-minded individuals and groups from around the world without any discrimination in a safe and healthy atmosphere.

Karatedo History

HISTORY OF KARATE-DO.  A long time ago an Indian Monk from south-India (Kanchipuram) named as Bodhidharma who later came to be known as Bodhitara (Japanese know him as Daruma Taishi) traveled to China through ways of Himalayas to spread Zen Buddhism. He visited the emperor in China who was spreading Buddhism by the way of building monuments, reciting sutras etc. The King asked him that he is doing” so much for Buddhism what will Buddha give him in return. On this Daruma replied “Nothing” the king could not understand the answer properly because in Zen Buddhism “a good deed done in the hope of getting a good favour is not a true deed”. The King was angry on hearing the answer, he ordered immediately to Daruma Taishi to leave his kingdom. While returning on his way back he came across a Shaolin Monastery of China and he found that the monks of the monastery were growing weak and couldn't meditate due to lack of physical activity and nor they were able to defend themselves from robbers, thieves etc. Bodhitara being from a Royal family was trained in Indian Martial Arts as well in Yoga. He introduced a systematic set of exercises which shall strengthen the mind and body, exercises which allegedly marked the beginning of the Shaolin style of boxing. Bodhidharma’s teaching later becomes the basis for the majority of Chinese martial arts. Later Chinese developed this form into an excellent martial art known to us today as “Shaolin Art of Fighting”, Wu-Shu or Kung-Fu.

It is commonly known as that Karate-Do developed from fighting systems originating in China, there are few documents in existence that can verify the exact process. In 1392, over five hundred Chinese emigrated from Fujian to the Okinawan city of Naha and established a community in the area known as Kume. They introduced Chinese culture to the Ryukyu people, and it is believed that a number of experts in traditional Chinese hand-to-hand combat were also in the community. Much later on, the Qing Dynasty military envoy, Kusanku, said to have been an expert in the martial art of Ch’uan Fa, introduced it to Okinawa when he was sent there around 1756.

When Shimazu Iehisa of the Satsuma clan invaded the islands in 1609, all weapons were confiscated from the local populace. Ryukyu was still allowed to maintain its tributary relationship with China, but the prohibition on weapons was strictly enforced for the next 250 years. The study and training of hand-to-hand combat was conducted secretly, as the Satsuma authorities intensified their policies of disarmament and control.

There are many theories surrounding the roots of the term “karate”. It is unclear who first used the word, and when. However, the ancient Ryukyu a fighting system was originally referred to as “Te”, and the standard assumption is the appellation “Kara-Te” refers to the martial techniques learned from China (kara = China).

Whatever the case, it is clear that karate evolved in Okinawa with significant Chinese cultural influence. Over time, the highly esoteric and once secret techniques became widespread throughout Okinawa. By 1904, public demonstrations were commonplace in Naha and other localities. In April 1905, Itosu (Anko) Yasutsune introduced karate into the school curriculum in Okinawa teaching seven forms from Okinawan ‘Te’: Gojushiho, Chinto, Kushanku-Dai, Kushanku-Sho, Bassai-Dai, Bassai-Sho, Naifanchi Shodan; and also seven forms which he created ( Heian Shodan to Godan, Naihanchi Nida to /Sandan), making fourteen in total.

The main karate regions in Okinawa were Naha and Shuri, and accordingly the foremost methods are called “Naha-te” and “Shuri-te”. Another style known as “Tomari-te” closely resembles Shuri-te, and is usually classified within the latter group. Higaonna Kanryo and Miyagi Chojun made Naha-te popular. Shuri-te was popular with the upper-echelons of Okinawa society, and was taught to the royal family by Matsumura Sokon and Itosu Anko. In the Tomari-te line, Matsumura Kosaku and Motobu Choki were particularly active.

Apart from these well-known masters, many others created what would become over one-hundred different schools of karate in Okinawa and mainland Japan. Among them, Shotokan, Goju-ryu, Shito-ryu, and Wado-ryu are the most successful in terms of the number of students and popularity. These are referred to as the “Great Four” schools of Karate-Do.

Karate was first seen on mainland Japan in 1916-1917, when Funakoshi Gichin gave a public demonstration at the Butokuden in Kyoto where it was introduced as Ryukyu karate-jutsu. In 1922, the Ministry of Education conducted the first Physical Education Exposition in Tokyo to which Funakoshi was invited to demonstrate the Kushanku-no-Kata. Kano Jigaro requested that he demonstrate kata and kumite to Kodokan students.

Master Kenwa Mabuni is the founder of Shito-Ryu Karate-Do style. He was student of Master of Master Yasutsune Itosu (nickname “Ankoh”) from the town of Shuri and learnt Kata most correctly among all. Master Itosu encouraged Mabuni to keep training and Mabuni sensei trained very hard and learnt the “twenty three swift fists” from him. Mabuni sensei also studied under Master Kanryo Higashionna and Arakaki Seisho sensei of Naha city. He also studied Kempo from a Chinese man Gokenki, a tea merchant, who lived in Okinawa and who came from the Fukien province in China. Mabuni sensei later combined the teachings of Itosu sensei and Higaonna sensei and called his system Shito-Ryu Karate-Do. The word SHITO is the combination of two kanji characters from the name of Master Kanryo Higaonna and Master Ankoh Itosu. The Mabuni Kata repertoire of Shito-Ryu combines the Shuri-Te, Naha-Te and Tomari-Te lineage Kata into a set of used from all three sources. Students must study both styles with the understanding of their distinctive characteristics. The Itosu School is famous for the combination of light and quick movements focusing on speed and Higaonna sensei school is famous for large and powerful techniques supported by breathing. However, techniques should not be halfway mixture of the Itosu and Higaonna School. Shito-Ryu practitioners are aware of the fact that Shito-Ryu techniques always strive for perfection which descended from both schools.