Seikokai

In 1893 Okinawan, Shuri city born sensei Kenwa Mabuni learned Karate from legendary Ankoh Yasutsune Itosu from Shuri city and later legendary Kanryo Higashionna from Naha city. Later Sensei Mabuni created his own style gather with this both masters karate. To respect his both masters he use japanese kanji from both of their names "Itosu"(Shi) and "Higashionna"(To) which is (Shito).Ryu means style

.Sensei Kenwa Mabuni wurde 1893 in der Stadt Shuri – auf der Insel Okinawa – geboren. Er lernte Karate von dem legendären AnkohYasutsune Itosu der in der Stadt Shuri lebte und später von dem legendären Kanryo Higashionna aus der Stadt Naha. Später gründete Sensei Mabuni seinen eigenen Stil, er benannte diesen Shito-Ryu“.
Dieser Name beinhaltet – im japanischem Kanji – den Namen Itosu = Shi und Higashionna= To, die Namen seiner Meister, um diese respektvoll zu würdigen. Ryu bedeutet Stil.

Kenwa Mabuni Die Geschichte des Shitoryu Karate beginnt und endet jedoch immer mit dem Gründer Kenwa Mabuni. Sensei Mabuni zog 1929 nach Osaka und wurde - mit der Hilfe von Ryusho Sakagami - Vollzeit-Karatelehrer.
Da die Familie von Sensei Sakagami eine eigene Fabrik hatte, konnten sie Sensei Mabuni finanziell unterstützen, der daraufhin verschiedene Dojos in Osaka eröffnete. Sensei Sakagami lernte eine lange Zeit Shitoryu als Assistenztrainer unter Mabuni Sensei. Bis zum heutigen Tag sind die meisten Shitoryu Karatekas in Japan im Raum Osaka. Später verlor Sensei Sakagami sein Unternehmen und hatte daraufhin ebenfalls finanzielle Schwierigkeiten.
Sensei Ryusho Sakagami zog 1954 nach Tokyo und nachdem er ein Dojo in Shinkoiwa eröffnet hatte, traf er auf Seiko Suzuki und von dort an begann die Karriere von Sensei Seiko Suzuki in Karate-Do.
Sensei Seiko Suzuki wurde 1936 in Chiba-ken, Japan geboren. Nachdem Suzuki Sensei mit Karate angefangen hat, wechselte das Dojo in das Gebiet von Kameido.
Innerhalb von 2 Jahren unterrichtet er in Kameido unter der Leitung von Sensei Ryusho Sakagami. Da es nur wenige Dojos zu dieser Zeit in Tokyo gab, war es für ihn eine große Herausforderung.
Als Sensei Sakagami entschloss, den Sitz von Genbukan (Name des Karatestils von Sensei Sakagami) nach Yokohama zu verlegen, blieb Suzuki Sensei allein in Tokyo.
Danach wurde er die "rechte Hand" von Sensei Sakagami und unterrichtete in Yokohama als auch in anderen Genbukan Dojos.
Während dieser Zeit reiste einer seiner besten Schüler, H. Hiroyuki Miura, jedes Wochenende von Osaka nach Tokyo, um von ihm zu lernen. Heute in Sensei Hiroyuki Miura der „Supreme Advisor von Itosu-Kai“ und erhielt einen der höchsten Kartetitel „Hanshi“(Großmeister).
1959 wurde er Chief Instructor in Ost (Kanto) Japan für die neu genannte "Itosu Kai" Gruppe.Obwohl Sensei Sakagami viele gute Schüler in Osaka, Yokohama und Tokyo hatte, war Suzuki Sensei einer der Besten.
Er war bekannt für seine schnelle Auffassungsgabe neue Techniken und Konzepte zu erfassen und für seine langsamen und kräftigen Techniken. Er führte oft Demonstrationen und Workshops für Sakagami Sensei durch. Sensei Suzuki war sehr stolz, als er zum " 1.All Japan Karate-Do Championship" gefragt wurde, die Kata Gojushiho aufzuführen.
Da viele berühmte Meister beim Turnier anwesend waren, wurde er schnell als Assistenz-trainer von Sensei Sakagami, bekannt.
1965 erhielt Sensei Suzuki seinen 7. Dan Shitoryu Itosukai und 1980 den Menkyo Kaiden
was bedeutet, dass er das komplette Prüfungsprogramm absolviert und bestanden hat.
Zu dieser Zeit war er technischer Direktor in der Itosukai Gruppe, befähigt Dan Grade zu vergeben.
Wie viele Schüler von Sakagami Sensei, trainierte Suzuki Sensei auch mit dem Kobudo Meister Shinken Taira. Er war in Japan sehr berühmt und zu dieser Zeit wohl der vielseitigste Trainer in der Waffenkunst von Okinawa.
Nachdem Sakagami Sensei 1993 gestorben war, gründete Suzuki Sensei seinen eigenen Stil "Suzuki-Ha Shitoryu Nihon Karate-Do Seiko Kai".
Suzuki Sensei folgte dem Weg, den ihm sein Lehrer Ryusho Sakagami Sensei gezeigt hat.
Er unterrichtete wieder in Shinkoiwa Karate und Kobudo in Erinnerung an seinen großen Lehrer,
als auch ein Beispiel für den wahren Weg im Karate-Do zu sein.

1965 wurde Suzuki Sensei von Sakagami Sensei der Titel " Shihan " verliehen.
1968 erhielt er den 7.Dan, Kyoshi, in Kobudo von Shiken Taira Sensei.
1980 erhielt er von Ryusho Sakagami Sensei den 8.Dan, Hanshi, in Itosu-Ryu.
1992 wurde ihm der 8Dan, Hanshi, von Japan Karate Rengo-Kai verliehen.
Heute ist Suzuki Sensei 9. Dan, Soke, in Karate-Do.
Sein Overseas Instructor ist Kyoshi Akira Sato, 8.Dan.Als er an der Universität in Tokyo studierte, besuchte er des öfteren den Schrein "Yasukuni Shinto Temple".
Er wurde von seinem Englischprofessor informiert, dass es sich um eine spezielle Gedenkstätte für die früheren Kamikazeflieger handelt; sie wollten mit ihren Familien glücklich leben, aber sie mussten für den Krieg sterben. Ferner sagte er, wir sollten uns glücklich schätzen, zu einem späteren Zeitpunkt geboren zu sein. Seiner Meinung nach, sollte jeder etwas für diese Welt tun, ansonsten wären diese Soldaten umsonst gestorben.
Diese Einstellung war für Sensei Sato die treibende Kraft bzw. Verpflichtung ein Karate-trainer zu werden.
Kyoshi Akira Sato begann sein Karatetraining unter Suzuki Sensei.
Während seiner Karatelaufbahn hat er mehrere Jahre bei Sensei Ryusho Sakagami als auch bei Mabuni Sensei trainiert.Shitoryu Seiko Kai wird heute in mehr als 25 verschieden Ländern praktiziert.

Der Chief Instructor in Deutschland ist Sensei Athula Minithanthri, 7..Dan. Er ist ferner Chief Instructor und Koordinator für Shitoryu Seiko Kai in Europa.
Sensei Athula hat unter verschiedenen Meistern, wie z.B. Soke Yasuhiro Konishi 10.Dan von Japan Karate-Do Ryobu Kai, Kiyoshi Yamazaki 8.Dan, Vorsitzender in WKF techn.Kommission und Soke Teruo Hayashi von Hayashi-Ha Shitoryu Kai, usw trainiert.
Er unterrichtet auch Okinawa Kobudo und chinesische Waffen, die er bei Hanshi Motokatsu Inove und seinem Sohn als auch von dem chinesischen Meister Chew Choo Soot gelernt hat.

Japan Karate-Do Shitoryu und Seiko Kai

Karate-do has a rich and colourful history. In popular it has been portrayed as a tough, rough and direct martial art characterized by the white uniform and the legendary 'black belt'. While all aof these might be true characteristics of most Karate Styles, there is much more to discover about its history and roots in ancient oriental culture and thought.
To properly understand its origins, it is important to look at the Karate in a broader context. Much of what we now call'Karate' came from China. Some time in the mid 1300s the Ryukyu, a chain of island lying between China and southern Japan, became a centre for trade and commerce. Known as Okinawa today, these islands developed a distinct culture, caught between the political and cultural trade routes of various cultures and peoples. Trade and intellectual life were primarily driven it in 1875.
It was in this confluence that Karate and later Shitoryu Karate were born.
Any history of Shitoryu Karate, however, must begin and end with founder, Kenwa Mabuni.
He began his instruction in tutelage of the legendary Ankoh Yasutsune Itosu. He trained diligently for several years, learning many kata from this great Master. One of sensei Mabuni's close friends, Sensei Chogun Miyagi introduced him to another great of that period, Sensei Kanryo Higashionna, and began to learn Naha-Te under him as well.
Later in effort to popularize Karate in mainland Japan, Mabuni made several trips to Tokyo in 1917 to 1928 through the great help from one of his very close friend who also teaching and Jujitsu in Tokyo sensei Yasuhiro Konishi. As Mabuni sensei speak not good Japanese at that time and had some financial difficulties also Sensei Yasuhiro Konishi kept Mabuni sensei in his house all his visits to Tokoyo to support his financiall as well as to promote his Shitoryu in Tokyo area
In 1927 -28 Sensei Kenwa Mabuni was resided at Konishi sensei's house. At the same time Motobu sensei.
In 1934 The Dai Nippon Butoku-Kai, The Japanese Governing Body awarded titles in Jujitsu and Kendo, but not for Karate. Through teaching Kendo and Jujitsu Sensei Konishi became a member of the Japanese Governing Body for Jujitsu and Kendo.
After the hard work from Sensei Yasuhiro Konishi in 1935, the Japanese Governing Body the Dai Nippon Butoku-Kai recognized Karate as a member and first time in the Karate history awarded Kyoshi (Master Instructor) ranking to Konishi Sensei and then to Miyagi Sensei,and Ueshima Sannosuke Sensei(Founder of KushinRyu).
Around 1935, Konishi Sensei developed another Kata - Seiryu. During this period, Konishi Sensei , Mabuni Sensei, and Ohtsuka Sensei were training together almost daily. At that time Konishi Sensei developed Kata Seiryu known as Avoyagi also incorporated the essence of both Shitoryu and Ryobu Kan. As he worked to finalize the kata, he shared it with Morei Ueshiba Sensei and Mabuni Sensei.

Around 1935, Konishi Sensei developed another Kata - Seiryu. During this period, Konishi Sensei , Mabuni Sensei, and Ohtsuka Sensei were training together almokst daily. At that time Konishi Sensei developed Seiryu Kata incorporated the essence of both Shitoryu and Ryobu Kan. As he worked to finalize the kata, he shared it with Ueshiba Sensei and Mabuni Sensei.

The Dai Nippon Butoku-Kai also insisted that all budo have style names, and Konishi Sensei encouraged the prominent Karate instructors of that time to name their individual styles.
Because if his diligent efforts to advance Karate in Japan, as well as his high level of skill in Karate, Konishi Sensei was assigned in 1938 as the chairman of the screening committee of the Dai Nippon Botoku-Kai that reviewed all licensing applications in Karate Jutsu.

Then on all the Sensei registered their Karate styles with names. Gichin Funakoshi Sensei named Shotokan, Miyagi Sensei Goju Ryu, Mabuni Sensei Shito Ryu, Hironishi Ohtsuka Sensei Wado Ryu etc. Then on Karate gradually became popular sport to the world today.

By 1929, Mabuni sensei had moved to Osaka on the mainland, to become a full-time Karate Instructor with the support of Ryusho Sakagami (1915 -1993). Sakagami Sensei's family was very rich, they owned a sake factory in Osaka and Sakagami senei looked after Mabuni Sensei. He opened a number of dojo in the Osaka area. Sensei Mabuni Ryosho Sakagami leaned Shitoryu for a long time being assistant trainer to Mabuni Sensei. To this day, the largest contingent of Shitory practitioners in Japan is centred in the Osaka area.
Later the Sake factory went broke and Sakagami sensei himself was poor.
In early 1954's Sensei Ryusho Sakagami went to Tokyo and just after opened a dojo in Shin-koiwa area where Seiko Suzuki met Sakagami Sensei and began his career in karae-do.
Seiko Suzuki was born in Chiba-ken Japan in 1936. After Suzuki sensei joined karate ,dojo had moved to the Kameido area.Within two years, Suzuki sensei was named as the instructor of the Kameido dojo in Tokyo, under the direction of Ryusho Sakagami, while he enjoyed training immensely,he found running a dojo by himself to be very challenging indeed; in fact there were very few karate dojo in the Tokyo area at that time.
When Sakagami Sensei dicided to reloate the 'Genbukan' headquarters in Yokohama,he left Suzuki Senseni to teach in Tokyo, without supervision. More that a simple instructor, he became Sakagami Sensei's right hand man and principal assistant in the dojo,teaching in the Yokohama Headquarters, as well as other Genbukan dojos( as the group was then called)
During this time one of his best student from Osaka Dojo start to travelled from Osaka to Tokyo in every weekend to learn form him. He is Mr. Hiroyuki Miura.After Ryusho Sakagami sensei passed away Sensei Hiroyuki Miura became a Supreme Advisor to Itosu Kai and its present Grandmaster Saadaki Sakagami receiving one of the highest title in Karate “Hanshi” (Grandmaster)
By 1959 he was named as Chief Instructor in Eastern(Kanto) Jjapan for the freshly named "Itosu Kai" group.While Sakagami Sensei had many good students in Osaka, Yokohama and Tokyo, Suzuki Sensei was certainly considered one of the best.He was renowned for his ability to grasp new techniques and concepts very quickly and became know for his smooth and powerful technique. He oftern performed for Sakagami Sensei at demonstrations and workshops.
It was very proud to informed at that time for Suzuki sensei was asked to perform the kata Gojushiho at the 1st All Japan Karate-Do Championship. Many famous masters were at this tournament, and it was at this time that he became known as one of Sakagami Sensei's principal assistant.
In 1965 he received his 7th Dan, Shitoryu Itosukai, and in 1980 received his Menkyo Kaiden, which indicated that he had fully mastered the entire syllabus. By this time he was a technical director in the Itosukai group, able to awaed any Dan grade in the organization.
Like many of Sakagami Sensei's students, Suzuki Sensei often trained with the Kobudo master Shinken Taira as well. This instructor was famous in Japan as perhaps the most accomplished in the art of Okinawan weapons.
After Sakagami Sensei's passing in 1993, Suzuki Sensei decided to found his own style, the Suzuki-Ha Shitoryu Nihon Karate-Do Seiko Kai.
Suzuki Sensei continues to follow the path his teacher, Ryusho Sakagami, set before him. He has returned to the original location of his first dojo which was his great Master's dojo in Tokyo in Shin-koiwa,where he teaches both Karate and Kobudo as his Headquartered now to show a respect to his great teacher as well as to be an example for the real way of Karate (Karate-Do).
His overseas instructor is Kyoshi Akira Sato 8th Dan. When he was attending the University of Tokyo, there was a shrine "Yasukuni Shinto Temple" next door. He used to visit there. One day, his English professor told his there were many young men resting there.Men dead from Kamikaze. They really wanted to live, have families but had to die. He told the Sensei Sato we were lucky to have been born later and we must do something very hard in our life to this world, otherwise they would have died for nothing. This was a big driving force for Sato sensei commitment. This was the truthful commitment to be a full time karate trainer being a overseas Chief Instructor of the Seiko Kai Shitoryu for him. His
Shitory Seiko Kai is now practiced and taught in more than 20 different countries in the world. In Germany the Chief Instructor fo this style is Shihan Athula Minithanthri who is holding 6th dan from several Shitoryu styles. He is also the Chief Instructor and Coodinator for Shitoryu Seiko Kai in Europe. Sensei Minithanthri has experienced trained Karate under the guidance of several world renowned masters including Soke Yasuhiro Konishi from Japan Karate-Do Ryobu Kai, Soke Teruo Hayashi from Hayashi-Ha Shitoryu Kai as well.
He also teaches Okinawa Kobudo and Chinese oriental weapons which he learned from Moktokatsu Inove and his second generation from his son as well as from Grandmaster Chew Choo Soot both Karate and oriental Chinese weapons.
Therefore is a great opportunity for us to have a such a sensei in Shitoryu Karate-do Deutschland.
In 1965 Sakagami Sensei presented Suzuki Sensei with his Karate-do Shihan certificate.
In 1968 he was awarded 7th Dan Kyoshi in Kobudo by Shiken Taira Sensei.
In 1980Sensei Ryusho Sakagami awarded him 8th Dan Hanshi in Itosu-Ryu.
In 1992, Sensei Suzuki was awarded by the Japan Karate Rengo-Kai his 8th Dan "Hanshi" certificate.
Presently he is holding 9th Dan Soke in Karate-Do.

Hanshi Miura and Shihan Athula Kyoshi Sato with Shihan Athula Sensei Wim Tewinkel

Shotokan - came from Tomari city in Okiawa

Shitoryu - came from Shuri and Naha city in Okinawa

Gojuryu - came from Naha city in Okinawa