KARATE literally means "empty hand" which is a method of fighting without the use of weapons.
Karate was developed on islands of Okinawa, the main island of the Ryu Kyu archipelago which lies in the east China Sea between China and Japan.

In 1609 a newly unified Japan invaded Okinawa and strictly enforced the ban on the carrying of weapons by islanders. This encouraged the development of unarmed combat techniques. Gradually three styles of fighting emerged from the three towns around the capital. These were known as Shuri-Te, Tomari-Te and Naha-Te (from Shuri, Tamari and Naha towns).

By the end of the nineteenth century, the names of the styles had changed. The arts of Shuri
and Tamari became Shorin-Ryu (flexible pine school) and Naha-Te became Goju-Ryu (hard and soft school). There grew a tradition in Okinawa and Japan where both styles were taught as one.

Here, what was perceived to be the best elements of the one is fused with the best elements from the other. The largest school following this path was the Japanese Shito-Ryu founded by Master Mabuni.

Master Kenwa Mabuni

It is in Shito-Ryu that Kimura's Shukokai has its origins.

Mabuni was interested in a variety of marital arts and sports from which he applied certain athletic principles to his karate training. Mabuni developed protective equipment to enable fighters to spar more realistically. In 1934, Mabuni moved to Japan and settled in Osaka. Shito-Ryu had become one of the four main karate systems in the world. When he died in 1952, Mabuni left behind an impressive group of followers. One of his most senior students was Chojiro Tani.

Chojiro Tani was born in Kobe, Japan in 1921 and began studying the art of Karate during Junior High School at the Goju School of Karate founded by Master Chojun Miyagi. After a few years, Miyagi returned to Okinawa and the founder of Shito-Ryu, Kenwa Mabuni took over the teaching.

Soke Shigeru Kimura 10th Dan with his teacher and founder of Shukokai Soke Chojiro Tani 10th Dan Hanshi

After many years of training under Mabuni and becoming one of his most senior students, Tani received the certificate of succession from him and became the head of Shito-Ryu and enabled him to use the name Tani-ha Shitoryu. He proudly hung a wood carved sign above the entrance, which said SHUKOKAI (translated means “Way for All”).

Tani’s research and experimentation lead to faster kicks and direct blocks. His emphasis was on speed and mobility. Sensei Tani also emphasized on increasing acceleration and creating greater force.

In the 1960`s Master Tani visited Europe where Tani-ha Shito-ryu spread rapidly and went on to
reach most parts of the world. Shigeru Kimura, one of the top students of Chojiro Tani then took Shukokai to Africa and the United States. When Sensei Tani retired as Chief Technical Director he appointed Shigeru Kimura, 9th Dan as his successor.

Sensei Tani and Sensei Kimura both made the greatest contributions to the style by continually refining each technique to the highest degree, essentially re-defining the basics that had been practiced for centuries. They made the study of body mechanics their primary focus with the end result being the delivery of the greatest impact with the least amount of effort.

Being a direct descendant of Shito-Ryu, Shukokai inherits the characteristics of Okinawan Karate. While Shukokai shares many of the same punches, kicks and blocks found in other popular styles of Karate, it is in how these are executed that sets Shukokai apart.

Shigeru Kimura was born in Kobe, Japan on March 2, 1941. After having studied judo and kendo, at 16 he began learning karate with Soke Chojiro Tani. His progress was extraordinary and after training for only 5 years, he won the All Japan Championships and in the same year he became the World Shukokai Champion. In 1964 he again won the All Japan title and then withdrew from Competition.

Soke Shigeru Kimura

In 1965, without any knowledge of English, Kimura left Japan for Africa where he taught in Zimbabwe, Mozambique and South Africa. After establishing Shukokai in Southern Africa, Kimura moved to Europe and settled for a while in England.

New associations were rapidly formed and the growth of Shukokai in the West accelerated rapidly. And with Shukokai now established in Europe ad the U.K. Kimura moved on to the USA where he settled in 1971 and astounded spectators. Since that time many thousands of students have devoted themselves to the study of his technique and ideals.

The greatest achievement of Kimura was his strong, imperceptible, maximum strength at minimum energy based technique. Kimura also developed the so-called impact training using special impact pads. The technique of Sensei Kimura was so unexceptionally strong and unnoticeable that it inspired all his students to surpass themselves time after time. Sensei Kimura developed a technique where the future karate generations continue to feel his spirit.

At 37 years of age, Sensei Kimura was one of the youngest karateka ever to have been graded to 7th Dan in a major acknowledged karate style.

In Kimura’s dojo, there was a large poster bearing the Shukokai motto: Effort, Respect, Patience, and Creativity, Temperance. He was never complacent and was always looking for ways to improve speed, power and control. He spent considerable time adjusting and improving his technique regarding his approach as scientific – always looking for new and better ways. He revolutionized Shukokai with his evolved technique. The goal was always to maximize speed, power and control to achieve what Sensei regarded as essential for a martial artist – “One Hit One Kill”. Sensei Kimura’s emphasis on technique was uncompromising and his focus on specific detail was intense.

Kimura Shukokai Karate is more than just Karate it is Karate Do (a way of life). Sensei Kimura’s philosophies continue to enable the student to awaken the power within and strive to excel in every facet of life.