Sandhills Dojo Shorei-Kan Okinawan Budo Kaisai-do

[03/14/21]   From Master Toguchi, founder of our school: ′′ The Shorei Kan is the art of knowing how to smile on every occasion: if you can't smile, it means you're too stiff to fight, if you can smile, it means you're not there more need to fight ′′

Truly

Karate viewpoints

Karate viewpoints

Traditional Okinawan Goju Ryu Karate

History of Goju Ryu Karate |

A brief history

zhkarate.com

Karate viewpoints

Karate viewpoints

Shorei-Kan Crest

The deep meaning behind the design of the Shorei-kan emblem is one that every student of Shorei-kan should know!

Karate was born in Okinawa, in a time of peace. The name ‘Karate’ translates as ‘Empty Hand’ (Kara=empty, Te =hand), thus emphasizing the intent of karate as peaceful, meant only for self-defence.

Grandmaster Toguchi decided to call his school, Shorei-kan, (House of Politeness & Respect), in keeping with the non-confrontational spirit of Karate & the duality of
Goju-Ryu karate. Go-ju, meaning ‘hard-soft’ is unique to karate as it combines hard, closed hand, linear strikes and soft, open hand, circular blocks. Thus, while karate is primarily about self-defence, it also teaches counter-attacks, as a strong defence must be balanced with a strong offence.

These principles are reflected in the emblem that Toguchi Sensei designed. The peaceful ethos of karate & the ‘ju’ (soft) is reflected in the Sakura flower that is the shape of the emblem. The Sakura blossom is the
traditional symbol of peace for the Okinawan people and a symbol of their heritage. The fist in the centre represents ‘budo’ or martial spirit and the ‘Go’ (hard), thus emphasizing the balance between hard & soft, defence & offence. The black spots on the knuckles emphasise the importance of precision, focus & technique. The Kanji script around the fist are the characters ‘Sho-Rei-Kan’.

Dojo Kun

Onegaishimasu! How many hours a week do we spend in the dojo? Even if we practice thrice a week, that is just 3 hours on average per week. 3 hours out of 168. We spend 98% of our time outside the dojo. So how does 2% of the time we spend per week impact our lives? What values and principles do we learn and absorb into our lives to say that karate has a profound impact on our lives? This is the importance of dojo kun in Shorei-kan.

Not every karate school has 'dojo kun' or 'dojo rules'. In Shorei-kan the dojo kun are not merely rules to be followed in the dojo, they are guidelines that help a karateka to embrace the true meaning of Karate-do and apply it outside the dojo. That is where we must apply the values that we learn, to our daily lives. This is why it is called Karate-Do, as it is the 'Way of Karate', emphasizing a deeper meaning and philosophy.

Toguchi Sensei created the dojo kun to reflect the values of the school, which are embedded in the very name he had so carefully chosen. Sho-Rei-Kan, 'House of Courtesy & Respect'. The purpose is to reinforce the principles of Karate-do by inculcating good values, like courtesy, humility, patience, respect, commitment, balance and harmony. These values and principles have profound positive impact on our daily lives, if followed diligently.

Shorei-kan dojo kun emphasizes the relevance of karate beyond the dojo. In Shorei-kan, understanding and applying these principles beyond the dojo, ensures that karate will not be limited to merely punches, kicks and techniques, instead, karate becomes a way of life. This is Karate-do. This is Shorei-kan.

Kobudo

Con il termine Kobudō di Okinawa (沖縄古武道 – letteralmente “Antica Arte Marziale di Okinawa”) ci si riferisce a quei sistemi di combattimento armato sviluppatisi nel corso di molti secoli nelle Isole Ryūkyū, in particolare nell’isola di Okinawa.

Esistono due tipi di Kobudō: il primo, di molto più antico, si sviluppò tra i bushi (guerrieri) della corte del Regno delle Ryūkyū e faceva uso di armi quali Katana, Naginata, Tantō, Yari e altre. Questa tipologia è strettamente legata al Te di Okinawa ed è ancora oggi insegnata dalle poche scuole che tramandano quest’antica arte guerriera.

Il secondo tipo di Kobudō è molto più recente e iniziò a svilupparsi attorno alla metà del 700, sebbene alcune armi furono introdotte solo a fine 800 e durante il 900. Furono sempre i bushi (e non i contadini e i pescatori, come erroneamente a lungo creduto) a sviluppare questo “nuovo Kobudō” dalla forte influenza cinese, recandosi spesso in Cina (da dove riportarono nuove armi e tecniche) e creando numerosi kata. Le cinque armi principali di questo tipo di Kobudō sono Bō, Tonfa, Sai, Nunchaku e K**a.

Le correnti principali del secondo tipo di Kobudō sono cinque. Due tra i più celebri Maestri del 900 furono Akamine Eisuke (allievo di Taira Shinken, fondatore del Ryūkyū Kobudō) e Matayoshi Shinpō (allievo di suo padre Shinkō, fondatore del Matayoshi Kobudō). Il M° Tamano studiò sia con Akamine che con Matayoshi e dall’unione di queste esperienze con quella del Gōjū-ryū creò il sistema di Kobudō Shōrei-Kai praticato nella nostra scuola.

[05/20/20]   Grandmaster Seikichi Toguchi. Kancho Toguchi was not only one of Master Chojun Miyagi’s top students, he implemented Master Miyagi’s vision of creating additional katas to bridge the gaps in the nascent Goju-Ryu system.

In Goju Ryu there are 12 core katas. However, in Shorei-kan there are 9 additional katas that were created specifically by Toguchi Sensei. The role that Toguchi Sensei has played in creating katas to supplement those taught by Miyagi Sensei is not generally known. During the time that Miyagi Sensei was alive, he had started the streamlining of karate katas by creating basic introductory katas for school children, called 'Fukyugata'. Miyagi Sensei created two Fukyugata, called Gekisai Dai Ichi & Gekisai Dai Ni. However, Miyagi Sensei passed away before completing his goal of adding more katas to bridge the gap between these Fukyugata and the other Kihongata & Kaishugata.

Toguchi Sensei took it upon himself to ensure that Miyagi Sensei's dream did not go unfulfilled. After Miyagi Sensei passed away and his seniormost students opened their own dojos, Toguchi Sensei's dojo was one of the first to receive American G.I's and he wanted to ensure that people who attended his dojo could be taught in a systematic, progressive manner that would make it easy for them to learn and practice. To do this, he created 3 Fukyugata. These were originally called Fukyukata Dai Ichi, Fukyokata Dai Ni & Fukyukata Dai San. However, because of the American mispronunciation of 'Fukyu' (sounded like a swear word), he changed the name to 'Hookyu', thus these became the Hookyukata series. This was then followed by Gekisai dai ichi and ni. Toguchi Sensei then created Gekisai Dai San, which introduced the double-hand chudan-uke at the start of the kata (to link the fukyugata to the kihongata of Sanchin & Tensho). This was followed by Gekiha Dai Ichi & Gekiha Dai Ni. Each progressive kata was designed to introduce the karateka to a new technique, stance, or progression of block, etc. In this manner, Toguchi Sensei created a system that allowed the karateka to be systematically introduced to progression in a linear, simplistic, traceable system.

Apart from these kata, he created Kakuha Dai Ichi & Kakuha Dai Ni and created the bunkai for the entire curriculum. The last kata he created was the 'Hakutsuru No Mai' (Dance of the White Crane). This kata was created based on a dream that Miyagi Sensei had of a White Crane and Toguchi Sensei created this kata in honour of his Sensei. This kata also references Goju Ryu's origins from Fujian White Crane boxing. Today, most Goju Ryu schools had adopted Toguchi Sensei's bunkais (he created contiguous bunkai to match the flow of the kata, from start to finish. Prior to this bunkai was practiced only a short series of movements and not in a continuous flow) and kiso-kumite as part of their syllabus and this is his greatest legacy, but one that few people are aware of.

We at Shorei-kan are torch-bearers of that legacy and share in the pride of one of the great lineages in karate. Today we join hands with our Shorei-kan family around the world to celebrate the birth anniversary of one of the greatest karate masters in history and someone we are so blessed to call our Kancho.

Shorei-kan Karate India & Asia

Today we join hands with our Shorei-kan family around the world, to celebrate the 103rd birth anniversary of our founder, Grandmaster Seikichi Toguchi. Kancho Toguchi was not only one of Master Chojun Miyagi’s top students, he implemented Master Miyagi’s vision of creating additional katas to bridge the gaps in the nascent Goju-Ryu system.

In Goju Ryu there are 12 core katas. However, in Shorei-kan there are 9 additional katas that were created specifically by Toguchi Sensei. The role that Toguchi Sensei has played in creating katas to supplement those taught by Miyagi Sensei is not generally known. During the time that Miyagi Sensei was alive, he had started the streamlining of karate katas by creating basic introductory katas for school children, called 'Fukyugata'. Miyagi Sensei created two Fukyugata, called Gekisai Dai Ichi & Gekisai Dai Ni. However, Miyagi Sensei passed away before completing his goal of adding more katas to bridge the gap between these Fukyugata and the other Kihongata & Kaishugata.

Toguchi Sensei took it upon himself to ensure that Miyagi Sensei's dream did not go unfulfilled. After Miyagi Sensei passed away and his seniormost students opened their own dojos, Toguchi Sensei's dojo was one of the first to receive American G.I's and he wanted to ensure that people who attended his dojo could be taught in a systematic, progressive manner that would make it easy for them to learn and practice. To do this, he created 3 Fukyugata. These were originally called Fukyukata Dai Ichi, Fukyokata Dai Ni & Fukyukata Dai San. However, because of the American mispronunciation of 'Fukyu' (sounded like a swear word), he changed the name to 'Hookyu', thus these became the Hookyukata series. This was then followed by Gekisai dai ichi and ni. Toguchi Sensei then created Gekisai Dai San, which introduced the double-hand chudan-uke at the start of the kata (to link the fukyugata to the kihongata of Sanchin & Tensho). This was followed by Gekiha Dai Ichi & Gekiha Dai Ni. Each progressive kata was designed to introduce the karateka to a new technique, stance, or progression of block, etc. In this manner, Toguchi Sensei created a system that allowed the karateka to be systematically introduced to progression in a linear, simplistic, traceable system.

Apart from these kata, he created Kakuha Dai Ichi & Kakuha Dai Ni and created the bunkai for the entire curriculum. The last kata he created was the 'Hakutsuru No Mai' (Dance of the White Crane). This kata was created based on a dream that Miyagi Sensei had of a White Crane and Toguchi Sensei created this kata in honour of his Sensei. This kata also references Goju Ryu's origins from Fujian White Crane boxing. Today, most Goju Ryu schools had adopted Toguchi Sensei's bunkais (he created contiguous bunkai to match the flow of the kata, from start to finish. Prior to this bunkai was practiced only a short series of movements and not in a continuous flow) and kiso-kumite as part of their syllabus and this is his greatest legacy, but one that few people are aware of.

We at Shorei-kan are torch-bearers of that legacy and share in the pride of one of the great lineages in karate. Today we join hands with our Shorei-kan family around the world to celebrate the birth anniversary of one of the greatest karate masters in history and someone we are so blessed to call our Kancho.

Happy Birthday Sensei!

[03/17/20]   Sorry, no classes tonight 😞.

Karate viewpoints

Karate? It is Never Too Late - Healthy Aging ®

Never to late !

healthyaging.net never too late for karate

Karate? It is Never Too Late - Healthy Aging ®

It’s never to late.

healthyaging.net never too late for karate

Suibukan of West Virginia

https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/healthy-living/martial-arts-physical-mental-benefits-health-exercise-tai-chi-karate-a8342756.html?fbclid=IwAR3Qd7WEzNgWXgmix9VMiU14WCCyHhhwsYMAcGqgsiuOI8fLucQz-JJFr4Y

Karate viewpoints

Martial arts can improve your attention span and alertness long term – new study

Another good reason !

theconversation.com Martial arts help boost both brain and body.

Self-Control, Not Violence, is the Result of Teaching Martial Arts to Young Kids

Self control

whistlekick.com The reason why Martial Arts is a beloved art form and way of life is because of the beautiful paradox that it presents. Martial arts is all about learning to fight so that you don’t have to. Wait, what?! Yes, it is true. The main and most crucial lesson that Martial Arts teaches is for one to know...

Karate viewpoints

[12/07/19]   Monastery-Kan Dojo-Kun: the rules of the dojo.

Our Karate is part of the budo (wǔ dào), the Japanese martial way that includes several Japanese martial arts. The term budo is translatable with " via Della Guerra " or " via that leads to peace ". both translations are combined with the characteristics of budo, and therefore of the school monastery-Kan: we learn a fighting art but with the goal To avoid any conflict. We learn the war committing to peace. The Martial Arts part of budo do not therefore have the aim of the exclusive progress from a technical point of view, but alongside the latter a spiritual and mental growth of the practitioner, based on solid ethical and moral principles In the same term karate-Do (kōng shǒu dào), the last kanji is that of via, intended as a personal growth path that is combined with technical progress and that should guide us in our daily lives, inside and outside the dojo
The Basic principles of the monastery-kan school are enclosed in the six points of the dojo-kun, the rules of the These are six principles, of equal importance, that the student must strive to do their own and apply in every situation of their daily life.
The first point, " first of all, always be gracious and humble ", reflects the spirit and the name of our " school of courtesy and good manners ".
Interesting is the double possibility of interpretation of the third point, " first, learn to be patient ". here, the Japanese term nintai (rěn nài), translated as " patience ", can also be made with " perseverance ": a patience Therefore, it is the single moment in which to brake the negative emotions of anger and anger, both to the constancy and commitment necessary to progress in the martial way and in all the areas of daily life that require prolonged effort over time. With this last interpretation, the third point invites us to always keep our goals in front of our eyes and to pursue them, we will be able to overcome the difficulties we will

In the next post, the dojo-kun will take us to discover the meaning of the name of our

" if you know how to smile, what's the point of fighting?"

Hit the translation button.

Lo Shōrei-Kan sbarca in Europa con Tamano Toshio sensei.

Tamano Toshio (Tōkyo, 14 settembre 1942) iniziò a seguire i corsi tenuti da Toguchi sensei a Tōkyō nel 1960. Dopo alcuni anni, si trasferì a Okinawa, iniziando ad insegnare nel Dōjō di Toguchi sensei a Koza. Negli anni a Okinawa, Tamano sensei ebbe anche l’opportunità di studiare l’arte del Kobudō di Okinawa (沖縄古武道), “Antica arte marziale di Okinawa”, la quale prevede l’utilizzo di armi tradizionali. I suoi maestri furono due tra i più grandi della storia di quest’arte marziale: i sensei Matayoshi Shinpō e Akamine Eisuke. Dalla sintesi di questi studi, e dal proprio sviluppo personale, Tamano sensei estese il sistema Shōrei-Kan anche al Kobudō, creando il metodo Shōrei-Kai.
Nel 1969, Tamano sensei venne inviato dal suo maestro a New York City per guidare il pre-esistente Dōjō della Grande Mela e, nel 1971, fu nominato responsabile per gli Stati Uniti. Tamano sensei rimase negli USA oltre dieci anni, contribuendo a formare insegnanti e creando una rete di Dōjō ben consolidata.
Nel 1982, si trasferì a Milano e, l’anno successivo, Toguchi sensei lo nominò 7° dan e gli conferì il titolo onorifico di Shihan per l’impegno profuso nella diffusione della scuola. Inoltre, nel 1986, Toguchi sensei, affidò al maestro Tamano la direzione dello Shōrei-Kan Europe.
Nel 1990, Tamano sensei lasciò l’Italia trasferendosi in Francia dove vive tuttora.
Toguchi sensei morì nel 1998. Con la scomparsa del suo fondatore, la scuola vide una scissione interna e Tamano sensei fu riconosciuto kanchō (caposcuola) delle scuole europee e di parte di quelle del continente americano.
Ad oggi, Tamano sensei coordina e dirige le attività dello Shōrei-Kan Europe, tenendo frequenti seminari in Italia, Spagna e Francia.
Al Maestro Tamano si devono la creazione di nuovi kata e kumite, il diffondersi del Karate Shōrei-Kan e del Kobudo in America e in Europa, l'ampliamento del sistema Shōrei-Kan e la stesura di vari libri.
Con il post di oggi, si conclude la storia dalla genesi del Karate allo Shōrei-Kan odierno. Il futuro è ancora da scrivere!

Nel prossimo post: Dōjō-Kun, le regole del Dōjō.

In foto: Tamano Toshio