Yoshukai karate
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A branch discipline of the Japanese/Okinawan Martial Art, Karate-do, or Emptyhanded Way. Yoshukai, while it includes several kicking techniques such as round house, hook, and jumping kicks, is mainly defined by its wide range of hand/palm/elbow techniques. A certain amount of grappling technique are also taught, but this usually varies from school to school. Sparring is full contact, and a cup and chest protector are required along with the usual hand and foot gloves, head guard, and mouth guard.
The three kanji (Japanese symbols) that make up the word Yoshukai literally translated mean: Training Hall of Continued Improvement. The standard English translation is "Strive for Excellence". It is important to note that there are many styles of karate that call themselves "Yoshukai" around the world; however, only dojos in the World Yoshukai Karate Kobudo Organization are recognized by Grandmaster Yamamoto as legitimate outlets for his teachings.
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[edit] History
[edit] Origins
Grandmaster Yamamoto had always wanted to be considered "strong". As a young man, he pursued athletics and excelled in track and field competition. When he was fifteen years old, he was attacked by a group of older boys, and although he tried to defend himself using the judo taught at his Jr. High School, he was defeated and beaten by the gang of ruffians. It was at this time he decided to start training in the art of Karate.
He began his karate training in the style known as Chito-Ryu (1000 year-old fist from China) under its originator, Dr. Chitose. By the time Yamamoto was nineteen years old, he was considered the number one karate practitioner in Japan.
[edit] 1960s
In the early 1960's, Master Chitose gave Yamamoto permission to start his own branch of karate. Master Yamamoto and his wife Sumiko began training students in their dojo under the name of Yoshukan. It wasn't until 1963 that Dr. Chitose visited Master Yamamoto and changed the 3rd kanji of their branch's name from "kan" - meaning to stand alone - to "kai" - meaning association. Dr. Chitose did this because he felt that Master Yamamoto's work was very strong and had great potential for growth; hence, he forsaw that his small dojo would grow and become a large organization. Master Yamamoto accompanied Master Chitose on a visit to Canada in 1967, where they conducted demonstrations, a clinic, and presided over the Canadian National Karate Association tournament. This trip was organized by Mas Tsuroka, widely recognized as the father of Canadian karate and, later, the founder of Tsuruoka Ryu.
During this time period, Master Yamamoto worked with the Mas Oyama of Kyokushinkai Karate to develop the rules for Japanese Full Contact Sparring. During those times all competitive sparring was subject to the "Sun Dome" rule, meaning that competitors must spar at full speed but cannot make contact with one another. This made judging of fighting very subjective as one competitor might be faster but the other more powerful; thus, it was up to the judge to determine who would prevail in the exchange of techniques. This led Master Yamamoto to think, "What if they were to actually hit?" It was also commonly believed at that time that if one karate-ka hit another, the one receiving the blow could die.
Master Yamamoto was a very strong individual and in the early days of his school, he participated in a practice called "dojo yabe". In dojo yabe, a martial artist visits neighboring schools and fights with its top practitioners. In many cases, if a school is badly defeated, then they usually close their doors and stop teaching. It is estimated that Master Yamamoto fought in at least 25 other dojos. Master Yamamoto met Michael G. Foster in 1964 when he retured to Japan to test for second degree black belt. Mike Foster was stationed at Ituzuke air force base in the late 1950's and studied karate with sensei Watanade who was Goju karate sensei who taught at the Itazuke Administration Annex base gym. Sensei Watanade was very good friends with Master Yamamoto. Sensei Yamamoto would come to the gym sometimes twice a month. When Mike Foster came back to test in 1964 we spend many days at Sensei Yamamoto's dojo. Sensei Foster stayed appox 3 weeks. I left Japan August 1964 to return to USA Sensei Foster retured to Japan Sept. 1964 and lived in sensei Yamamoto dojo for appox 19 months returning to USA in 1966 as 4th degree. As for as Mike Foster being kicked thru a wall It makes a very interesting story but I don't believe it happen. It is true that Mike Foster devoted himself to Master Yamamoto teaching.
Foster was eventually named the U.S. officer of Yoshukai karate and was tasked with spreading Yoshukai in the United States. In 1969, Hiroyuki Koda came to the United States to help Foster with his mission of expanding the number of Yoshukai schools in America. It was some years later that Foster broke away from Master Yamamoto and started his own Yoshukai organization called Yoshukai International. (This organization, its schools, instructors, and black belts are not recognized by Grandmaster Yamamoto as legitimate licensed practitioners of Yoshukai karate to this day.) Koda later formed the United States Yoshukai Karate Association.
[edit] 1970s
Mike Foster brought Yoshukai karate to the United States in 1965. Yuki Koda came to the United States in 1968 under the patronage of Mike Foster. Yoshukai Karate began to flourish in the United States; however, this growth was not without its problems. During this time period, Mike Foster - Former head of Yoshukai development in the U.S. split from Grandmaster Yamamoto due to irreconcilable differences. In 1975 Mike Foster estatblished the Yoshukai International Karate Association and Master Hiroyuki Koda established the United States Yoshukai Karate Association (USYKA). Other former Yoshukai Black Belts also split to form their own Yoshukai groups without the approval of Grandmaster Yamamoto. During this time period, the USYKA was the only Yoshukai organization sanctioned by Grandmaster Yamamoto however; other branches of Yoshukai continued to strengthen and in 1989, Mike Foster was awarded the right to use the name "Yoshukai International Karate Association" (Mike Foster, et al. v. United States Yoshukai Karate Association, CA no. 89-D-741-N).
It was also during this time period that Master Yamamoto began preparing to fight a tiger. He undertook this task as an opportunity to improve relations between Japan and Philippines. Master Yamamoto wanted to transplant the remains of a WWII Japanese officer from the Philippines back to Japan. He also wanted to raise money for the people of the Philippines who had suffered during the war. He pondered upon how to do this and wanted to find a way to use his karate to accomplish this goal. It was then that he formulated the idea to fight a live, wild tiger and to use the money from the proceeds of the fight to give to the Filipino government.
[edit] 1980s
Kick punch
[edit] 1990s
[edit] 21st Century
At Sensei Yamamoto's request, Sensei Hiroaki Toyama and Sensei Mike Culbreth started the World Yoshukai Karate Kobudo Organization (WYKKO) in 2000. This organization is the only Yoshukai Karate directly affiliated with Grand Master Katsuoh Yamamoto. In 2006, during a trip to Japan, Sensei Hiroaki Toyama and Mike Culbreth were respectively awarded their 8th and 7th degree black belt.
