Kokusai Shorinjiryu Karatedo

Zen Nippon Shorinjiryu Renshinkan Karatedo was established by Soke Tamotsu Isamu in 1955. Tamotsu practiced many different martial art styles in Japan, China and Taiwan, which helped him in forming his own vision and style. He also aimed at developing a safe way to compete, and to test the real power of the techniques. He practised boogutsuki style kumite, which means that the practitioners use a helmet, gloves and a chest guard.

Shorinjiryu Renshinkan Karatedo made its first appearance in Finland in the early 1970's. The style differs from other karate styles by its spinning techniques, and generous use of jump kicks and strikes. Also characteristic to Shorinjiryu karatedo is evasion by shifting the body and blocking at the same time. The stances are rather upright and narrow in comparison to many other Japanese karate styles.

Shimabukuro Zenryo and Nakazato Joen had a great influence on Tamotsu. They both had been learning directly from the legendary Kyan Chotoku. Tamotsu was first training under Shimabukuro Zenryo, and later, he started to train under Nakazato Joen after following the recommendation from  Shimabukuro Zenryo. (Source: Soshi Yuji Matsuoi has learned this through Sensei Mitsuyuki Kasaba. Mitsuyuki Kasaba was one of the last personal students of Sensei Nakazato Joen, and he has received Menkyo Kaiden in Okinawa Kyudokan Shorinjiryu Karatedo style from Nakazato Sensei. Menkyo kaiden means "Learned all")

The teacher of Soshi Matsuoi, the founder of Kokusai Shorinjiryu Karatedo, was Sensei Motomu Ikubo 8. dan Hanshi Shorinjiryu Renshinkan Karatedo. Ikubo-Sensei was a close student of Soke Tamotsu Isamu. Soshi Matsuoi started training karate under Ikubo-Sensei in 1969 at the age of 16. Soshi Matsuoi moved to Finland to teach Shorinjiryu Renshinkan Karatedo style in 1979. The teacher-student relationship with Ikubo-sensei continued until the year 2006.

Kokusai Shorinjiryu karatedo was established as a distinct style during 2005. The style was established by Soshi Matsuoi based on his decades of practice within the Shorinjiryu Renshinkan Karatedo style. The outward appearance of the techniques is largely based on the original forms of Zen Nippon Shorinjiryu Renshinkan Karatedo established by Soke Tamotsu Isamu in 1955. Soshi Matsuoi has developed the deeper meaning and the ideology of the style further, but has always honored the original vision of Soke Tamotsu Isamu.

Kokusai Shorinjiryu Karatedo is a comprehensive matrial art combining strikes and kicks to joint locks and throwing techniques, as well as usage of traditional weapons (Shorinjiryu Ryukyu Kobujutsu). All of these are trained in forms of basic-techniques, pair techniques, kumite (applied techniques for sparring) trainings and kata. The style follows 8.dan system.

Techniques

Kata:

• Wanshu
• Ananku
• Seisan
• Bassai
• Gojushiho
• Chinto
• Kusanku
• Pinan 1-5
• Naifanchi 1-3

Katas are based on traditional Okinawan forms. Please see the roots of the katas below.

In addition to the above katas we practice:

• Four different versions of kihon kata:
  • Chi-no kata (Earth)
  • Kuu-no kata (Air)
  • Ten-no kata (Sky)
  • Shuto-no-kata

Soshi Matsuoi developed kihon katas for use in karate and kobudo basic training.

Formal techniques:

• Yakusoku kumite (37 techniques, through Soke Tamotsu Isamu)
• Zaho techniques (developed by Soshi Matsuoi, defending from kneeling position)
• Oyokumite (pair techniques developed by Soshi Matsuoi especially for boogutsukikumite practice)
• Tankensabaki techniques (through Ikubo-Sensei, defending against knife)