History

History of Shukokai

The Shukokai style was founded in 1950 by Chojiro Tani who studied Shito-ryu under Kenwa Mabuni.

It is a style that brought pad work into Karate training, which resulted in the style become known for its hard hitting techniques and scientific approach to body kinetics. Shigeru Kimura brought the style the England in the 70’s. 

Shukokai means "Way for All" and this reflects how the style has developed. The style is very fast & uses a relatively high stance to aid mobility. Shukokai enhances the traditional styles of Karate by blending it with the logical principles behind modern sporting dynamics.

History of the SKU (Shukokai Karate Union)

The SKU is one of the oldest Karate organisations in Britain & it has a long history for producing Karate excellence. It is now headed by Sensei Stan Knighton 9th Dan.

www.sku.org.uk

About Us

Tokkotai - The Karate Centre (formely known as Tokkotai Karate Club) was formed in 1978 by Sensei Damien McLaughlin 7th Dan and started out at the old boys club just off huddersfield road opposite St. Pauls School. In 1979 the club moved to the Copley centre when it was first opend and has been there right up to the present day.

In 1995, Sensei McLaughlin retired from teaching and handed Tokkotai over to his most senior student Craig Murphy 6th Dan to run on a full time basis.

TKC is one of the oldest established Karate clubs in Tameside and has produced many champions at both local and national level.

The name 'Tokkotai' means 'Special or Secret Attack'.

History of Karate in General

The first public demonstration of karate in Japan was in 1917 by Gichin Funakoshi, at the Butoku-den in Kyoto (Hassell 1984). This, and subsequent demonstrations, greatly impressed many Japanese, including the Crown-Prince Hirohito, who was very enthusiastic about the Okinawan art. In 1922, Dr. Jano Kino, founder of the Japanese art of Judo, invited Funakoshi to demonstrate at the famous Kadoka Dojo and to remain in Japan
to teach karate. This sponsorship was instrumental in establishing a base for karate in
Japan. As an Okinawan "peasant art," karate would have been scorned by the Japanese
without the backing of so formidable a martial arts master (Maliszewski, 1992).

Today there are four main styles of karate-do in Japan: Goju-ryu, Shito-ryu, Shotokan, and Wado-ryu:

Goju-ryu developed out of Naha-te, its popularity primarily due to the success of Kanryo Higaonna (1853-1915). Higaonna opened a dojo in Naha using eight forms brought from China. His best student, Chojun Miyagi (1888-1953) later founded Goju-ryu, 'hard soft way' in 1930. In Goju-ryu much emphasis is placed on combining soft circular blocking techniques with quick strong counter attacks delivered in rapid succession.

Shito-ryu was founded by Kenwa Mauna (1889-1952) in 1928 and was influenced directly by both Naha-te and Sheri-te. The name Shinto is constructively derived from the combination of the Japanese characters of Mauna’s teachers' names - Ankh Its and Kanryo Higaonna. Shito-ryu schools use a large number of Kata, about fifty, and is
characterized by an emphasis on power in the execution of techniques.

Shotokan was founded by Gichin Funakoshi (1868-1957) in Tokyo in 1938. Funakoshi
is considered to be the founder of modern karate. Born in Okinawa, he began to study karate with Yasutsune Azato, one of Okinawa's greatest experts in the art. In 1921 Funakoshi first introduced Karate to Tokyo. In 1936, at nearly 70 years of age, he opened his own training hall. The dojo was called Shotokan after the pen name used by Funakoshi to sign poems written in his youth. Shotokan Karate is characterized by powerful linear techniques and deep strong stances.

Wado-ryu, 'way of harmony', founded in 1939 is a system of karate developed from jujitsu and karate by Hienori Otsuka as taught by one of his instructors, Gichin Funakoshi. This style of karate combines basic movements of jujitsu with techniques of evasion, putting a strong emphasis on softness and the way of harmony or spiritual discipline.