World Yoshukai Karate and Kobudo Organization

[sandman]

Osu!

Dent had suggested in another thread that he'd be interested in learning a bit more about my style, so I thought I'd create a new thread to tell a little about it. I'll do my best with what I know, but I'd like to invite WYKKO and others to fill in the details and correct me where I'm wrong.

Yoshukai karate was founded in 1963 by Katsuoh Yamamoto. Kaicho Yamamoto started his karate training in chito ryu under Dr. Chitose before he went on to found his own style. Yoshukai was first brought to the US in 1969 by Master Yuki Koda. Master Koda, as I understand it, was a highly influential karate-ka in the United States at that time, and Yoshukai began to spread. When Master Koda died, the US organization split up and World Yoshukai Karate and Kobudo Organization was founded. There are several different Yoshukai organizations out there now, but WYKKO is the only one recognized and certified by Kaicho Yamamoto. Kaicho Yamamoto is still alive today and active in the organization. He is also highly influential in the world of karate in general. As I understand it, he worked with Mas Oyama in the development of the knockdown fighting rules that we use today, and if memory serves me correctly, I believe I heard that he sits on the Olympics rules committee in the event that knockdown fighting ever becomes an Olympic sport.

Yoshukai is similar to Kyokushin in the sense that both are knockdown styles. We spar with the same rules. Overall, our training includes jissen kumite and body conditioning, along with ippon kumite, kata, kihon, and self defense. As the organization name implies, kobudo training is also a part of our syllabus. In kyu grades we work with nunchaku (starting at 6th kyu), bo (starting at 4th kyu) and sai (at 3rd kyu). Kobudo training later expands to tonfa and katana at higher dan levels. Kobudo training, like empty hand training, in WYKKO is traditional - none of our recognized kata will include things like double nunchaku or thowing the bo up in the air like a baton.

While we spar with similar rules as kyokushin, as far as I can tell there are quite a few differences in the way we execute kihon (different blocks, different ways of stacking the hands for blocks, some different stances, etc...) and I don't think we share any of the same katas.

Yoshukai has been a great style for me - when I started I didn't know anything about knockdown fighting. I was just looking for a good traditional Japanese style, because that was what I'd trained in as a kid. Once I started doing knockdown training I realized how important that was to my training as well.

That's about it - hopefully some will find this interesting, and I also hope that WYKKO and others with more knowledge of Yoshukai will jump in here and add what I've missed.

Osu!

[shidokanatlanta]

WKKKO are great people. i try to send students every year to their Superfight tournament in Oxford, Al. we have supported their event for about 8 years (semi and knockdown). the run a great tournament and they are all cool folks.

[sandman]

Thanks for that ShidokanAtlanta - I'm glad to hear that.

[shidokanatlanta]

there are only a few knockdown tournaments down south and this is our favorite.

[Hangtime]

Great start Sandman; I'll add more when I get some time. :)


Thank you ShidokanAtlanta,

If I recall correctly, me and Mr. Bowman were blue belts around the same time; he fought lightweight at our day time event and I was in the heavyweight division.


We appreciate your continued support, OSU!

[DharmaDesigns]

The Atlanta dojo has what must surely be one of the best instructors ever. Sensei has heart, character, determination, ethics, martial arts skills, and the perfect balance of challenging and encouraging his students at all levels and ages (5yrs-50yrs in same class!). The example he sets for us of responsibility, reliability, determination, and spirit is the reason I continue to be part of this excellent organization. Without his example and who he is as a human, I would never have become passionate about WYKKO, as I am. He is the real thing. The real deal. That is what I tell anyone who asks me about my karate. I am blessed to be under the instruction of such a man. I know he is a rare jewel in the world of Martial Arts. I also know that he will hate that I'm writing this because he is very humble, and I really don't think he truly understands what a gift he is to all of us in his dojo. But it must be said, and he has taught me to feel strong enough in myself to say it and just stand my ground.
I will write more later about our style, but my first post belongs to the man who inspires me to greatness and to Never Give Up! OSU-EN2 from morning until night everyday: Sensei.OSU-EN2

[FredInChina]

Thank you Sandman, xriscross03 & DharmaDesign, very interesting and instructive.
OSU!

[Hangtime]

World Yoshukai Karate is recognized for extensive physical training, self-defense, self-control and respect for oneself and others. World Yoshukai students are noted for their perseverance, loyalty, dedication, respectful manners and strong hearts. Grand Master Yamamoto has founded an organization determined to provide quality instruction to anyone at any age.

What Dharma describes in our instructor is Kaicho's dream for Yoshukai karate. Kaicho's dream is for Yoshukai to spread throughout the world; the work of our sensei, is the work of his sensei's and that is the advancement of our style. This work will be spread down to the instructors that our instructors will eventually produce, myself included.

I have been privileged to attend several clinics with Kaicho, teach/lead groups under Kaicho's watch, witness organization business conducted by him, received encouragement to fight knockdown from him ("...you're strong; you should fight...Oxford, next year" --and I got a broken nose for my efforts :cool:) and have shared meals (and beer) with him; he is truly an impressive man and he exhibits the same qualities that our instructor does (as does his instructors). I said it in another post "quality breeds quality" and that is one of the pillars of our style and it's teachings.

Off topic bragging: Not many people can say that Kaicho poured them a drink; it's usually the other way around --I can. :cool:

[ODL_26]

Hi everyone,

Is Yoshukai a knockdown only style ? It is possible that some yoshukai orgs also fight in wkf rules tournaments ?

If my memory is good, I remember seeing competitors with yoshukai patches at wkf tourneys in my area... or maybe I'm wrong.

[shidokanatlanta]

they do point, semi-knockdown and knockdown tournaments.

[sandman]

ShidokanAtlanta is correct. The emphasis is definitely on knockdown fighting - that is how we train in class, at least in the WYKKO organization. But we also host point sparring tournaments in an effort to get more participation in our events - there just aren't a whole lot of other knockdown dojos down south.

There are a number of other Yoshukai organizations out there - I can't speak for them. We do generally have some US Yoshukai competitors at our Superfights tournament and they tend to do well.

[ODL_26]

Sandman,

Could you give me some infos on the semi-knockdown rules, I'd be interesed in knowing more.

Thanks.

[Hangtime]

Sandman,

Could you give me some infos on the semi-knockdown rules, I'd be interesed in knowing more.

Thanks.

Semi knockdown is essentially the same as knockdown with pads and 2-1-1 minute rounds; all other knockdown rules apply

[sandman]

Sandman,

Could you give me some infos on the semi-knockdown rules, I'd be interesed in knowing more.

Thanks.

Semi knockdown is essentially the same as knockdown with pads and 2-1-1 minute rounds; all other knockdown rules apply

That sums it up

[ODL_26]

Just out of curiosity, is semi-knockdown reserved to kids only?

[sandman]

Just out of curiosity, is semi-knockdown reserved to kids only?

Nope, not in our organization anyway. Kids under 18 (I think its 18) can ONLY do semi knockdown, but adults have the option of competing in either. I think having the semi knockdown option is good because it gets more people into it. A lot of people will try semi knockdown but would not try full knockdown. And semi knockdown is a good way to get some experience under your belt before taking the next step.

[Dent]

Osu!

All very educational and informative, Sandman, XrissCross03 and DharmaDesigns! :)

Any chance of a video selection of your Kata? I don't know I've ever seen them before.

Osu!

[sandman]

Osu!

Dent, I don't have any videos of our katas - maybe some of the others do.

[meguro]

Thanks for the information! I like the mix of knockdown and kobudo!

[shidokanatlanta]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O4AQFdJ3MFY&feature=related

[Hangtime]

Ha! That was my first competition as a shodan...it was the day I received my promotion! Fun times, fun times...

The very beginning is an exercise called Bo tai Bo (Bo vs Bo) then Sai tai Bo (Sai vs Bo), then various self defense demonstrations (I am at the 3:37 mark).

[DharmaDesigns]

I am by no means a proper representation of what our katas should look like, but the first 27 Movements of my musical kata is a kata of ours called "Ni-Ju Shichi No Kata" and everything from minute 1:12 on is one of our katas called "Kihon Kata Sandan". WYKKO is NOT some cheesy musical kata production company; so please do not think this musical kata is a representation of WYKKO. Having said all that...enjoy::eek:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RmU5G_lz_AQ

OSU-EN2

[DharmaDesigns]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0QFMnenTQc

Sparring demo by two of our excellent WYKKO yudansha from Alabama

OSU-EN2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JdySHYzMArA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MueIpKblUYw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZazzI4ex3zM

[DharmaDesigns]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fjFnkY2w3LY

Grand Master Katsuoh Yamamoto

OSU-EN2

[DharmaDesigns]

Origins
Mamoru Yamamoto had always wanted to be considered "strong." As a young man, he pursued athletics and excelled in track and field. 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 Junior 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, Tsuyoshi Chitose. [1]

Katsuoh Yamamoto began his formal training in the Chito-ryu style under Tsuyoshi Chitose. In 1959, he opened his own school in Kitakyushu, Japan. From 1960 to 1963, Yamamoto was considered the top competitor in Japan.[citation needed] In 1963 Chitose pronounced him the Grandmaster of the Yoshukai style of karate.[citation needed] Today, Yoshukai is a worldwide organization.

Hiroaki Toyama and Mike Culbreth established the World Yoshukai Karate Kobudō Organization [2], under the authority of Yamamoto. 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 Kobudō Organization are recognized by Yamamoto as legitimate outlets for his teachings

[DharmaDesigns]

1960s
In the early 1960s, Chitose gave Yamamoto permission to start his own branch of karate. Yamamoto and his wife Sumiko began training students in their dojo in Kitakyushu, Japan under the name of Yoshukan. It wasn't until 1963 that Chitose visited Yamamoto and changed the 3rd kanji of their branch's name from "kan" - meaning to stand alone - to "kai" - meaning association. [1] Chitose did this because he felt that Yamamoto's work was very strong and had great potential for growth; hence, he foresaw that his small dojo would grow and become a large organization. This small beginning in the Fujitani Judo Club grew to a large number of dojo on Kyushu Island and the southern United States. Yamamoto and some of his students, including Mike Foster, accompanied 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 Tsuruoka, widely recognized as the father of Canadian Karate and, later, the founder of Tsuruoka Ryu.

During this time period, Yamamoto worked with 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 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.

Yamamoto was a 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 Yamamoto fought in at least 25 other dojos.

---Wikipedia

[DharmaDesigns]

Five Precepts - Shugyosha Gokun
1.Respect and Manners / Hitostu – Reigi o omonzubeshi
2.Be Prudent in Action / Hitostu – Taido o imashimubeshi
3.Be Prudent in Speech / Hitostu – Gengo o tsutsushimbeshi
4.Keep High Spirited / Hitostu – Iki o sakan ni subeshi
5.Keep Yourself Clean / Hitostu – Seiketsu o mune to subeshi

OSU-EN2

[DharmaDesigns]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=49PKfIlrZBQ

OSU-EN2

[DharmaDesigns]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=duJkRxzSfE8

OSU-EN2

[yoshukai]

Here is a video showing some fights at the Canadian Yoshukai dojo. This dojo was originally started by Shihan Hitoshi Shiozaki(deceased). The Yoshukai Canadian Honbu dojo is now run by Sensei Greg Turnbull in Victoria British Columbia, Canada.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SrZkQtcnZqU

[btk]

are there any Yoshukai dojo's in Europe?

[btk]

[QUOTE=DharmaDesigns;122724]Origins
...... He began his karate training in the style known as Chito-ryu (1000 year-old fist from China) under its originator, Tsuyoshi Chitose. [1]

:eek: a 1000 year old master ;) or was his fist a 1000 years old and did it pas from genertion to generation:D

Thank you all for the very interesting information. I think that it is a must for every-one who is into KD fighting

Osu-EN1

[yoshukai]

BTK,

Currently the only dojo's we have in Europe are in Germany. However, they just recently joined our organization and originally came from a different Yoshukai organization. They participate in WKF rules tournaments and as far as I know, do not practice knockdown kumite. Hopefully we can remedy this in the years to come.

Osu

[btk]

Osu Yoshukai,

I am often in Germany, do you know where?

Perhaps If I am in the area I could expand my knowledge an join a training?

Osu

[WYKKO]

Osu Yoshukai,

I am often in Germany, do you know where?

Perhaps If I am in the area I could expand my knowledge an join a training?

Osu

The dojo is located in Dusseldorf, Germany under Shihan Otto Ruumann.

[btk]

Osu thanks that is actually pretty close, will check it out.

[WYKKO]

Just wanted to point out that Seiunchin is not a World Yoshukai kata. I believe that the person in the video is misrepresenting our style by posting this on the YouTubes.

[sandman]

Osu thanks that is actually pretty close, will check it out.

Osu!

I found a link to their website in case you need it:

http://www.yoshukan-dortmund.com/

[btk]

Osu!

I found a link to their website in case you need it:

http://www.yoshukan-dortmund.com/

OSU-EN2 Thanks I was looking for that :D
While searching I also came across with YKO? are they practising semi-contact?

[yoshukai]

OSU-EN2 Thanks I was looking for that :D
While searching I also came across with YKO? are they practising semi-contact?

Not sure btk. There are quite a few Yoshukai Organizations. Did you mean YKI(Yoshukai Karate International)? I don't know of YKO...

Osu

[WYKKO]

Hey Sandman! Mach. Schnell!

[sandman]

Hey Sandman! Mach. Schnell!

Schneller! Schneller!

[Dent]

Osu!

Just wanted to point out that Seiunchin is not a World Yoshukai kata. I believe that the person in the video is misrepresenting our style by posting this on the YouTubes.

Is there a problem with them doing Seienchin, WYKKO? Is it officially frowned upon to do Kata from outside of the syllabus?

Osu!

[netsecure]

is there a linkage between kyokushin and yoshukai? As in was it influenced by Sosai oyama, or was the founder of yoshukai a student of sosai. Because mostly sosai is regarded as the founder of knock down karate. I dont think it was derived from kyokushin as other knock down karate styles are but developed at the same time as kyokushin was developing. And on the wiki page for yoshukai i see the parenthood is regarded as chito ryu.

[powerof0ne]

If you search on the forum netsecure you can find the history of Yoshukai. Off the top off my head it's an off shoot of chito ryu, not kyokushin. Shocking as it may seem...go to the first page of this very thread and Sandman explains a basic history on Yoshukai karate....;)
Osu!

[btk]

Not sure btk. There are quite a few Yoshukai Organizations. Did you mean YKI(Yoshukai Karate International)? I don't know of YKO...

Osu

Your right sorry for my misspelling.. :o

[WYKKO]

Osu!



Is there a problem with them doing Seienchin, WYKKO? Is it officially frowned upon to do Kata from outside of the syllabus?

Osu!

There isn't a hard and fast rule against doing kata outside the Yoshukai curriculum; however, Grandmaster Yamamoto is VERY particular about his students being of "one heart". We had a conversation about it one time and he said, "If you are Yoshukai, you do Yoshukai." Since he is our founder, he is very sensitive about how we portray the style. Specifically, when you put a video up using our kanji and trademarked logos, he expects the contents of the video to be reflective of what we do.

I'm pretty sure that Kaicho has NOT seen that video or he would have requested it be taken down. I remember one time when an instructor gave him a business card and it listed a bunch of martial arts on his card including Yoshukai and Kaicho said, "You are Yoshukai?" The instructor enthusiastically said, "Osu!" Kaicho replied, "Card should say 'Yoshukai' only. One man. One heart."

[Dent]

Osu!

There isn't a hard and fast rule against doing kata outside the Yoshukai curriculum; however, Grandmaster Yamamoto is VERY particular about his students being of "one heart". We had a conversation about it one time and he said, "If you are Yoshukai, you do Yoshukai." Since he is our founder, he is very sensitive about how we portray the style. Specifically, when you put a video up using our kanji and trademarked logos, he expects the contents of the video to be reflective of what we do.

I'm pretty sure that Kaicho has NOT seen that video or he would have requested it be taken down. I remember one time when an instructor gave him a business card and it listed a bunch of martial arts on his card including Yoshukai and Kaicho said, "You are Yoshukai?" The instructor enthusiastically said, "Osu!" Kaicho replied, "Card should say 'Yoshukai' only. One man. One heart."

Very interesting! Thank you for the explanation.

Osu!

[yoshukai]

is there a linkage between kyokushin and yoshukai? As in was it influenced by Sosai oyama, or was the founder of yoshukai a student of sosai. Because mostly sosai is regarded as the founder of knock down karate. I dont think it was derived from kyokushin as other knock down karate styles are but developed at the same time as kyokushin was developing. And on the wiki page for yoshukai i see the parenthood is regarded as chito ryu.


The linkage between kyokushin and yoshukai are the rules for knock down fighting. Yamamoto(yoshukai) and Oyama(kyokushin) worked together in developing the rules for Japanese full contact kumite. Mas Oyama and the kyokushinkai made this type of competition format popular througout the world. Yoshukai has been doing it on a parrallel level ever since the before metioned gentlemen developed this rule set. Kyokushin is a much larger organization and is in many more countries than yoshukai. This is part of the reason that everyone in the karate world knows what kyokushin is and not very many know about yoshukai.

Osu

Your right sorry for my misspelling.. :o

BTK, as far as I know, this group does not participate in knockdown style tournaments. They are mostly associated with semi-contact/wkf rules.

Osu

[WYKKO]

To add to Yoshukai's statement, it has been reported that Japan wants to add Jissen Karate as an Olympic Event if it ever hosts the Olympics again and Master Yamamoto is supposed to be on the IOC rules committee for the event.

[btk]

A question from my side, did any Yoshukai fighters participate in the early World Tournaments?

[yoshukai]

A question from my side, did any Yoshukai fighters participate in the early World Tournaments?

Not real sure btk. I know Yoshukai fighters participated in a number of early kyokushin tournaments, but I do not know about the world tournament. I do know that Mas Oyama brought quite a few fighters to the Yoshukai tournament in 1975. I can only assume he was getting fighters ready for his much larger, World Open that also took place in 1975.

Osu

[btk]

Not real sure btk. I know Yoshukai fighters participated in a number of early kyokushin tournaments, but I do not know about the world tournament. I do know that Mas Oyama brought quite a few fighters to the Yoshukai tournament in 1975. I can only assume he was getting fighters ready for his much larger, World Open that also took place in 1975.

Osu

Osu thanks yoshukai, per haps some other members on the forum, that know this? Osu-EN1