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Kaiso HisatakaCreator of the Shorinjiryu Kenkokan karate-do style.
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 Japan |
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Creator of the Shorinjiryu Kenkokan Karate-do Style
Kaiso Hisataka Korei was the last patriarch of the Shorinjiryu style and the founder of the Kenkokan Karate-do school. Throughout his long life, he nurtured a great number of students. Using techniques from various styles and his unique knowledge of Eastern and European medicine, Kaiso Hisataka created a scientifically-based, innovative style of karate-do - Shorinjiryu Kenkokan Karate-do.
Biography
Kaiso Korei Hisataka was born in the city of Shuri, Okinawa in 1907. However, there are reasons to believe that he was actually born a few years earlier. Inaccurate birth registration was a common occurrence at that time, especially for boys in samurai families. At birth, Kaiso Hisataka was named Seiki Kudaka, which corresponds to the pronunciation of his name, Masaesi Hisataka, in the Okinawan dialect. He was a direct descendant of Emperor Seiwa, the fifty-sixth Japanese emperor, and the uncle of the first Japanese shogun, Tametomo Minamoto, who fled Kamakura, the then military capital of Japan, after one of the battles in the middle of the 12th century. Seeking refuge from pursuit, he sailed into open sea and the storm and strong currents brought the battered ship to the shores of Okinawa. Since then, this family settled on Okinawa. Over the centuries, the family became one of the most influential in the political and military life of Okinawa. Kaiso's great-grandfather, Saison Toguchi, was granted the island of Kudaka by the royal family of Okinawa as a token of gratitude for his loyal and selfless service. This island held special significance as it was believed to be the place where rice cultivation first began. It is also known as Kaminojima - the island of gods. Subsequent generations added the word "Kudaka" to their family name, and this tradition is still preserved today. As a result, the majority of kata names in the Shorinjiryu style begin with the word "Kudaka".
Kaiso Korei Hisataka began studying martial arts at a young age, which was customary for sons of noble families in Okinawa. His first instructor was Sensei Anko Itosu, who introduced him to Shorinjiryu. His father, on the other hand, taught him the traditions of the Shishiryu bojutsu style and the secrets of the Kudakaryu family style. Since his father passed away early in Hisataka's life, the responsibility of instructing him in the martial arts was given to the leading kobudo master, Sensei Sanda Kanagusuku. Kaiso Hisataka progressed rapidly in martial arts and soon became the strongest not only among his peers but was also able to measure his skills against adult masters. Undoubtedly, his natural attributes played a significant role in this, as he stood at a height of 180 cm and weighed over 100 kg. For a period, Kaiso Hisataka was the sumo champion of Okinawa. Thanks to his noble lineage, he had access to the best masters in Okinawa and regularly held joint training sessions with great masters such as Chojun Miyagi, the founder of Goju-ryu, and Kenwa Mabuni, the founder of Shito-ryu.
In 1930, Kaiso Hisataka, along with masters Tetoku Kyan and Ryosei Kuwae, visited Taiwan, where they demonstrated traditional karate at the Taipei Martial Arts Center as part of an international festival. During the festival, two significant events involving Kaiso Hisataka took place. During one of the demonstrations, Kaiso Hisataka was challenged to a match by a female master of the naginata style. She gained fame by defeating Sensei Jundzo Sasamori, a 10th dan kendo practitioner. The female master had a condescending attitude towards the Chinese and Okinawans present, and Kaiso Hisataka accepted the challenge to uphold the honor of Okinawan Shorinjiryu. He fought using the bo staff, while his opponent actively used the cutting technique of the naginata on his legs. Hisataka used his family's evasive techniques and feints to make his opponent make mistakes. This tactic allowed him to constantly "open up" his opponent and strike at unprotected areas. By repeatedly delivering a "water wheel" kick (suisha gaeshi-uchi) to the head of the constantly attacking opponent, Hisataka achieved a brilliant victory, demonstrating his unique technique and excellent combat tactics. During the same festival, Tetoku Kyan was challenged by a well-known judo master, Shinzo Isida, who came with a group of students to demonstrate judo techniques. Isida taught martial arts at the Taipei Police Department, and a victory in the match could undoubtedly enhance his reputation. Master Kyan did not give the opponent any chance of success in the match. Using leg techniques, he kept Isida at a distance and quickly transitioned to hand attacks. Several times, Isida managed to engage in close combat in hopes of executing a successful throw or joint lock. But he was unsuccessful. Classical Shorinjiryu includes not only striking techniques but also a wide range of specialized throwing techniques, which was a complete surprise for the Japanese judoka. After launching another attack, Kyan delivered a powerful blow to Isida's head, knocking him out and achieving a clean victory. This competition, which attracted a large number of spectators, saw Kaiso Hisataka as an official referee, enriching his experience. Later, using the lessons learned from this match, Hisataka developed special exercises and training forms that are still used in the Shorinjiryu style. After the festival, the three Okinawan masters embarked on a journey through Taiwan, engaging in demonstration fights and challenge matches, where they were undefeated. Based on the experience gained and expanding their knowledge, they created the kata Ananku.
Sensei Kyan returned to Okinawa, Sensei Kuwae stayed in Taiwan, and Kaiso Hisataka embarked on a trip to China, starting with the Fujian province, known for its influence on the development of Okinawan martial arts. Here, he studied the Tenbinbo style. Continuing his journey through China, he not only studied various Chinese martial arts styles but also studied medicine and philosophy. Upon his return to his homeland, Hisataka spent some time consolidating his accumulated experience. By this time, he already had a group of students with whom he developed new techniques and training programs, laying the methodological foundation for the future new direction - Kenkokan Karate-do.
In 1932, Kaiso Hisataka visited Manchuria with a small group of students, where he performed at a martial arts festival. He demonstrated the Kanku (formerly known as Kusanku) and Shishiryu kata with the bo staff, as well as a series of self-defense techniques. This was the first official karate-do demonstration in China, which gave it special significance. As part of his journey, Kaiso Hisataka also visited Afghanistan and Russia. After returning from China, Kaiso Hisataka traveled through Japan, visiting various judo and kendo schools in many prefectures, where he consistently fought and defeated champions in each discipline. Once, in a fencing school, he was challenged to break a very sturdy wooden board that had been soaked in water for strength. The challenge was accepted, but Hisataka first asked the senior student of the school to try breaking the board with his sword. The student was unable to do so. However, Hisataka broke the board with the first side kick (sokuto yoko geri). The master who issued the challenge, armed with a sword, to preserve his honor, invited the unarmed Hisataka to a duel. And once again, Hisataka demonstrated the importance of strategy, defeating the warrior. This event laid the foundation for the technique known as "shin ken shira ha dori," which is one of the highest techniques in Shorinjiryu Kenkokan Karate-do.
In Japan, Kaiso Hisataka studied judo at the Kodokan, the "Mecca of Judo," under the guidance of Sensei Sanpo Tokugawa. After completing his training, he was awarded a 4th dan rank in judo straight from the white belt.
During World War II, Hisataka moved to Manchuria, where he was tasked with guarding several strategically important railway stations near the border between China and Mongolia. He lived there with his family.
One day, Minoru Motizuki, one of Japan's oldest martial arts virtuosos, arrived in a neighboring settlement. Sensei Motizuki was a student of Jigoro Kano (the founder of judo) and Morihei Ueshiba (the founder of aikido) and held 10th dan ranks in each of these disciplines. Kaiso Hisataka and Sensei Motizuki often trained together. Hisataka taught him karate-do, and Motizuki, in turn, gave advice on the art of grappling. After the war, when Hisataka returned to Japan, he founded the first Shorinjiryu Kenkokan Karate-do school in 1945 in the Hamada village park in Kumamoto Prefecture, Kyushu Island. During one of his trips to Okinawa, Kaiso Hisataka participated in the organization of the All-Okinawa Karate-do Federation. On Kaiso's recommendation, Master Sotin Tibana, a 10th dan in Shorin-ryu, was appointed as the president of the organization, and Hisataka himself became the technical director of the federation.
Later, in order to provide his children with a good education, Kaiso Hisataka moved with his family to Tokyo, relocating the Shorinjiryu Kenkokan Karate-do Hombu Dojo to Shimo-Kitazawa in the Setagaya district. Sensei Hironori Otsuka, the founder of Wado-ryu, also trained in the dojo alongside him. This is why many traditional technical techniques from Shorinjiryu can be found in Wado-ryu. For example, the strike called nagashi tsuki in Wado-ryu is based on the striking style of Shorinjiryu Kenkokan. In 1955, the Hombu Dojo was moved to the town of Vaseda in the Shinjuku area of Tokyo, where it remains to this day.
One of Kaiso Korei Hisataka's brightest students is his son, Masayuki Kukan Hisataka, a 9th dan holder, who succeeded his father as the supreme teacher in Shorinjiryu Kenkokan Karate-do. Masayuki Hisataka founded the World Federation of Koshiki Karate, where representatives of various styles of martial arts can compete using special protective equipment. Throughout his long life, Kaiso Korei Hisataka nurtured a great number of students who continue to successfully develop modern karate-do in various directions. He taught them various martial arts styles, including Ryukyu Karate-jutsu, bojutsu, sai-jutsu, yari-jutsu, sumo, judo, and Chinese styles such as Shorinryu Kempo and Hakko-ki Kempo. Using techniques from these styles and his unique knowledge of Eastern and European medicine, Kaiso Korei Hisataka created a scientifically-based, innovative style of karate-do - Shorinjiryu Kenkokan Karate-do. Kaiso Korei Hisataka preferred using kicking techniques, especially using the heel of his left leg. His favorite katas were Naihanchin, Tinto, and Kanku (Kusanku). He adapted bogu (armor and protective gear used in kendo) for training and competition in karate-do. Kaiso Hisataka laid the foundation for the modern competition system later known as Koshiki Karate.
Kaiso Masayuki Korei Hisataka passed away on August 14, 1988. He dedicated his entire life to the development and improvement of karate-do. The memory of this great master will remain in the hearts of his numerous followers who practice Shorinjiryu Kenkokan Karate-do.
