Karate literally means “empty hand” and karate-do “the way of the empty hand” which is a method of fighting without using weapons.

Karate was developed on the island of Okinawa, the main island of the Ryu Kyu archinpelago, which lies in the East China Sea between China and Japan.

Around 1609 a newly unified Japan invaded Okinawa and crushed all resistance. The Japanese victors imposed a ban on all but their own warrior elite on the carrying of weapons. As a result the people of the island developed a system of unarmed combat from which present day Karate has evolved.

Alongside the practice of unarmed fighting skills, the people of Okinawa perfected various weapon systems based on the use of everyday implements such as rice flails, grindstone handles and sickles. Even the humble walking stick became a deadly weapon in the hands of an expert. All of these systems have survived to the present day and are practices in Dojos thought the world.

Modern Karate is made up from many styles which stem from their “hard and flexible`’ schools of origin. The main systems practised today include Shotokan, Gojoryu, Wadoryu and Shukokai.

Sensei Tani who up until recently lived in Kobe City Japan founded Shukokai after the Second World War. Sensei Tani sought to perfect his style by studying the mechanics of the human body and developed techniques, which could be delivered with maximum efficiency.

His most senior student was Sensei Shirgeru Kimura who left Japan to travel around the world to teach Shukokai. Sensei Kimura developed Shukokai into an extremely effective form, which is, respected the world over for its power and strength. His knowledge of the fighting art was unsurpassed and as a result, students all over the world sought his presence. Shortly after Sensei Kimuras sudden death, the Kobushi Shukokai Karate Association was established to carry on the sprit of Shukokai.

Formed in 1998 the Kobushi Shukokai Karate (K.S.K.A) is made up of a committee who between them have over one hundred years experience of training with Sensei Kimura and Shukokai. It is from these strong roots that Kobushi Shukokai has evolved and shall continue to develop.

The K.S.K.A are sad to announce that Sensei John Harris is retiring from the K.S.K.A to live in sunny Spain.
It is a great loss that Sensei John Harris 6th Dan, Chairman, Cheif Instructor & founder of the K.S.K.A who after over 30 years of teaching and training Shukokai Karate will be missed by all the Martial world, but mostley by those in the K.S.K.A.

Sensei John formed the K.S.K.A 10 years ago and has established the association as one of the strongest in the Midlands teaching pure Shukokai Karate, as the late Master Kimura intended. Teaching hundreds of students with numerous reaching black belt standard and many to go on and represent Britain at World and European Champinships.

The Association will now be run as a committee by the following senior students.

Sensei Karl Horsburgh 5th Dan
Senseil Steve Bodycote 4th Dan
Sensei Martin Green 4th Dan
Sensei Jason Smith 4th Dan
Sensei Steve Jordon 2nd Dan.

With over 100 years combined Karate experience the new committee is dedicated to moving the association forward and continuing the development of Karate and our students.