The Shitō-ryū karate symbol .

Karate is a traditional Japanese martial art which developed in the Ryukyu Kingdom, now known as Okinawan. However, the origins of Karate can be traced all the way back to the famous Shaolin Temples in China. It is a form of unarmed combat which established itself during the feudal eras of Japan when weapons were confiscated from civilians in order to prevent rebellion. Initially generalized as "Te", which means "hand", it established into three main styles named after their respective provinces of origin - Shuri, Naha and Tomari. It was then later popularized in mainland Japan and developed into modern Karate which means "empty-hand".

Style

Kenwa Mabuni 1887-1952

There are four main styles of karate that are recognize by the World Karate Federation (WKF) - Shotokan-ryū, Goju-ryū, Shitō-ryū and Wado-ryū. These are also considered the four traditional and more popular styles of karate. However, there are numerous other styles and sub-styles of Karate.

The UWA Karate Club trains in the style of Shitō-ryū which is founded by Kenwa Mabuni(1887-1952), a descendent of the Onigusukini Samurai family in Shuri, Okinawa. Master Mabuni studied under two great masters, Anko Itosu and Kanryo Higaonna, and then later brought his style of Karate to Osaka, Japan in 1929.

Shihan (Master) Kyoshin Kayo & Japan Karate-Do Shobukan

Shihan Kyoshin Kayo in his Japan Dojo

Our club's lineage can be traced directly back to Kenwa Mabuni. Our chief instructor, Shihan Kyoshin Kayo, studied under Kosei Kuniba (Seishinkan) who was a student of Mabuni. Shihan Kayo was taught directly by both Mabuni and Kuniba.

Shihan Kayo, now age 73, holds an 8th Dan in Shito-ryu Karate and a 5th Dan in Kobudo (Weaponry). Master Kayo is a well-versed and ardent exponent of classical Karate. He commenced training at the age of 14 and has studied all the major Japanese styles of Karate, including Wado-ryu under Hiroki Ohtsuka, Shotokan, and Shito Ryu.

Our academy, Shobukan, was first founded in Osaka, Japan, in 1960 by Shihan Kayo. He first visited Perth in 1971 to conduct training in Fremantle. Returning again to Australia in 1974, Shihan Kayo settled in Perth permanently, and established the Japan Karate-do Shobukan Academy as a prominent name in Perth's Karate community.