The Founder of Shorinjiryu Kenkokan Karatedo
Kori Hisataka was founder of Shorinjiryu Kenkokan Karatedo (少林寺流拳行館唐手道), a style he based on his studies of various Okinawan, Japanese and Chinese forms of martial arts.
He was born on 22 April 1907 (Some initial references suggested the year may have been earlier) in Shuri, Okinawa which today is a part of the Naha Metropolitan area. Shuri was the original capital of Okinawa, location of the Shuri Castle and home to most of the Okinawan aristocracy.
His name at birth was Seiki Kudaka (pronounced Masayoshi Hisataka in Japanese). The first name Kori was taken by Kaiso Hisataka later in life – a custom among some senior martial arts practitioners. He was a descendant of Seiwa, the 56th Emperor of Japan.[2] He is the third generation descendant of Sesion Toguchi (who was a daimyo with a castle) a member of the Okinawan nobility who was made lord of Kudaka Island in recognition for his services to the then Kingdom of Okinawa. As was the tradition, Toguchi then adopted the name Kudaka as his own.
Toguchi then adopted the name Kudaka as his own. The 1st generation of the Kudaka name is Seison Kudaka, 2nd is Seisei Kudaka, 3rd is Masayoshi Kudaka, 4th is Masayuki Hisataka, 5th is Masamitsu Kudaka、and the 6th is Masaki Kudaka.
The Kudaka family uses “Masa” for their given name, which was taken by the ancestor “Toguchi.”
Hisataka was introduced to karatedo and other forms of Okinawan martial arts from an early age. His first instructors were his father, grandfather and uncle who introduced him to the family form of Okinawa-Te known as Kudaka-ryu (久高流), along with the familial form of Kobudodo called Shishiryu (獅子流).
Recent research suggests that Hisataka may have attended the Naha Municipal Commercial School. At the time that Hisataka was a student there, karate was in the process of being introduced to the Okinawan school system, principally through the efforts of Master Anko Itosu. The karate teacher at the Naha Commercial school was Master Kanryo Higaonna, who was assisted by Master Chojun Miyagi. Miyagi took over as principal karate teacher at this school following Higaonna’s death. This is where Hisataka is most likely to have met Masters Higaonna and Miyagi, and is the probable original source of the kata sanchin as it relates to Shorinjiryu.
As a teenager, Hisataka spent some time in the southern Japanese island of Kyushu, and participated in the native Okinawan form of grappling known as tegumi (also called Okinawan sumo). Research by such historians as Hanshi Patrick McCarthy suggests that tegumi was in fact one of the original arts that comprised karate (along with Tigua, the art of percussive impact, and Tuidi, the art of nerve striking). Most modern Japanese styles focus only on the percussive impact component, but the grappling is still obvious in styles like Shorinjiryu.
Another early teacher of Hisataka was the reclusive weapons master, and former Okinawan police commissioner (Ufuchiku), Sanda Kanagusuku (1841-1921). As Hisataka’s father had died while he was young, and Kanagusuku was petitioned by the Hisataka family to teach weapons, particular sai, bo and jo.
Perhaps the main teacher of Hisataka was Master Chotoku Kyan (1870-1945), a student of Anko Azato, Sokon Matsumura, Kokan Oyadomari and Kosaku Matsumora. Kyan is credited with founding a style he called Sukunaihayashi (pronounced Shorinjiryu in Japanese), and for introducing such innovations as the vertical fist, the extended use of the hips in punching and kicking, and angular movement for evasion and defence. It is through the Kyan lineage that several of our current have evolved, particularly Bassai, Seisan, Chinto and Kusanku.
It is also thought that the kata, Nijushiho, practiced in Shorinjiryu was passed from Azato to Kyan and then onto Hisataka. Some earlier references suggested a direct teaching from Azato to Hisataka, but it is more plausible that it was indirectly.
Nijushiho being modified by Azato to include principles of defence against bladed weapons. This is something Azato derived from his own studies of Jigen ryu Ken jutsu, and his successful unarmed encounter against a Japanese samurai.
He studied karate, kobudo and jujutsu, most notably karate from Chotoku Kyan[3] and weapons from kobudo pioneer (and former Prefectural police superintendent), Sanda Kanagusuku.
He also learned the Kudaka family art of weapons known as Shishiryu, and the family art of Okinawa-te from his father (Seisei Kudaka[4]), an uncle and his grandfather.[5] Hisataka completed a period of service in the Japanese military.
former Okinawan police commissioner, Sanda “Ufuchiku” Kanagusuku (1841-1921). As Kaiso Kori Hisataka’s father had died whilst Kaiso was young, Ufuchiku Kanagusuku was petitioned by the Hisataka family to teach weapons, particular sai, bo and jo to the young prodigy.
Perhaps the main teacher of Kaiso Hisataka was Master Chotoku Kyan (1870-1945), a student of Anko Azato, Sokon Matsumura, Kokan Oyadomari and Kosaku Matsumora. Kyan is credited with founding a style he called Sukunaihayashi (pronounced Shorinjiryu in Japanese), and for introducing such innovations as the vertical fist, the extended use of the hips in punching and kicking, and angular movement for evasion and defence.
It is most likely that through the Kyan lineage that several of our current have evolved, particularly Bassai, Seisan, Chinto and Kusanku.
In the late 1920’s Kaiso Kori Hisataka completed his compulsory military service, and then left to return to Okinawa.
In August 1930, he travelled to Taiwan along with his teacher, Chotoku Kyan and Ryosei Kuwae. The three Okinawan karateka toured, demonstrated and learned from local practitioners. In one famous incident, the three gave a demonstration and the Taipei Botokuden (hall of martial virtues), where Kyan fought a challenge against a senior judoka. At the same event, Kaiso Hisataka fought a challenge match against a female Naginata master. The naginata (halberd) is an ancient samurai weapon, but in recent times has become the preferred weapon of women martial artists. This particular Naginata expert was so skilled that she had previous defeated the famous Kendo master, Junzo Sasamori (literally the co-author of the best book on Kendo). Kaiso Hisataka fought the challenge, and won, utilising a bo.
Following their tour together, Kyan returned to Okinawa, and it was following his return from this trip that he introduced the kata Ananku. Kuwae, the last student of the great “Bushi” Sokon Matsumura is believed to have stayed in Taiwan.
Upon returning to Japan he studied judo at the Kodokan with Sanpo Toku and achieved 4th dan within a year of training.
He also studied kendo and competed at Police Department competitions.
In 1932, Kaiso Kori Hisataka demonstrated at a martial arts festival celebrating the confederation of the Manchurian state. He demonstrated the Kudaka family version of the kata Kusanku. This kata is also sometimes known as Happo-ate, meaning eight directional striking. Also demonstated kata shishiryu bo. <Saschiko>
Kaiso Hisataka was stationed in Manchuria (then occupied by the Japanese) as a Station Master in the Railway system. Over the following years, he was located in several cities, including Bakudashi, Sarachi and others. In the evenings Hisataka formed local judo classes with the railway workers and military at the various locations he was moved to.
In one location, the deputy governor at the time was the great martial artist, Master Minoru Mochizuki (1907-2004). Mochizuki Sensei was a highly ranked practitioner of Judo and Aikido, having studied under the founders of each system – Jigoro Kano (Judo) and Morihei Ueshiba (Aikido). As a matter of interest, Mochizuki Sensei’s first Judo teacher was Sanpo Toku. Mochizuki Sensei and Kaiso Hisataka trained regularly at a local Budokan, and to this day the karate taught in Yoseikan Budo (Mochizuki’s composite system comprised of techniques from Judo, Aikido, Karate and other arts) is based on a form taught by Kaiso Hisataka – Happoken.
According to Hisataka’s son, Hanshi Masayuki Kukan Hisataka, another influence was an elderly Chinese master that he had employed at one of the railway stations he was overseeing. This master taught Hisataka a Chinese style known as Baji Quan (pronounced Hakkyoku-ken in Japanese). Baji is known as being a violent and explosive martial art, and is characterized by techniques such as foot stamping (fumikomi ashi) and weight dropping (otoshi mi). These 2 methods of power generation are quite representative of Shorinjiryu Kenkokan Karate.
Following the war, Hisataka and his family were repatriated to Japan, via Beijing. On returning to Japan, Hisataka found the country to be demoralised, and the young people were suffering from low employment rates. He established Shorinjiryu Kenkokan Karate as a means to promote health and discipline, with his dojo initially located in Hamada village, on the southern island of Kyushu.
Within the next few years, he relocated his family and dojo to Tokyo, principally for the reasons of better educating his children. The dojo was first established in Setagaya Ward, before moving in 1955 to its current location (until April 2020) in the Kikuicho district of Shinjuku Ward.
The opening ceremony of the new dojo was a special affair, with special guests such as Master Shinken Gima, an Okinawan master who had made the first public demonstration of karate in Japan, together with Gichin Funakoshi. Master Gima was also among the first group of people to be awarded a black belt in karate, by Funakoshi.
Since his primary teacher (Master Chotoku Kyan) had died in 1945 while Kaiso Hisataka was still in China, his future source of inspiration would be his own studies and knowledge from his main influences – the Okinawa-te and Karate of Anko Azato and Chotoku Kyan, Judo, Jujutsu and Aikijutsu, and the martial arts of China.
It is known that Kaiso Hisataka returned to Okinawa in 1953 for the funeral of Chojun Miyagi, and also for the foundation of an Okinawan Karate Federation, probably in 1957. Shoshin Nagamine, founder of Matsubayashi-ryu and another student of Chotoku Kyan, recounted in one of his books that Kaiso Hisataka, a friend since childhood, visited him in the 1970’s.
In the early 1960’s, Kaiso Hisataka published a small book in Japanese. Titled “Shorinjiryu Kenkokan Karate: History and Theory of the Art”, this book is one of the few sources of information written by this martial artist available to modern students, albeit in a limited manner. The book does not have a publication date, but I would guess that it would be circa 1964. Pictures of Kaiso Hisataka in that book depict him wearing a Judo-like gi, and a red and white belt.
In the period of 1964 -1969, Kaiso Hisataka sent many of his outstanding students to introduce Shorinjiryu Kenkokan Karate to North America. Most of them settled in North Eastern coast of the United States and in Montreal, Quebec , Canada. These people included his son, Hanshi Masayuki Kukan Hisataka, Saiko Shihan Shunji Watanabe, Shihan Hisanobu Yamazaki and Shihan Shigeru Ishino, and some others who later returned to Japan.
In 1974, Hisataka retired from day-to-day teaching, recalling his son, Hanshi Masayuki Hisataka to Japan to take over as head instructor. Hisataka still regularly joined in on classes, but stood back from the administrative functions.
It was at this point the school fragmented. Apparently due to financial disagreements and the system changes being introduced by the son. Masayuki retained the Kenkokan school name. Out of respect for their teacher, Histaka’s top students such as Shunji Watanabe, Shigeru Ishino, Minoru Morita , Tamon Kashimoto, Fujio Monjiyama , Hisanobu Yamazaki and Yashuhiro Ishigami carried on their teacher’s values with independant school names.
While he was actively teaching, Hisataka utilized the title, “Shinan”,[11] and many of his former students from that era, and their descendent students, continue to respect him with this title.
At some point after his retirement from active teaching, the members of the Shorinjiryu Kenkokan organization began using the honorific title of “Kaiso”, which in turn many of the independant schools use today. [12]
Kaiso Masayoshi Kori Hisataka passed away in Tokyo, Japan on 14 August 1988. However, his legacy is also left in a few direct students still teaching, including So-Shihan Shunji Watanabe (Shorinjiryu Kenyukai Watanabe-Ha Karate in Baltimore MD USA), Shinan Tamon Kashimoto (Shorinjiryu Nanzenkai Karate in New York, NY, USA) and Shihan Shigeru Ishino (Shorinjiryu Genbukan Karatedo in Montreal QC Canada).
Other North American Black Belts have gone on to create their own independant schools based on the teachings of Kori Hisataka.
FYI currently in the process of preparing his son, Masamitsu Kudaka, to take over the leadership reins (2020).
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Sources
Scientific Karatedo, First Edition, Japan Publications, by Masayuki Hisataka, ISBN 0-87040-362-1
“Essential Shorinjiryu Karatedo, First Edition, Charles E. Tuttle Company, by Masayuki Kukan Hisataka, ISBN 0-8048-1953-X
“Martial Arts Master Kori Hisataka, My Father’s Life in Manchuria” by Sachiko Hisataka
shorinjiryu blog 