Disclaimer
Please note that the author and publisher of this book are
NOT RESPONSIBLE in any manner whatsoever for any injury
that may result from practicing the techniques and/or following
the instructions given within. Since the physical activities
described herein may be too strenuous in nature for some
readers to engage in safely, it is essential that a physician be
consulted prior to training.
Published by the Charles E. Tuttle Company, Inc.
of Rutland, Vermont & Tokyo, Japan
with editorial offices at
Osaki Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 141-0032
© 1976 by Masayuki Kukan Hisataka
All rights reserved
First Tuttle edition, 1995
Second printing, 1996
LCC Card No. 95-60542
ISBN: 978-1-4629-0417-4 (ebook)
Printed in Singapore
This book is respectfully dedicated
to Kaiso Kori Hisataka,
the founder of the classic and
scientific form of karatedo,
Shorinjiryu Kenkokan Karatedo.
Foreword
Born the 36th descendant of the 56th Emperor of Japan, Masayuki Hisataka received a very strict education; his training in the martial arts started when he was three. Bright minded and strong willed, he was always leading his fellows at school. He was trained in gymnastics and track and field under the guidance of Olympic stars. He was promoted to black belt at the age of 13. In junior high school he began assisting his father at the Kenkokan. He became Shihan, the rank of Master, while he was still a university student; his techniques were excellent and he already understood the spirit of karatedo.
He has thoroughly studied the history and theory of karatedo and other martial arts. They are presented in this book which also describes conditioning of the mind and body through the practice of karatedo.
Health is one of the most important things in life. In ancient Greece, it was thought that sickness was the result of the devil's action; that the giant Hercules was the model of all men; that Apollo was a demi-god to be idolized to prevent sickness; and that the only cure to illness was through the use of herbs. Scientific medicine was first developed in Germany on the basis of studies in anatomy and physiology. Then, by way of experimentation, modern medicine and therapeutics were developed.
Similarly, man at first pulled his own wagons, but then used oxen and, later, horses and steam engines to move them. Automobiles, airplanes, and jets were to follow, bringing down all cultural barriers.
In the sixteenth century, sabres had to be carried with two hands; later they became lighter and could be used with one hand. Then came firearms and missiles.
In much the same way, all around the world people have developed fighting arts according to their needs, physical characteristics, and historical context. Those arts that failed to evolve with the changes in times have become obsolete.
It is, in my opinion, the most scientifically advanced form of karatedo which is presented in this book. It has benefited from the study of all other martial arts and animal fighting techniques and from the application of modern sciences. It emphasizes circular and triangular motions to avoid clashing with the opponent in order to use his own action and to prevent injury. All the aspects of training and competition are explained in this book, as well as the historical meaning and philosophy of karatedo.
Shihan Masayuki Hisataka has devoted his life to karatedo and in this book, written with all his soul, he reveals the better part of his considerable knowledge, in a manner that is easy to understand for any reader.
I highly recommend this book to every student of karatedo, indeed, to any person interested in the history, techniques, and philosophy of modern karatedo.
CHOFU KUNIBA
Kensei (10th dan in karatedo)
Tokyo, Japan
Preface
As most of you are probably aware, karatedo has its origins in the Ryukyu Islands. From there it merged with Japan's ancient martial arts, giving rise to the numerous karatedo styles practiced today. One of these original styles is Shorinjiryu, which has spread from Japan to North and South America, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Russia, Algeria, India, and a host of other countries over the past few decades.
I myself had the honor of studying Shorinjiryu Karatedo under the keen eye of Kaiso Masayoshi Kori Hisataka, founder of the Kenkokan school. In those days, however, the risk of incurring injuries during training and competition was ever-present. Even though Kaiso Hisataka made use of body protectors, it is only recently, after many years of intensive research and labor, that his son, the author of this book, Hanshi Masayuki Kukan Hisataka, perfected Supersafe protective equipment.
Seeking to make the fullest use of his achievement, Hanshi Hisataka then went on to create the Koshiki Karatedo competition system. This innovative system combines the use of Supersafe protective equipment with a new set of tournament rules, thus allowing martial artists from all styles, including kung fu and kempo，to compete against one another with almost no chance of injury. Participants in Koshiki Karatedo tournaments can truly test their techniques and clearly see the results of their actions, making it much easier to determine, with fairness and impartiality, who the true victor of the match is. Tournaments conducted under this system are an ideal mixture of realism and safety, and are also extremely exciting to watch.
This system's applications, however, are not limited to karatedo's sportive dimension. By integrating Koshiki Karatedo into training regimes, even noncompetitive karateka can get a taste of true combat. So it comes as no surprise to me that Koshiki Karatedo has rapidly gained popularity across the globe and that participation at Koshiki Karatedo tournaments has skyrocketed.
To help the reader gain a deeper understanding of Koshiki Karatedo, this updated version of Scientific Karatedo not only includes a copy of Koshiki Karatedo Competition Rules but also photos of Koshiki kumite (sparring) techniques using Supersafe protective equipment.
Koshiki Karatedo is, however, more than just a new fighting system; the ultimate goal of Koshiki Karatedo is to help foster the development of complete individuals capable of living in harmony with nature. It is an attempt to reestablish the bond between man and nature
