Hanshi Kanken Toyama
History of Shudokan
With the advent of Gichin Funakoshi's introduction of Okinawan Karate-Do to Japan in the early 1920's, the popularity of karate began to grow. Soon, other Okinawan masters began to travel to Japan to proliferate their arts. Once such man was Kanken Toyama, whose Okinawan name was Kanken Oyadamari. A school teacher by profession, Toyama's chosen avocation was the instruction of karate. He started his karate training at the age of 9 with a master named Itarashiki. His major teacher was the famous Itosu Yasutsune, with whom Toyama studied for 18 years. In 1907 Toyama became Itosu's assistant at Shuri dojo. Toyama became one of only two of Itosu's students to be granted the title of "Shihanchi", or protégé, of Itosu's O kuge (innermost secrets). Aside from learning Shorin-ryu from Itosu, Toyama studied and mastered their styles of karate from other notable master of Naha-te and Tomari-te, which included weapons arts.
Japan Shudokan Budo-Kai
A
few
of
his
other
teachers
were,
Aragaki,
Azato.
Chibana,
Higaona,
Oshiro,
and
Tana.
Toyama's
interest
in
martial
arts
was
not
limited
to
karate.
He
was
considered
an
expert
swordsman,
as
well.
While
on
a
six
year
assignment
to
teach
elementary
school
in
Japanese
occupied
Taiwan
(1924-
1930),
he
studied
Chinese
martial
arts
with
masters
Chen
Fong Tai in Taipei and Lim Fun Fong in Taichung.
In
1895
the
Dai
Nippon
Butokukai
(Greater
Japan
Martial
Virtue
Society)
was
established
by
the
Japanese
government
(Japanese
Ministry
of
Education)
to
regulate
all
forms
of
Japanese
Budo.
The
Dai
Nippon
Butokukai
recognized
Sensei
Toyama’s
unique
training
and
mastership
of
all
forms
of
Okinawan
Karate-do,
and
in
1937
gave
him
an
exclusive
license
to
promote
to
any
rank
(Dan)
or
teacher’s
title
(Shogo),
regardless
of
the
type
of
Karate-do
the
promoted
individual
practiced.
He
was
the
only
Karate-do
teacher
in
Japan or Okinawa to ever be given this kind of license.
Toyama's
first
dojo
was
opened
in
Tokyo
in
1930,
and
he
quickly
became
famous
for
his
Aka
Ryoku
(strong
gripping
methods
of
Itosu
and
Itarashiki).
Some
of
the
foremost
Okinawan
and
Japanese
Karate-do
masters,
who
formed
their
own
styles,
received
their
8th
9th
or
10th
Dan
degrees
or
their
teacher’s
titles
of
Shihan
or
Hanshi
from
Kanken
Toyama.
For
example,
Sensei
Eizo
Shimabukuro,
one
of
the
most
respected
teachers
of
Shorin-ryu
Karatedo
in
Okinawa,
received
his
Judan
(10th
degree)
from
Toyama,
as
did
Sensei
Kanki
Izumigawa,
the
founder
of
one
of
the
largest
systems
of Goju-ryu Karatedo in Japan.
The
name
of
Toyama's
school
was
Shudokan,
which
means
"Institute
for
the
cultivation
of
the
way."
Today,
this
term
refers
not
only
to
his
school,
but
also
to
his
system.
Shudokan
karate
is
a
composite
system,
encompassing
Kobutjutsu
(Ancient
art,
referring
to
the
specialized
weapons
practice
of
Okinawan
karate).
There
are
also
kata
(formal
exercises)
that
are
unique
to
Shudokan
karate.
Shurite,
sometimes
known
as
Shorin-ryu,
or
Itosu-ha
is
a
component
of
Shudokan
karate.
Its
kata
represent
light,
quick
motions
and a variety of power sources.
The
main
curriculum
at
Toyama’s
dojo
was
Itosu’s
Shuri-te
type
of
training,
sometimes
called
Itosu-ha
(Itosu
lineage)
by
historians.
Most
students
did
not
learn
the
Naha-te,
Tomari-te
or
Shina
Kempo
(Chinese
Chuan-fa)
unless
that
was
their
original
training,
and
they
came
to
Toyama
to
further
their
training in that form.
Between
1930
and
1966,
Sensei
Toyama
raised
nearly
100
students
to
the
Shihan
level,
and
a
few
to
the
Hanshi
level.
Most
were
taught
the
Itosu-ha.
The
Naha-te
system's
forms,
sometimes
known
as
Goju-ryu,
Shorie-ryu,
or
Higashiona-
ha,
represent
strong
rooted
motions
with
an
emphasis
on
internal
breathing
power
sources
include
both
hard,
and
soft.
The
Tomari-te
style
is
generally
considered
an
extinct
system
except in a few composite systems such as Shudokan.
Tomari-te
is
characterized
by
the
speed
of
the
Shorin-ryu
and
the
strength
of
the
Naha-te,
and
also
included
its
own
soft
type
of
power.
Tomari-te
included
some
tight
yet
sophisticated
motions;
and
in
appearance
it
is
both
graceful
and
noble.
The
aspect
of
weapons
in
Shudokan
adds
to
its
versatility
and
practicality.
Weapons
have
also
affected
the
empty
hand
forms
in
that
the
motions
tend
to
be
larger,
often
drawing
a
number
of
intersecting
circles,
with
different
parts
of the body moving on different planes at the same time.
Shudokan
is
characterized
by
large
circular
motions
with
an
emphasis
on
covering.
The
practice
of
extension
of
the
motions
develops
power
and
physique.
Deep
narrow
stances
give
the
ability
to
change
directions
quickly.
Soft
power
is
taught
along
with
sophisticated
applications,
which
included
throws,
blocks,
and
chokes.
Because
of
the
balance
between
hard and soft power, this system promotes good heath.
Shudokan,
because
of
its
physical
character,
has
developed
its
own
unique
kata.
One
set
of
forms
that
were
developed
within
the
system
is
the
Kyoku
forms.
There
are
seven
kata
in
this
group,
starting
with
the
very
basic
techniques,
and
building
into
long
complex
form,
in
a
set
progression.
Originally
taught
only
at
the
Hombu
Dojo
(Headquarters
School),
even
the
most
basic
of
these
kata
were
reserved
for
members
who
held
a
third
degree
black
belt
or
higher.
These
forms
were
developed
to
represent
the
fighting
techniques
of
the system and were considered secret.
Another
unique
set
of
forms
created
by
Shudokan
are;
Sonshin,
Kakashin,
and
Choshin.
These
forms
are
used
to
develop and concentrate the potential of an individual.
As
an
educator,
Toyama
believed
his
system
should
not
stagnate.
This
intention
was
built
into
the
system
to
allow
for
its continued growth of both the individual and style.
This
account
is
edited
information
that
has
been
provided
by
Hanshi
Walter
Todd
(the
American
Shudokan
Association),
and the East Asian Cultural Institute.
Masters of Karate in Tokyo (1930’s) (From Left) Toyama Kanken,
Ohtsuka Hironori, Shimoda Takeshi, Funakoshi Gchin, Motobu Choki,
Mabuni Kenwa, Nakasone Genwa and Taira Shinken.
