THE LEGACY OF SHUKOKAI
Official affiliate of the Yamada-Ha Shito-Ryu Shukokai Karate Union, direct from Japan.
Preserving the technical purity and explosive power of traditional martial arts.
A disciplined environment where family values meet world-class traditional instruction.
Training that empowers students with practical self-defense and lifelong character growth.
Soke Chojiro Tani (1921–1998) was a direct student of Kenwa Mabuni, founder of Shito-Ryu, and became one of the key figures in spreading Shito-Ryu Karate in Japan and abroad. Drawing on his strong technical base and scientific approach to movement, he developed Tani-Ha Shito-Ryu, later known as Shukokai, emphasizing speed, body alignment, and maximum power with minimum effort. As head of the Shukokai school, he dedicated his life to refining technique, training instructors, and promoting traditional karate values of discipline, respect, and self-improvement.
Soke Chojiro Tani
Hanshi Haruyoshi Yamada was a senior master of Shito-Ryu Shukokai Karate and one of the closest disciples of Soke Chojiro Tani. Training under Tani in Japan, he helped further refine the Shukokai method, preserving its trademark blend of speed, precision, and powerful body mechanics. Yamada has spent decades teaching internationally, conducting seminars, grading black belts, and strengthening ties between dojos worldwide. As a head of the Yamada-Ha Shito-Ryu Shukokai Karate Union, he continues Tani’s legacy by promoting traditional values, technical excellence, and the spread of authentic Shukokai Karate.