Shōrin-ryū Shidōkan

In October 1948, Katsuya Miyahira opened his first karate dojo in Kanehisa, Nishihara, Okinawa,[1]Archived 2011-01-30 at the Wayback Machine</ref> after receiving his Shihan (4th rank) Certificate from Chōshin Chibana.[2] Miyahira received his 10th Dan in 1978.[3] Miyahira chose to name his dojo Shidō-kan (志道館, "House of the Way of the Warrior").[4] "Shidō" was taken from the Analects by Confucius, chapter seven, verse six in book four of the twenty volume collection; which reads:

Determine in your heart to forever follow the way.
Stay close to the sun of virtue and do not stray.
Trust in the power of benevolence for support.
Take pleasure from these abilities.

In Chosin Chibana's Shorin-ryu Karate 小林流 (also read as Kobayashi) five of his senior students were promoted to 9th Dan.[5] Upon Chibana's death in 1969, Chibana's most senior student, Katsuya Miyahira, received the hanko (official seals of the organization) and was voted president of the Okinawa Shorin-ryū Karate-dō Association.[6] Chibana's most senior students split the style of Shorin-ryū karate into various schools, Miyahira heading the main branch which is now called Shidō-kan (志道館) style, based upon the name of Miyahira's dojo.[7] Shuguro Nakazato formed Shorinkan, Yuchoku Higa formed Kyudokan, Chozo Nakama, and Kensei Kinjo formed Kushin-ryu.[8]

Shidokan, like most Chibana-ha or Kobayashi schools, is generally characterized by relatively high stances (typical of self defense karate), quick and light movements, and explosive power.[9]

Miyahira Shidokan dojo's guidelines:

Try to perfect one's own personality
Cultivate the spirit of making constant efforts
Admonish one's own youthful ardor
Value good manners

[10]

Kata is never concrete in performance or interpretation. It changes either knowingly, unknowingly or through the passage of time. Sometimes the changes are small -- like changing the emphasis of punching to kicking or to quick movements or to slow, steady movements. An instructor may favor one technique over another and tell his students to emphasize it more than it was originally taught. The kata is still the same but a change has now taken place either consciously or unconsciously. These minor changes have not really changed the style. These changes cannot be prevented either, for in most cases the change occurs over a long period of time. [11]

Posted on the Wall in the Shidokan Dojo:

To Have Patience Where it is Possible
Is Not Real Patience
Yet to Have Patience Where It Is Impossible
Is Real Patience!

Proper Spirit: You should thoroughly understand and pay strict attention to your teacher's corrections and apply them correctly.
You can attain perfection by exercising patience and through constant training.
In learning the basic techniques, learn to apply them, adopt them and finally transform them to your own taste but always according to the correct theory of basic techniques.
You should listen to and accept the corrections of the more senior or advanced students.
Try to assimilate everything good in your peers and use it to correct that which is inconsistent in you.
When teaching you should always be kind but firm and strict with your juniors.

Conduct: To acquire experience and understanding, take seriously all advice given to you.
Never judge or take a person lightly.
Accept with an open mind the opinions and remarks of others, if they prove to be earnest, just and correct.
Be honest, fair and true whenever you ponder over or reason out a problem or theory.
When you are not training, quietly sit by the edge of the dojo and watch the activities of your fellow students and how they are corrected.

[12]

Today, Shidō-kan is one of the largest styles of karate in Okinawa, with over 25 dojo in the prefecture.[13] Within Okinawa, Shidō-kan is well known for its success in the Okinawan Bare Knuckle karate tournaments, largely due to Koichi Nakasone.[14] Okinawa,: Seiyu Nakamura,[15] Hansei 10th Dan, and a student of Miyahira's, has a dojo in Yaese-cho Okinawa, Japan where he currently resides.

Maeshiro Morinobu Hanshi 10th Dan. Vice president of OSKK, and Naha city karate federation chairman, teaches in the Shidokan Hombu dojo and in his dojo in Naha.

America: Seikichi Iha is the senior-most practitioner of Okinawa Shorin-ryu residing in the United States and is ranked a Hanshi 10th Dan by the Okinawa Shorin-ryu Karate-do Association of Naha, Okinawa. He was promoted to 10th Dan March 25, 2001.[16] He was Miyahira's senior student and the rank/leader board in Miyahira's Dojo still lists Iha's name right next to Miyahira's testifying to that.[17] Before coming to Michigan, Iha Sensei trained students in Okinawa, Japan, the Philippines, Guam, and Los Angeles, California. His Lansing dojo is now the headquarters of the Beikoku Shidokan Association for more than 30 North American schools and is frequently visited by karate practitioners from around the globe. Iha was introduced to Miyahira by Shoei Miyazato and began studying with Miyahira when his first instructor, Shinpan (Shiromoa) Gusukuma, died.[18] In 1967, Iha went to Los Angeles, California, USA to teach at the American-Okinawan Club. After 7 months, Iha opened the Shureikan Dojo on Olympic Blvd with two other 7th Dan black belts. A year later, Iha started his own dojo on West Pico Blvd and named it Shidokan Karate Dojo. Iha moved to Lansing, Michigan in April 1975, and began teaching at the Original Okinawa Karate Dojo. Iha is currently ranked Hanshi, 10th Dan and continues to teach.[19]

Argentina: Shoei Miyazato,[20] moved to Argentina in 1959. Miyazato began teaching Shidō-kan in his new hometown, Cordoba.[21] In the early 1990s, Miyazato left Shidō-kan to head his own style of karate but a few years later rejoined Miyahira's Shidokan Organization. Masatoshi Miyazato, 10th Dan, Shoei Miyazato's son, heads up the Miyazato Dojo and organization. They have over 90 affiliated dojos throughout Latina America and Europe and between 9,000 to 10,000 active students. They celebrated their 60th Anniversary in November 2019[22] In 1996, Shidō-kan was reestablished by Jorge Garzón, 8th Dan, Shorin Ryu .[23] who has a dojo in La Plata. Garzón, currently accused for abusing his step-daughter[24], is a student of Takeshi Miyagi, a 9th Dan and former student of Miyazato who previously lived in Argentina, but currently resides and has a dojo in Tokyo.[25]

Australia: Shidō-kan Australia is headed by Alberto Presincula, 9th Dan. He has a dojo in Albion, Victoria,and he is Also A sold Representative of Okinawa Shorin ryu Karate-do Kyokai in Australia appointed by the President of The Association Takeshi Miyage 10th Dan and he is a student of Iha from 1960s until 2012[26] He was also under Latino H. Gonzalez, 9th Dan (Father of Philippine Karate) affiliated and recognized by "Okinawa Shorin Ryu Karate-do Kyokai" headed by Katsuya Miyahira, 10th Dan and founder of the Shido-Kan Shorin Ryu. He had taught many U.S. Navy and U.S. Marines at Subic Bay, Naval Base and San Miguel, Naval Communication Base, Philippines. He promoted many Dan rank from his Dojo (United Karatedo Association) during his time in the Philippines, one notable student in 1979 and promoted to 3rd Dan was Cris A. Bato, a former U.S. Marine Sergeant and Close Combat Instructor.[27]

Brazil: In August 1990, Kazunori Yonamine, began teaching Shidō-kan in the city of São Vicente, Brazil. In subsequent years, Yonamine's students spread Shidō-kan throughout Brazil to the cities of Piracicaba, São Paulo, Santos and Itajubá. Today there are up to 17 Shidō-kan dojos across these towns. Yonamine died in 22/10/2015 as 9th Dan.[28][29]

Canada: Roy Paul, 7th Dan, is the head of Shidō-kan in Canada. He is a student of Iha and has a dojo in Guelph, Ontario.[26][30] Shidō-kan Canada celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2016.[31] There are also dojos in Waterloo, Ontario, and Trois Rivieres, Quebec.[32]

Czech Republic: Shidō-kan in Czech Republic is leaded by Petr Zazvorka 3th Dan. He is in charge of Shidō-kan dojo Liberec.

France: Shidō-kan in France is headed by Dikran Kevork,[33] 9th Dan, Kyoshi. He began teaching Shidō-kan in Marseilles in September 1988.[34]

Germany: Shidō-kan Germany is headed by Joachim Laupp, Hanshi 9th Dan, who teaches in Düsseldorf and Trier.[35] His students have Dojos in Marburg, Saarburg, Chemnitz, Dernbach and Berlin.

Greece: Vasillios Raptopoulos, a Student of Joachim Laupp opened up a Dojo in Athens in 2009.

Guam: In 1969, Iha and Seigi Shiroma traveled to Guam. Shiroma stayed there and opened a dojo. Shiroma is currently ranked Hanshi,10th Dan and continues to teach.[36]

Israel: Amit Michaeli, 6th Dan, has a dojo in Jerusalem, Israel. He is a student of Paul Snader, 8th Dan,[37] who trains in New Jersey under Iha.[38]

Italy: Emanuel Giordano, 4th Dan, teaches in Torino , he is a student of Maeshiro Morinobu.[39] Josè Speranza, 7th Dan, teaches in Cisterna di Latina,.was student di Sensei Shoei Miyazato. Miguel Carballo, 5th Dan, teaches in Firenze,, Italia. Was Student of Luzuriaga Carlos e Sensei Shoei Miyazato now Student of Masatoshi Miyazato

Philippine Islands: In 1963, Miyahira received a request to supply a Shorin-ryū instructor to the Philippine Islandsfrom Latino Gonzalez. Seikichi Iha, a student of Miyahira's, was selected and spent 11 months in Manila at the dojo of Latino Gonzalez.[40][41]

Russia: Dmitry Uritsky, 2nd Dan, has a dojo in Moscow, Russia. He is also a student of Snader.[42]

Swiss: Students of Joachim Laupp run Dojos in Zürich and Luzern.

The Netherlands: a Student of Joachim Laupp opened up a Dojo in Enschede in 2016.

Today, Shidō-kan is one of the largest styles of karate in Okinawa, with over 25 dojo in the prefecture.[13] Within Okinawa, Shidō-kan is well known for its success in the Okinawan Bare Knuckle karate tournaments, largely due to Koichi Nakasone.[43]

• High punch - jodan zuki
• Middle punch - chudan zuki
• Knife hand strike - shuto uchi

• Front snap kick - mae geri
• Side kick - yoko geri
• Roundhouse kick - mawashi geri
• Back thrust kick - ushiro geri
• Stomping kick - fumikomi geri
• Inside Stomp Kick - kin geri

• High block - jodan uke
• Outside block - soto uke
• Inside block - uchi uke
• Low block - gedan barai
• Hooking hand block - kagite uke
• Swimming or flowing block - nagashi uke

• Attention stance - musubi dachi
• Natural stance - shizentai dachi
• Basic stance - kihon dachi
• Back stance - ukiashi dachi
• Straddle stance - shiko dachi
• Forward stance - zenkutsu dachi
• Horse stance - kiba dachi
• Layout back stance - kokutsu dachi
• Cat stance - neko ashi dachi
• Cross leg stance - kosa dachi