Origin of International Kei Shin Kan
国際啓心館の歴史
Master Anko Itosu
糸洲 安恒先生
Master Itosu was born in the city of Shuri, Okinawa in 1830. He became a student of Master Bushi Nagahama at age 16 and at some stage was a student of Master Sokun Matsumora (of Tomari-Te).
It is generally regarded that in the 19th century, Master Itosu was the father of the Shuri Te, just as Master Higaonna was the father of the Naha Te. Master Itosu developed Karate-Do into a system that was more appropriate to teach to beginners. For example, he developed the Heian Kata (also known as Pinan) from the more complicated Bassai and Kanku Katas. A number of students of Master Itosu later developed other schools of Karate-Do. These include Masters Toyama, Funakoshi, Mabuni and Yabu – Master Itosu died in 1915.
Master Kanken Toyama
遠山 寛賢先生
Master Toyama was born in Shuri, Okinawa, in 1888. He became a student of Master Itosu and trained with him until Master Itosu’s death in 1915. Master Toyama was Shihandai to Master Itosu for several years. In 1924, Master Toyama moved to Taiwan where he studied a Chinese martial art.
After he returned to Japan in 1930 and opened his first dojo in Tokyo, it was called “Shudokan”, meaning “The Hall for the study for the Way”.
Master Toyama did not claim to teach a particular style of Karate-Do. He said that styles are limited to the personality of their founders and this limits their development. True Karate-do should not be limited in this way – Master Toyama died in 1965.
Master Masanao Takazawa
高沢 正直先生
Master Takazawa was a student of Master Toyama from a young age. In 1958, Master Toyama gave Master Takazawa a dojo with the instruction that it be called Kei Shin Kan.
Under Master Takazawa, Kei Shin Kan has grown over the years in Japan and in other countries. Master Takazawa passed away in Nagano Japan on 29 May 2010.
Kei Shin Kan Karate-do consists of two organizations under Master Takazawa instruction, Japan Kei Shin Kai Karate-Do association and International Kei Shin Kan Karate-Do Organization operates under the supervision of Shihan Kisaku Uchida.
Shihan Kisaku Uchida
内田 喜作先生
Shihan Uchida studied various martial arts in high school and university. In 1963 he became a student of Kei Shin Kan under Master Takazawa. He assisted Master Takazawa to teach at the American Army Base and other dojos.
Shihan Uchida moved to Malaysia in 1969 and taught karate under the Malaysian Karate Federation. From 1970 to 1978 he trained a special forces unit for the Singapore police. He established the Singapore Kei Shin Kan Karate Association.
While based in Singapore, Shihan Uchida spent time between the Singapore, Indonesia、Malaysia and Newzeland Army to train the Kei Shin Kan Karate in those countries. In 1979, Shihan Uchida moved to Australia to teach Kei Shin Kan. Now International Kei Shin Kan Karate-Do Organization operates under the supervision of Shihan Kisaku Uchida.
