The UK group of the global association teaching traditional karate, aligned to original Shitoryu and Shukokai styles, originating from Okinawa, Japan
The UK group of the global association teaching traditional karate, aligned to original Shitoryu and Shukokai styles, originating from Okinawa, Japan
Welcome to the UK Group of Osita-ha Shitoryu Shukokai Karatedo International, a community dedicated to the practice and development of Shitoryu Shukokai Karatedo in the United Kingdom. Our organisation is led by Soke & President, Hanshi, 10th Dan, Masataka Ohshita M.A.Ed., a highly respected figure in the world of karate.
Our mission is to uphold the rich traditions of Shitoryu Shukokai Karatedo while fostering an environment of continuous learning and improvement. We believe in the transformative power of karate as a discipline that cultivates physical strength, mental resilience, and spiritual balance.
Our karate base is rooted in the time-honoured techniques and philosophies passed down by the original masters of Okinawa and Japan. We offer a comprehensive curriculum that includes a wide range of katas, each carrying the wisdom and heritage of the region from where they originated.
Our organisation is more than just a karate school - it's a family. Our members come from across the UK, bringing with them a diverse range of experiences and perspectives. We learn from each other, support each other, and grow together in our shared journey of mastering Osita-ha Shitoryu Shukokai Karatedo.
Whether you're a seasoned practitioner or new to the art, there's a place for you in the UK Group of Osita-ha Shitoryu Shukokai Karatedo International. Join us, and become part of a tradition that spans centuries and a community that spans the UK.
Welcome to our community. Welcome to Osita-ha Shitoryu Shukokai Karatedo International
To view the global website for Osita-ha Shitoryu Shukokai Karatedo International CLICK HERE
Here, you’ll find key figures that highlight the growth, achievements, and impact of our global organization. These numbers represent our commitment to the art of karate, the dedication of our members, and the reach of our activities. Whether you’re a member, a potential student, or just a visitor, we invite you to explore these stats and gain a deeper understanding of our organization. Enjoy the insights!
Registered students across all member clubs, globally
Our organization is more than just a karate school - it's a global family
Representation across the globe, with regular seminars
World Chief Instructor, Soke, Hanshi, 10th Dan, Masataka Ohshita M.A.Ed.
WKF Recognised Competition Students
Aligned to the JKF and WKF Kata Lists
Our world chief instructor is Soke, Hanshi, 10th Dan, Masataka Ohshita M.A.Ed. who was born in July 1956 in Kobe, Japan.
He is a prominent martial artist and a recognized figure in the world of Japanese martial arts, particularly in the field of Karate. He started learning Iaido at the age of 6 from his father who was a grand master of Iaido and who founded an Iaido school called “Suireikan”. He started Judo at the age of 9 and Karate at the age of 16, first starting in 1972 at the Hotoku Gakuen High School Karate Club, in Mikage, Kobe, Japan.
He is a Professor of 25 years and studied Biomechanics of Sports Injuries at Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Experimental & Clinical Traumatology in Austria, is a former Professor of Sports Science at Ashiya University in Japan and now teaches Japanese culture, mainly Japanese Budo (Martial Arts), Karate, Judo, Kendo, Iaido and Japanese calligraphy.
He is the founder, President and World Chief Instructor of Osita-ha Shitoryu Shukokai Karatedo International, with dojos in several countries including Austria, United Kingdom, India, Phillapines, Slovakia, France, Slovenia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania, Australia and New Zealand.
Soke, Hanshi, 10th Dan, Masataka Ohshita M.A.Ed. has students all over the world, with instructors and students regularly travelling to train with him, providing direct access to the knowledge of the original karate masters of Okinawa and Japan.
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Teruo Mimoto (御本光生 MIMOTO Teruo ) was born in Osaka Japan in 1940.
He began karate under TANI Chōjirō in 1956 and trained with him for 42 years until Tani Sensei passed away in 1998. He continued practicing karate, and was awarded 8th Dan from the Japan Karatedo Federation (JKF) in 2010.
Mimoto Sensei established his own karate school “Kensei-Kan” in Minoh, Osaka in 2011. Osita-ha Shitoryu Karate is part of "Kensei-Kan" with the Honbu Dojo in Minoh City Osaka, Japan.
In 2018, Mimoto was awarded 10th Dan from Shukokai World Karate. He is the big Soke of our groups and also the president of Minoh City Karate Association, where he organizes karate championships 2 times a year, held in Minoh city in Osaka. Soke, Hanshi, 10th Dan, Masataka Ohshita M.A.Ed. has practiced karate with Mimoto Sensei for over 50 years, since 1971.
Karate has a rich history and tradition, evolving over the years through the influence of various styles and techniques. This amalgamation of styles has led to the development of unique karate systems that embody the strengths and philosophies of their predecessors.
Incorporating influences from other styles allows for a more comprehensive understanding of karate. Summarised below are the masters whose styles have been the basis for Osita-ha Karate-do.
Mabuni Sensei is credited with developing the style known as Shitō-ryū. Originally, he chose the name Hanko-ryu, literally “half-hard style”, to imply that the style used both hard and soft techniques. Finally, Mabuni chose Shito-ryu, the first characters of the names Itosu and Higaonna, his two primary teachers. Shitō-ryū focuses on both hard and soft techniques.
Tani Sensei started his formal karate training under Miyagi Chōjun, the founder of the Gojū-ryū style, while he was a student at Doshisha University in Kyoto. After a few months, Miyagi Chōjun returned to Okinawa and recommended to continue his learning with Kenwa Mabuni. Upon graduating from university, Tani began learning Shuri-te and then Shitō-ryū from Kenwa Mabuni, subsequently founding Shukokai.
Founded the Gōjū-ryū school of karate by blending Okinawan and Chinese influences. He blended Rokkishu (a set of hand exercises emphasising the rotation of the forearms and wrists to execute offensive and defensive techniques), with his native Naha-Te, and named the system Gōjū-ryū, meaning "hard soft style". He created katas Sanchin - the hard aspect of Goju, and Tensho - the soft aspect, considered to contain the essence of the Goju-ryu.
Widely recognized as the “father of modern karate”, he was instrumental in introducing the martial art to mainland Japan and subsequently to the rest of the world. Funakoshi founded Shotokan karate-do. Funakoshi was trained by prominent karate masters such as Ankō Asato and Ankō Itosu. He was deeply influenced by both the Shōrei-ryū and Shōrin-ryū styles of Okinawan karate. His pen name, Shōtō, meaning “waving pines,” became the namesake for the Shotokan style.