The way of SHOTOSHINKAI™ is represented Internationally by the Kokusai Shotoshinkai™ Karate-do Kyokai, which is the Japanese name for the International Shotoshinkai™ Karate-do Federation, which is a (Karate) Education and Entertainment Services organization designed to meet all expectations of practicing Karate-ka including the Instruction of Karate by the Shotoshinkai Honbu Dojo, and designated Dojo around the World.
Our services are complete, including complete Instruction in Karate, Karate Membership Services, and always includes International Certification of your Karate gradings. This is/should be most important to all karate-ka. It is also very important for your teacher to have mentor's and senior Karate-ka around him that are willing to assist in moving you/him/your Organzation forward. In this area we are certainly blessed, many times over.
The Shotoshinkai Karate Dojo utilizes the Kokusai Karate-do Shihankai Certificate of Rank, and/or the Kokusai Seito Karate Kenkyukai/ISKK certificates. These are the only Certificates used within the Original Shotoshinkai™, where your Rank in "Seito Karate-do" is truly Internationally Certified.
Any other Certificates of Rank or Title must be issued from Organizations currently approved by the Hombu Dojo. Certificates issued by unauthorized organizations are not Valid, and are in violation of current Hombu Dojo Directives.
Within this Federation or Kyokai, as the legal owner of a Registered Trademark, one fully registered by the United States Patent and Trademark office, I have elected to follow the leadership and guidance of my personal mentors and also the Dai Nippon Butoku-kai. I will administer this Organization as the Chairman and Kaicho, and will never claim a Rank within the Shotoshinkai that is any different from my Rank/Title as issued by the ISKK. This will allow me to maintain the Position of Kaicho, and yet able to promote those Members who are legitimate, and current members of this Organization to their proper and legitimate Rank and Title based on their years of experience and proper time in grade. All Rank and Title must fall within the Guidelines set forth by the Dai Nippon Butoku-kai in Kyoto, Japan. There will be no variation from this requirement.
At this time all Certified Members will be in possession of the Kokusai Seito Karate Kenkyukai Menjo also called the ISKK Menjo, or the Kokusai Karate-do Shihankai Certificate of/for Seito Karate as an alternative. All Senior Dan/Black Belt Members will be issued the original Shotoshinkai Karate Menjo from Japan. All Senior Members holding Rank/Title with the Shotoshinkai must be in possession of both Menjo for their Rank/Title to be Valid.
With help from our parent group the Kokusai Seito Karate Kenkyukai (ISKK), and via the ISKK Shihankai and its International Certifying Officials we can/will, whenand if ever needed, Certify any Rank/Title Requirements any "ISKK Member" might have.
Lifetime Memberships in the ISKK are $55.00 - $75.00 USD, and are recommended for all Shotoshinkai Members.
At this time my ISKK Rank/Title is now 7th dan/Kyoshi. It will be many years before I am again promoted within the ISKK. All Members may rest assured in the fact that these grades, and all Shotoshinkai Member grades, are correct, and will stand the test of any scrutiny worldwide. They will always meet the Standards set by the ISKK and the Dai Nippon Butoku-kai, as I am a Member of both Organizations and Pledge to uphold their highest of Standards.
As with most all styles of karate-do, the ten Dan system is now the World Standard, although I am one who finds great reserve for these ranks above Godan, or 5th Degree Black Belt, and look at those who claim these ranks with great scrutiny, (especially of and upon myself). If those same persons are worthy of those grades, and those grades are recognized by the recognized Grading Authority's within Japan and Okinawa, then I am both humbled and respectful, as well as awed by that persons position within Karate-do. If they are not, and simply a bypass on the Hierarchy of true Karate-do, then it is what it is. Others may hold a different opinion concerning this, but my opinion is based on the fact that any true rank in Karate-do "should" be recognized from the originator's of the art itself, or the Organizations that now represent those that created our beloved art. This means association with the current leadership in Japan or Okinawa. Some will argue this point with me, but I simply ask.......would you rather have your rank recognized by Japan/Okinawa or not? Would you rather the founders of Karate or their representatives, recognize your Dojo and the effort you have put forth during your life, or not?
Our group as a whole, is represented by humble karate-ka, far better than their rank or belt color might imply. It should always be this way, really. Our Brown Belts will be in time/grade for no less than two years, and it will be a difficult journey. When you make Shodan, or 1st Degree Black Belt, you will be a well trained martial artist. Some say this is just the beginning, and I say it takes something to get here, yet truly it is just the beginning. A Black Belt in Karate-do must mean something. In our Federation, it will, I assure you all of this.
As a secondary function we will assist you, as a member, in advancing in Ryukyu Kobudo as well. Ancient Okinawan weapons training, or Kobudo as it is normally called (Kobu-jutsu is also used), and Karate-do go well together. I believe that studying the ancient weapons gives one a complete perspective of the old ways of Okinawa, and further, allows the connecting of the karate-do from Okinawa, to the karate-do of Japan, and the old ways of Karate-jutsu in turn.
In Kobudo, I train earnestly and honestly. There are many more qualified than I, and I accept that, for it is the truth. I will continue my training, always striving for betterment. That is my duty to my Dojo, and to all who find there way here.
This link is very vital to the totality of your training. It should be something all members are aware of, and allow their training to include......the attributes of each system should be studied with earnest. We wish to fully demonstrate not only Shotoshinkai™, but Seito Karate-do, as well as Kobujutsu and Kobudo.
The Way for us then, is through the art of Anko Itosu. We (I) came from Korean Karate, to Shotokan, to Shotoshinkai, and then twenty five plus years later it now represents what we believe is the methodology of both Ankoh Itosu's Karate-do and the Karate-Jutsu of older Okinawan Karate, called Shuri-te.
Our goal in the beginning was to trace the roots of Shotokan Karate-do, and this has led us to Seito Karate, then to Shuri-te, and to even more Okinawan Arts, such as Kobudo and Kobujutsu, as well as other methods of Karate.
The Old, the New.........this is but a matter of Time. Said by Sensei Gichin Funakoshi, one of the first pioneers to come from Okinawa to stay in Japan and further Karate-do.
SHOTOSHINKAI™ has a primary function, and that is to operate as an Education and Entertainment Services Organization. By providing Instruction, organizing Cultural and Educational demonstrations in the field of Karate, we hope to provide all persons with the opportunity to learn real karate.
This Organization also represents the Karate-do of myself, Shihan James "Bud" Morgan, and many other Shotoshinkai™ members and friends around the world. It also represents the original intent of the Shotoshinkai™ since its inception in 1994.
The Shotoshinkai™ Dojo's around the world are representing the Karate that came from Okinawa, and ultimately began the Karate movement in Japan in the very early 1900's, or a variant of. From Japan, the world has now completely experienced the art of Karate-do.
The Shotoshinkai™ teaches a very original and direct approach to self defense. You receive the attack as you repel and re-position/evade......then stunning the opponent with atemi strikes, the immobilized attacker is then downed to the ground. Humbly, we must also finish the situation to a safe ending for all. Four waza that must be accomplished as a minimum, though the flow of execution may hide this. This is the way of Shotoshinkai™. It is not sport karate, but karate for the sake of defense.
Training in the Shotoshinkai™ Dojo is a training method suited for all from beginner to advanced practioner. Interested karate-ka seeking transition to our group should know it is quite simple for most Black Belts, or experienced karate-ka who are already familiar with Shotokan, Shorin-ryu, or other styles of Karate. We do participate in good Reishiki (our manners) conduct inside our Dojo, and our class is practiced with the good manners of a Japanese Dojo. With our Kobudo, we are a lot more like the Okinawan groups in our practice, yet we still maintain a high degree of structure where/when needed.
We are not the Dojo for very young children at the Hombu, although many Dojo accept different age groups. At the Hombu Dojo we focus on very real karate, and must be able to train correctly. We will have occasions where this will differ, as we always have everyones training needs in mind. Some children simply adapt to the training, others simply can not due to their young age.
The way of real karate is also called Seito Karate-do. Not only the basic methodology of Gichin Funakoshi, and Kanken Toyama himself, it is also the best link from Shotokan back to the art of Shuri-te of Okinawa. This is the result of the intent of Itosu Sensei. This does not mean other karate is not real. The word "Seito" simply means.......real, true, or Orthodox in the sense of original karate. Historically Okinawa sent their karate to Japan in the early 1900's. At that time Karate did not express "Style" names.
This is really good Karate here at the Shotoshinkai Dojo, and as a student one should expect a vigorous workout, and a lot of hands on training. This "does" mean we touch, and yes sometimes it hurts a bit to train this way. But we must. We train on the Makiwara, the legless Mook Jong, we do lots of Kata, and lots of Bunkai/Oyo/Henka. We train for the reality of having to defend ourselves, a loved one, or even a stranger. We intend on being successful, and so we train accordingly.
Many of our groups love the competitive side of Karate. I suggest the WKF, JKF, USA-NKF, type organizations if one is serious about the pursuit of karate in this manner. Some open karate competitions are worthy of note, and yet many are simply questionable as to the content allowed, and allow made up tournament type karate made only for showmanship. We do not follow this method of demonstrating our art, as it is not true karate. With that said, many small local Tournaments are adequate for a majority of people who enjoy the sport side of Karate.
This is the Organization that represents the "Original Shotoshinkai™", the Original Karate-do, and is the only Shotoshinkai™ organization that holds the Distinction and Honor of owning the rights to the Shotoshinkai™ name, given to us by our family, the Takeda family of Japan........
I, James (Bud) Morgan, have now, and have always owned the original Menjo, Shomeisho, and the Hanko given to me by the Takeda family for the Shotoshinkai™. As well, the first Kuro-obi, or Black Belt that was purchased by the Takeda family for the Shotoshinkai Dojo, is in my Dojo, or on my waist. True to the spirit of Uncle Takashi, a student of Kyuzo Mifune, it is a Judo belt.....a Ku-Sakura Brand which wears nice and soft, and is aging nicely.
The name Shotoshinkai ™ came directly from Takako Takeda Shellcrosslee, after much discussion between the two of us about a proper name for my Dojo, one that would depart from pure Shotokan, only to follow our history back to Okinawa. No other persons were ever involved in the naming of Shotoshinkai™. She also hand made a set of Kakemono, or scrolls with information on some very important Kata.
These are the true, original treasures of the Shotoshinkai™. I am eternally grateful for all my Japanese Family has done for me and for the Shotoshinkai Dojo. They are also the Testimony of the Founding of Shotoshinkai, and who is charged with maintaining this group, and so I shall until my passing.
The roots of all Shotoshinkai™ spread from here, and from this fact. Many can share and enjoy the fruit of our efforts, but none can own it without our family's blessing, and no part of our History or our beginning can be denied nor altered. We say this with some reservation, but openly and as humbly as is possible. The truth is simply the truth, and that truth must be protected.
We train with the mindset of recognizing the special efforts of men like Matsumura Sokon, Anko Itosu, and through the pioneers of Japanese Karate ie. Gichin Funakoshi, Kenwa Mabuni, Choki Motobu, Kanken Toyama, Hiroshi Kinjo, Kazuya Mitani, and all the other Okinawan Karate-ka who came to share the original Karate. It is in this spirit we move forward daily, to try to share the original karate with everyone we can. We can no longer train with them all, but we can learn from all the examples they have left us. It is all we have now, so best we do our very best. One way to do this is by maintaining contact and remaining friends with their students from the 1st generation students on down. Forever we should remain close enough to know the true Way of Karate-do, and help maintain its many paths through those friendships.
Shotoshinkai™ is clearly symbolic of "The organization to train in the spirit of Shoto." At the same time the name has always fully represented the Sho, that is symbolic of all Shuri-te based Karate. The To, represents the way of China, and the usage of the old name of Tode. It is not Shotokan, but we know Shotokan is in our History, and always will be.
What then is Shotoshinkai™ Karate-do?
That is a fair question.
The short answer: It is a way of doing karate that represents the way of Karate before style names existed. There was of course Shuri-te, Naha-te, and Tomari-te. Tomari-te has now all but disappeared, except by the efforts of Nagamine Sensei and the Matsubayashi Shorin-ryu that is his legacy.
True, Seito Karate is both Shuri-te, and not Shuri-te. To the beginning student it is not, but to the advanced karate-ka, it surely is.
It is true that many members of the Shotoshinkai™ organization study or have studied Shotokan Karate. People who study Japanese Karate, many times want to know the roots of their respective arts, and therefore many go on to explore arts from Okinawa. It is here that the Shotoshinkai™ can provide to all practitioners the exact opportunity of bridging that gap. Many schools of Shotoshinkai still do only the Heian Kata, but the older, and more advanced students should begin to study the history of earlier Karate-do and therefore the Pinan Kata as well. The Karate of Itosu Sensei is the logocal first step backwards for those who study Shotokan, and wish to learn of their own past.
It is simply history learned. We, both Kyoshi Pete Rouse, another early pioneer of the Shotoshinkai, and myself began to build upon the idea that any base of Karate had a history, and that going backwards in time would reveal many things. We were searching for the Jutsu side of things, but wha we found was a rich History of Karate itself.
When Karate first migrated to Japan from Okinawa, it was simply called Kara-te. It was actually mostly Shuri-te, the methodology from the District of Shuri. Yes, there was of course Naha, and Tomari influences as well. But Seito Karate-do is primarily from Shuri-te.
Sensei Gichin Funakoshi, one of the first Okinawans to bring Karate to Japan proper, never originally called his karate Shotokan, contrary to the belief of many. His students did this when they built the first Dojo called the "Shotokan", between 1936 and 1939. Even then he tried to convince them it was simply, Karate-do.
Kenwa Mabuni Sensei was another of the very first to come from Okinawa. He and Funakoshi Sensei were good friends, and together worked to create a solid program of Karate in Japan. His art would later become known as Shito-ryu Karate-do. It too has become a very extensive method of Karate, and like Shotokan has millions of followers worldwide.
Many historically important teachers tried very hard to promote Karate as being without a style name. It came to be known as Seito Karate, True karate, or simply Karate-do. Ankoh Itosu is said to have began the movement itself, and there is little to conflict to this testimony. Gichin Funakoshi, Chosin Chibana, Kanken Toyama, and Shigeru Nakamura were some of those who from the very beginning tried their best to keep Karate as just Karate-do, and without style names being attached.
But the naming of Dojo's soon came to represent not only the school itself, but a Ryu, or "style", as the Dojo's grew and expanded. To name one's Ryu quickly became tradition within the karate scene. Every teacher was expected in Japan to have a recognized style, as was normal within the ancient Ryu of Jujutsu, and Kenjutsu. It was a long standing tradition that altered the course of Karate for ever.
Soon the Okinawans were doing the same as well......naming their style or Ryu to differentiate what they were teaching. This is greatly revealed by the kata of each Dojo.
It is no matter, the real Karate survived. In Japan, Sensei Mitani and his wife, have taken their Dojo, the Seitokukai, located in Chiba Prefecture, Japan, and within the competitive karate of the JKF/WKF they have established that the "original karate" can actually be superior to the Karate of today.
This is confirmed by the many years of being one of Japan's strongest Dojo's. They are located in Chiba, Japan, and the main Dojo is at the City Gymnasium. They have produced many National Champions within their Dojo, and their students are very good.
Seito Karate is represented by many Dojo's and groups around the world. It too can hardly escape not being called a style. Called by many as Itosu's Karate, Itosu's School Karate, and even school boy karate. It is these things and yet much more. It is Karate-do in every sense of the word.
What is Seito Karate-do?
Seito Karate is somewhat difficult to describe in many ways. It is now possibly not even the original version it once was, but something that slightly differs from Dojo to Dojo, even though the intent is true. This is normal. Each teacher is a different person. We can not change that. History however, we can prove. To do as best as possible, should be the goal of all.
This is where I think we must ask ourselves.....What was the "intent" of Anko Itosu's original karate. Was it designed to be sent to Japan only, or was there a greater goal, one of introducing Karate-do to the World.
That it is a clearly defined form of Karate is evident, and a mutual feeling of this presides in most karate communities. It is the Bunkai/Oyo/Henka training that comes after the Kihon Karate training, that brings us to focus on the aspects of Shuri-te, or real Okinawa-te. There are two sides to our Karate.....Karate-do and Karate-jutsu.
As Mitani Kazuya Sensei say's, "The Way of Itosu's Ten Annotations, is the way of studying Karate".......and so said Hiroshi Kinjo Sensei, the great karate Historian, as well. Can there be any reason to dispute this when addressing the art of Seito Karate. Mitani Sensei also confirms the way to learn true karate is through the Makiwara.
There are many different Makiwara, and training devices, should one care to explore outside the norm. I personally, love to fight with my Mook-jong with no leg. I also like Tsuki.
I think Tsuki is the embodiment of Karate-do in many ways. Simple as it may seem, the depth of understanding may be endless. Yet it is here, that a karate-ka must come. Kata is the Way "of Karate".......this is true. It will always be so.
The Way "to" Karate is in knowing Tsuki.........just remember what Karate is and is not. Shuri-te is the mother of all Karate. It is here that the secrets of the real Okinawan art will always be.
We now know that Itosu's original karate included fourteen kata. Pinan 1-5, Naihanchi 1-3, Passai Sho, Passai Dai, Kusanku Sho, Kusanku Dai, Chinto, and Gojushiho.
Yet when Funakoshi Sensei got to Japan permanently, he did not teach these exact kata. Mabuni Sensei did not teach this exact set of kata either, quite the opposite he was a man of many Kata. Nor did Choki Motobu, who preferred the usage of far fewer kata as his way, or in his personal karate. Nor did any other Okinawan Sensei once they arrived in Japan except Kanken Toyama. A lot of change happened very quickly over the next twenty years or so.
The real truth, the genius of Seito Karate-do itself, may lie within the Pinan Kata themselves, which were the original kata designed by Ankoh Itosu for learning Kihon Karate, and seem to be widely accepted as such. These kata seemed to remain fairly consistent within all groups early on, and later as well. In many circles Bushi Matsumura himself is credited with inventing Pinan Sho-dan and Pinan Ni-dan.
That Funakoshi changed the names to Japanese proper names (Heian), or that Mabuni Sensei did not, really does not matter. These five kata are still with us, and have stood the test of time for over 100 years now, doing exactly what they were designed to do. Teach Seito Karate-do.
They are the true base kata of Seito Karate. What then becomes important is to teach Karate-do in a manner consistent with the intent of the original Seito Karate.
1) Real Karate or Seito Karate-do can be converted back to Shuri-te, the lethal art.
2) Okinawan or Japanese in tradition, all Karate can be taught with the intent of Seito Karate-do.
3) Taught correctly, and honestly, Seito Karate-do can endure for all time.
Shotoshinkai™ Karate-do is a method of Seito Karate-do, or original Karate. At our Dojo, we teach the kata base that Itosu prescribed including Pinan Shodan through Godan, as well as Naihanchi Shodan. We then teach the Passai kata, followed by Kusanku. There are many versions of Passai and of Kusanku. This reflects the overall importance that these kata represented to many of the early pioneers of Karate.
Although Itosu Sensei left us with fourteen kata named and included within his original kata list, at our Dojo we concentrate on just marginally fewer kata while continuing to study not only from the list of fourteen kata, but also as we study backwards in time we learn other kata of the time period as well. Some of these kata are loved so much we can not leave them behind.
And so we study a varied lis between the group of Sensei, each finding the kata that helps them make their Karate, actually theirs.
For me, the three kata of Naihanchi, Passai, and Kusanku, are representative of many styles of Okinawan Karate, and are very old Kata and are indeed treasures. I also maintain the Pinan Kata while Kyoshi Rouse maintains the Heian Kata from Shotokan.
We also both teach Funakoshi Sensei's beginning kata, the Taikyoku Shodan in the very beginning, as it truly is the best kata for developing karate-do in beginners, as well as a great kata to maintain forever.
This gives me the following kata to work with, and a solid foundation upon which to build.
1) Taikyoku
2) Pinan 1-5, with particular interest in both one and two.
3) Naihanchi (Shodan)
4) Rohai
5) Itosu no Passai
6) Matsumura no Passai
7) Tomari Wanshu
8) Chibana no Kusanku
9) Chatan Yara no Kusanku
We acknowledge that our kata, like all others of the same name, are our representation of these kata's. They will bear minor differences from other peoples kata, and that must be accepted. No right or wrong implied. Different people look different, and if any differences are due to any disability, they will be so noted.
Yes we know there will be minor differences between Dojo's, and yet all Seito Karate-do Dojo's will teach "authentic" Okinawan or Japanese Karate, and include the Pinan/Heian kata as a minimum to be considered a Seito Karate-do Dojo. They must know the history of the Original Karate that came from Ankoh Itosu.
In our Dojo, it can not be Shotoshinkai™ without those base kata. These Kata were sent from Okinawa to Japan to establish Karate-do. Without these Kata, you do not have Karate-do. Without Karate-do, you do not have Shotoshinkai™.
The History of Shotoshinkai™:
I would ask that all Shotoshinkai™ practitioners worldwide "Update" their websites to include the following historical information, that we might seal it forever in time by these new ways of communication:
A brief historical outline of Shotoshinkai™ Karate-do is as follows:
It all began in 1994, in the Little Rock, Arkansas area. The efforts of myself and Kyoshi Pete Rouse, motivated by several factors, caused me to seek the advice of my Japanese family, who by the way, were actually excited to get me moving within Japanese Karate-do, after I had studied primarily old style Korean Karate (Kong Soo Do), as well as WTF style Tae Kwon Do for the last eighteen years.
At that time I was the senior Instructor at the Ki Do Kwan in Cabot, Arkansas. Our Dojo was there for over six years, and this was a great period of learning.
The name "Shotoshinkai" was given to me, James "Bud" Morgan in November 1994, by the late Takako Takeda Shellcrosslee. This is a fact, set in stone.
The original Shotoshinkai Karate-do Shomei was drafted some years later by Teruko Takeda of Yokohama, Japan, with help from our gracious uncle, Takashi Takeda (a former student of Jigoro Kano's last 10th Dan, Kyuzo Mifune Sensei) in 2003 during my visit to Japan at that time. She then prepared two originals of our Shomei for me to take home to America.
The original Dojo's that agreed to use the name Shotoshinkai were in Little Rock, North Little Rock, Maumelle, and Jacksonville, Arkansas. These were the Dojo locations of Sensei Pete Rouse and Sensei Bud Morgan, both Yon-dans, or 4th Degree Black Belts. Sensei Don Davis also joined us from Louisiana. These Dojo were originally operated under the "United States Shotoshinkai™ Karate Association", and were at that time teaching the art of Shotokan Karate-do, while researching older Karate, especially the Karate-jutsu that originated in Okinawa.
In the beginning it was simple, study the old, the new, and everything in between.
***Again the first official usage/act of the Shotoshinkai™ was in accepting the name for my Karate Dojo in November 1994. In December 1994, along with Sensei Rouse we established the USSKA, the United States Shotoshinkai Karate Association for our first group of Dojo's. At that time we were united with a common goal, and we all used the name Shotoshinkai™, which conveyed the name of our group's Dojo's or Schools. The truth is the same from the beginning until now......Shotoshinkai is not a style or Ryu. It is the name of our Dojo's, and the Association of like Dojo's.
Historical Note: Sensei Morgan and Sensei Rouse have been friends for many years, and have "shared" much karate over the years. The original ideology of Shotoshinkai™ was working fine, and many new things were being learned. Due to family illness we moved our Arkansas family and our Dojo to North Carolina in the year 2000. The following year in 2001, Sensei Rouse changed the name from Shotoshinkai to Shoto-Shinkai, which changed the original meaning. He also went on to become the senior Shihan of this group, obtaining the rank of 8th dan and the Kyoshi teaching title. He has told me he thought he was making it better, but the truth is simply that his efforts changed things, and so our paths separated in some aspects. Our friendship and support for each other however, continues to this day.
Although I maintained the original spelling for my Dojo, I did try to support Sensei Rouse through my efforts in both the ASKDF, and then again when the ISSKF that Sensei Rouse later formed, emerged as an International Federation. However there simply came the time to set the records straight, to claim the correct naming to be Shotoshinkai, and to retire all others in order to preserve our group without further confusion. This set of actions, will keep the Shotoshinkai in its original state forever.
NOTE: As of December 31st, 2014, the name of our Organization is Copyright protected and a Registered Trademark. All further business of Shotoshinkai should come directly through our Hombu, located at:
Shotoshinkai Hombu
c/o Morgan Sensei
1432 Whitburn Avenue
Fayetteville, North Carolina, 28304
United States of America.
Other notes:
The historical nature of Seito Karate-do conforms to my personal belief in certain area's of the Martial Arts, and Karate Reishiki in particular, and so I wish to differentiate the Original Shotoshinkai™ from any and all who do not follow my path exactly. Any Karate-ka, or Dojo-cho can certainly do any methodology you wish, and my blessings to all, but if you desire to call it Shotoshinkai™ then it must follow the proper Protocol, it must be approved by the Honbu, and it must reflect positively on the Shotoshinkai™ as a Whole.
If not.....please do not call your art, group, Dojo, or anything else with any likeness or alteration of the name Shotoshinkai™.
I have maintained forward progress from the very first day with my Original Shotoshinkai™. I have never missed a day, nor will I, until my passing.
Today, we should all "always" respect the rights and property of others accordingly, and adjust where needed.
Sometimes people do things in what they believe is the best interest of something. It might be and it might not be, but it is not ever wrong to try new things. That's how we succeed eventually.....by evaluating and adjusting when the time is right.
I think the time is right to set straight the Shotoshinkai™ recorded history, and to share the desires of our group with everyone who is so inclined to continue the legacy of the Original Shotoshinkai™, and the history of Seito Karate..........the Bridge that connects the Karate of Okinawa with the Karate of Japan.
Only if the Standards set by the ISKK, and the Dai Nippon Butoku-kai are met, should any member be considered for any Rank, or any Title. Especially the leadership and upper ranks of the Federation itself. In this there can be no compromise if we expect a lifetime of success.
*** ISKF - (International) Shotoshinkai™ Karate-do (Federation) - in Japanese is called Kokusai Shotoshinkai™ Karate-do Kyokai ***
Within the ISKF we can all be members of one Organization, if that is what one wants to do, but the History and the truth is what it is, and it is very clear. Ownership of the Shotoshinkai™ as any family structure should, stays in the family for now. This is simply because of where the word Shotoshinkai came from. It is neither a good thing nor a bad thing, it is simply the truth.
Other Historical dates and details:
In 2002 Sensei Morgan founded the "All American" Zen Beikoku Shotoshinkai™ Karate Dojo, as a Yon-dan, 4th Degree Black Belt, also leading to the opening of the Lumberton, North Carolina Dojo. This was also an affirmative action of the Original Shotoshinkai™, to establish my continued and active ownership of the Shotoshinkai™ name. It means "The All American Shotoshinkai™ Karate Dojo".......we still love and use that name.
I continued my Membership with the ASKDF and the ISSKF of Kyoshi Rouse and have done so for many years. I did however maintain "all" of my rank with other legitimate karate organizations, such as ISOK and the ISKK in order to preserve the integrity of my Dojo and the Federation at large. The most important aspect of these memberships was to always protect the integrity of the Original Shotoshinkai™.
In 2003 I traveled to Japan, meeting with Sensei Mitani Kazuya of the Okinawa Seito Karate-do Seitokukai located in Chiba, Japan. Although I did not affiliate directly with the Seitokukai, I was in fact greatly influenced by Mitani Sensei. This introduction to some very outstanding Seito Karate-do, changed my direction of study acutely.
With a highly renewed interest, I again continued my training in older karate, gaining Membership within the International Society of Okinawan/Japanese Karate-do Organization in 2004, and graded (Internationally Certified) at Yon-dan, 4th Degree Black Belt in Japanese Karate-do.
In 2006, a group of several Senior Karate-ka from around the globe founded the ISKK, or the International (Kokusai) Seito Karate Kenkyukai. This was done in order to create a "Study Group" of highly experienced teachers, whose goal was to share everything possible, within the realm of Japanese and Okinawan Karate, and to use this knowledge to further each of their respective arts and Associations/Federations.
The ISKK has been a very successful endeavor, and remains in operation to this day. It has in the past been headed by Hanshi Paul Fracchia of Shito-Ryu, and Hanshi Dwight Holley, 9th Dan Shotokan Karate-do, and a highly respected member of the Dai Nippon Butoku Kai.
The ISKK also has had a great influence on Shotoshinkai™ Karate-do, and through this mutual association, has allowed it to spread beyond the USA, establishing an International level of recognition.
In July of 2006 I was recognized by the ISKK at Go-dan and my Renshi teaching Title. Although earnestly studying the aspects of Seito Karate-do, I also trained in other arts.
I also began to reinvest my energy in the art of Ryukyu Kempo, in which I had held Sho-dan grade since 1983, ultimately receiving my Godan, 5th Degree Black Belt in November 5th of 2007 with the Okinawan Karate League (OKL) in Okinawa, Japan.
In 2011, I, Sensei Morgan was elevated to Rokudan, 6th Degree Black Belt by the ISKK in Karate-do by Dwight Holley Hanshi, and Paul Fracchia Hanshi. The development of Seito Karate-do, Ryukyu Kobudo/Kobujutsu, and Ryukyu Kempo, continued, and the Shotoshinkai™ Dojo began plans to establish firm guidelines on what each of these three separate arts contained. I also further defined the ideology of the Shotoshinkai™, in order to propagate the Seito Karate-do from Okinawa, as the original karate of Japan.
On 5 November 2019, I received my Certification from the ISKK and Hanshi Dwight Holley, promoting me to the Rank of 7th dan (Nanadan) and confirming my Teaching Title of Kyoshi. It will now be many years before I ever think again about Rank and Title.
Now my work truly begins. It is now May of 2021, and I am now 64 years old, and yet I am planning on my Karate taking on a new beginning. Much like the game of football, in the 4th Quarter.......it is time to get real, and to give all one has within themselves. Leave it all on the field they say.
Historically, in September of 2014, Sensei Rouse announced he will be in full Retirement, and he officially retired the ASKDF and the ISSKF. This is a positive move on his part, and leaves the original Shotoshinkai and the ISKF as the only legal representative of our group, and that simply follows the current United States Laws governing all Registered and Trade Marked entity's.
His extensive background in Defensive Tactics and Shotokan Karate-do are something he should always share with others when ever he can.
At our Dojo in 2021, I am concentrating on proper Karate and Kobudo, and the Administrative duties as the leader, or Kaicho of the original Shotoshinkai™ organization. The full name being the "Kokusai Shotoshinkai Karate-do Kyokai". The easy way to say it, is the "Shotoshinkai Karate Dojo".
The continued success of the original Shotoshinkai, will rest fully on my shoulders, and those who both lead me in the Way of Karate-do, and those who wish to follow the Way of Shotoshinkai.
Further Notes from Sensei Morgan:
Having elected to continue down a path of study in the original Okinawan art's, has caused me to feel the need to "distinguish" what I personally believe Shotoshinkai™ is. To me Shotoshinkai™ is a methodology, or a way to study, teach, and "represent" the art of Seito Karate-do within my Dojo, and is the operating foundation to accomplish the goals set by the Federation itself, and our parent group the ISKK. It is not a style. We have a Dojo, and we have a Federation. We teach Seito Karate-do.
Though I wish to be very humble about it, as humble as is humanly possible.....I, and I alone have the absolute right to determine what Shotoshinkai™ is, and is not.
Shotoshinkai™ began in the beginning to follow correctly, the traditions of the Samurai, in so much as my desire to be correct as possible to Bushido, and the Way of Karate-do. I requested help with this name, and it is from a Samurai family (Takeda) that our humble beginnings have sprung
***This is the true opportunity before us. Its value in the end will be based on the legitimate workings of its members, and their actions in particular. That our humble beginning came from the descendants of a great Samurai family, that the early help from their effort, lets us now lay the groundwork for a true way of study that will stand the test of time. We have struggled forward for twenty plus years already. From 1994 till 2021, the time of this update.
Still yet, it is those who study the Way of Karate-do and Seito Karate in particular that are important, not me. Only through the efforts of many will the Shotoshinkai™ last through out all time. It is now very important for me to outline fully, the methodology of the Shotoshinkai™. This is so that there is but one way for Shotoshinkai™, one syllabus, the same for all. It has been written for years, and now is the time to share it, and insure that all members of our group are steadily training to meet these goals.
Study any Karate you wish, but know and understand true, Seito Karate, and what it is, and more importantly what it is not.
What Shotoshinkai™ is not, is the only way to study Seito Karate-do. There are more than a few paths leading to this truth. There are good teachers out there from other Dojo, many of them actually. They will show you the right way to learn Karate-do. Mitani Kazuya of the Seitokukai, as well as Cheyne McMahon of Australian Seitokukai are two great examples.
The study of Seito Karate-do, Ryukyu (Shojukai) Kempo, Ryukyu Kobudo/Kobujutsu, as well as maintaining my study of the original Karate-do of Funakoshi Sensei, and the Korean art of Kong Soo Do, are all parts of the sum total of "my" karate and martial arts. I will share any of that to any person who truly wishes to share.
However, Seito Karate-do alone is within Shotoshinkai™ Karate-do, there are no other parts to Shotoshinkai™. And while this is true, Shotoshinkai™ Karate-do is but one path of many in knowing, sharing, and being a part of the Seito Karate-do movement.........
Seito Karate-do is about the beginnings of Karate in Japan, and the rest of the World. Shotoshinkai™ is but a small part of that. From the very moment Okinawan Karate of Anko Itosu landed on the Mainland, there was always an effort to keep Karate-do without a style name, a method of Karate-do with many schools or Dojo's. While this thought is no longer the way of most karate-ka, it none the less survives.
Understanding the true path of Karate from Okinawa to Japan, and the History of those arts that made that transition possible, are my focus, and have always represented my course and direction in Karate as a whole.
My good friend Kyoshi Malcolm Bates, of the UK (England) has also become a leading member of the Shotoshinkai™ Karate group with his Shin Gi Tai Karate Dojo's across his region of the United Kingdom. Their core art is also Shotokan Karate-do, with studies including Seito Karate, Ryukyu Kobudo, as well as the study of Iaido and Kenjutsu sword arts.
Shihan Pak Wan (Ridzuan Md. Zane), founded the Shotoshinkai™ Karate of Malaysia in 2007 with my blessing, and has continued to grow his area with many students of Shotoshinkai. Their core art is also Shotokan Karate-do, via Hirokazu Kanazawa Sensei, and he also maintains membership within the ISKK. His group is enjoying outstanding success and growth for the art of Shotoshinkai as a whole. I am truly pleased with his dedication and leadership, and his desire to develop Shotoshinkai worldwide.
The Shotoshinkai™ support team consists of the following ISKK mentors, and leaders in the Karate-do world. Shotokan-ryu, Shito-ryu, and Seito Karate-do coming together to promote Budo and Bushido, and to substantiate the arts of Japanese Karate-do, and its ancestors.
Hanshi Dwight Holley, 9th Dan, (Hanshi DNBK/KOJF) Retired
Hanshi Paul Fracchia, 8th Dan, (Hanshi, ISKK) Retired
Shihan Carlos Varon, 7th Dan (Kyoshi, ISKK) Retired
Shihan Jim Copeland, 7th Dan (Kyoshi, ISKK) Retired
Shihan Bud Morgan, 7th Dan, (Kyoshi, ISKK)
Shihan Malcolm Bates, 7th Dan (Kyoshi, ISKK)
Shihan Pak Wan (Ridzuan Md. Zain), 7th Dan, (Kyoshi, ISKK)
The above members also hold positions within their own respective groups as well, and as is normal in Organizations there will be change. We will always seek a well trained group of martial artist, with centuries of training between them, to help us along the Way. The organizational structure of the Shotoshinkai™ of Sensei Morgan, is supported by the Kokusai Seito Karate-do Kenkyukai (ISKK), where all above members are Certified by Rank and/or Title.
At this time Sensei Rouse (8th dan, and Registered ISKK Yudansha) is also a lifelong friend and mentor, and his counsel is always appreciated. Also we are grateful for the knowledge and support of Kyoshi John Jackson (ISKK, 8th Dan, Uechi-ryu), and Kyoshi Rick Van Meter, 8th dan of Ryukyu Kenpo, both first generation students of Seikichi Odo Hanshi, and the many other senior members of the groups I am blessed to belong too. On the Korean side of things I am supported by 8th dan Tang Soo Do, (Master) David Sgro, who is currently studying for his Rank in Seito Karate-do under myself, Shihan Morgan. I look forward to his inclusion within the ISKK in the near future. He is extremely knowledgeable, and a former student of Grand Master Whang Kee, the Founder of Tang Soo Do.
In Conclusion:
This is a full summary of the Historical Accounts within Shotoshinkai™ Karate as truthfully as I can remember and record.
As with any martial artist, our training never stops, our growth never ends. It is a lifelong quest, seeking perfection of Character, and Technique, with the full knowledge of our inability to succeed.
Yet we continue forward, as is the duty of all good Karate-ka. Train and Share. The Secrets of Karate.
You can contact Shihan Morgan at budddogg33@aol.com for further information regarding membership. Membership cost is simple, and inexpensive, reflecting our life long desire to share Karate as free as humanly possible.
We also highly recommend Membership in the Kokusai Seito Karate Kenkyukai at www.seitokarate.blogspot.com, or you may inquire at our Facebook group page, as this group maintains the capability to further individual opportunities such as Rank and Title Certification, and has an outstanding group of senior karate-ka from around the World.
https://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/ISKKmembers/
www.seitokarate.blogspot.com
www.shojukan.blogspot.com
Karate-Do....Who will pass it on straight and Well........
Below, the important things for all members of Shotoshinkai™ to know. The history of our art is as important as any other part.
10 precepts from Yasutsune “Ankoh”
Itosu:
