About Us – SHUKOKAI OSITA-HA KARATE DO ASIA

Shito-ryu

Shito-ryu Shukokai Karatedo is one of the most dynamic and successful Karate schools. Shukokai‘s Japanese roots centred on the universities of Osaka and Kyoto and their students established the school as a fast and powerful style.

Shukokai

Shukokai was the brainchild of TANI Chojiro sensei. Tani sensei studied Goju-Ryu for a decade until meeting MABUNI Kenwa sensei, the famous Shito-Ryu Master. Mr. Tani became a keep disciple of this fast and fluid style and he was finally allowed to open his own school in 1948.

Chojiro Tani

Mr. Tani was fascinated with the science of body mechanics and movement, and after much experimenting and comprehensive study he re-designed the Shito-Ryu‘s kicking and punching methods to maximise and benefit from plyometric (elastic property) contraction of the muscles. The hip movement was emphasised and Shukokai‘s famous double hip movement for executing strikes developed, giving the style it’s explosive power. Impact pads were introduced to help the Shukokai stylists enhance their power. Mr. Tani successfully fused the dynamics and speed of Shito-Ryu with the power and strength of Goju-Ryu so none of the qualities or strengths of either style were lost.

World Chief Instructor, Soke, Hanshi, 10th Dan, Masataka Ohshita M.A.Ed.

Soke & President, Hanshi, 10th Dan, Masataka Ohshita M.A.Ed., explains the background for Osita-ha Shitoryu Shukokai Karatedo International…

“Nobody knows how long we can live. I do not know when my time will come to an end, but one thing is clear that my lifetime is limited.

This is the reason why I decided to make my own school of karate. It is named ‘Osita-ha Shitoryu Shukokai Karatedo International’, Osita is the abbreviation for my name ‘Ohshita’.

In this group, we practice traditional karate and also focus on practice for competition. There is no doubt that traditional karate is very important. We must know ‘Bunkai’ for all techniques of Katas and all the basics are very important. Participating in competition is also important – trying to win and being judged by others motivates us to practice karate, to make our karate better and to improve. To raise the level of karate, we sometimes need to be judged from outside.

Engaging in competition requires diligent practice to enhance our skills and build confidence. While victory is celebrated, defeat is equally valuable, offering lessons that contribute to our growth. Each experience, win or loss, is a treasured chapter in our karate journey, enriching not just our martial arts practice but also our personal development and perspective. It broadens our horizons, opening our eyes from a narrow and small world, to a wide and large world.

I help people who practice traditional karate as well as people who challenge for competition. I teach 72 kata and Bunkai. Learning kata provides a good knowledge of karate and includes many techniques, that’s why it is most important to learn kata.

‘Osita ha Shitoryu Shukokai Karatedo International’ is my own independent and private school, newly established in 2019. I am the Soke and President, HANSHI, 10th Dan.

The Kanji for Osita-ha Shitoryu Shukokai Karatedo International is 大下派糸東流修好会空手道. The Kanji for ‘International’ is 国際 however this is not included as the meaning of ‘International’ is widely understood.

There are three different ways to use the organisation name;

Osita-ha Shitoryu Shukokai Karatedo International (大下派糸東流修好会空手道)

Osita-ha Shitoryu Karate (大下派糸東流空手道)

Osita-ha Karate (大下派空手道)

The Kanji includes 道 after 空手. The 道＝ ‘do’, when combined with 空手 to make 空手道 it means ‘The way of Karate’.

For the shorter form organisaton name (options 2 and 3) in English, for simplicity we do not include ‘do’, only ‘Karate’. Everybody can use either form of the organisation name either way.”

Soke Hanshi Masataka Ohshita

Dr. Hanshi Vinod Kumar VV
Grandmaster – UNITED SHITO RYU KARATE ASSOCIATION
Chief – SHUKOKAI OSITA-HA KARATE DO ASIA

Dr. Hanshi Vinod Kumar VV

VV Vinod Kumar has over 45 years of experience in Karate, Taekwondo, Boxing, Kalaripayattu, and Physical Training, with more than 42 years dedicated to teaching Karate.

He served as the Chief Coordinator for the Guinness World Record event for the Most People Performing a Kata, where 5,797 girls participated.

Vinod Kumar holds an 8th Dan Black Belt recognized by the World Karate Federation (WKF) and a 9th Dan Black Belt from Oshita-Ha Shukokai Shitoryu Karate International.

Throughout his career, he has trained and mentored over 1,800 Black Belt students and has produced numerous National and State Champions.

From 2012 to 2023, he served as a Karate Coach with the Kerala State Sports Council. He is also a WKF Certified Coach, a Senior Karate Instructor, and a National Karate Referee in India.

He previously served as the Coach of the Kerala Police Karate Team, leading the team to a Silver Medal at the All India Police Championship 2022. In addition, he has served as the Karate Coach for Kerala University and APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University (Kerala Technical University).

Currently, he serves as the Technical Coordinator of Snehajwala, an initiative of the Swathi Foundation, where he continues to promote martial arts, discipline, fitness, and youth development.

United Shito Ryu Karate Academy, the leading Karate martial arts and fitness center in Kerala for over 35 years, with its headquarters in Trivandrum. Since 1982, and now with over 100 reputable centers/dojos throughout Kerala, United Shito Ryu Karate Academy conduct classes in Karate and Self-defense programs. In addition, we hold a comprehensive schedule of fitness programs on a weekly/monthly basis.

PHILOSOPHY

We will provide the best service in order to reach your goals, specifically in the areas of:

Self-confidence
Respect
Discipline
Self-defense
Sports Karate

United Shito Ryu Karate is a traditional school of teaching Karate. With many branches across the state, United Shito Ryu Karate makes it convenient for the families around these areas to practice Karate together. Our focus is on the success of each of our students, ranging from preschoolers to adults. Each of our classes are uniquely designed based on the needs and abilities of each student, ensuring their success through exercise, self-discipline, mutual respect and positive reinforcement.

Our passion lies in watching our students become lifelong martial arts participants and reaching his or her highest potential. Each student will progress through the various belt ranks to reach the higher level of Karate Black Belt. United Shito Ryu Karate encourages our students’ advancements through goal setting, leadership development, character development and healthy competition. Each instructor strongly believes in creating “champions in life” along with champions in Karate, so our lessons are easily applied outside of United Shito Ryu classes.

Our holiday summer camps are very popular with children and youths with fun filled Karate and fitness programs.

We are proud to be the team behind the internationally acclaimed Karate tournament ‘VV Cup Karate Open Championship’, State Level Body Building championship ‘VV Cup’, and many other tournaments for Junior Level and School Level. Additionally, as part of our portfolio, we provide motivational speaking sessions for schools and corporate bodies.

A dedicated and qualified team of Karate instructors conducting the sessions throughout Kerala and neighboring states under the direct supervision of Kyoshi Vinod Kumar VV, the Grand Master of United Shito Ryu Karate.

Across all our centers/dojos we pride ourselves in our positive approach, by providing a top class service to ensure that our students and parents are completely satisfied, knowing with a sense of pride that we bring quality programs delivered by knowledgeable and professional teachers.

Teachers

United Shito Ryu Karate Association in Kerala, Our Teachers are all well-trained to ensure that the martial arts classes are safe, fun and effective.

Teachers are well trained to focus not just on teaching martial arts skills but also in dealing with each of student’s needs to help them improve their personality and confidence. They make sure to guide and support them with proper encouragement and positive correction to the students.

We are committed to training physical skills of martial arts while applying attitude-shaping and improvement exercises to help bring out the best character and physical potential in each student.

The Teachers are also undergoing weekly martial arts training to advance their own martial arts and educational knowledge to ensure that they will be able to teach the students well. United Shito Ryu Academy makes sure the teachers maintain their knowledge of martial arts up to date.