Shito Ryu Karate-Do
We teach a traditional karate style originating from the island of Okinawa. Shito Ryu is one of the four major styles practiced in Japan. Karate goes back several hundred years to Okinawa. Karate is a term in Japanese: “Kara” means empty and “te” means hand, so karate is fighting hand to hand without weapons.
The History of Shito Ryu
MABUNI KENWA SENSEI
Sensei Mabuni Kenwa (1889-1952) studied under Sensei Anko Itosu of Shuri in Okinawa from he was 13 years old back in 1902. He learned numerous kata from Sensei Itosu. The kata’s were known for their quick and explosive techniques.
In 1908 Mabuni was recommended by his friend Chojun Miyagi to learn from his Sensei Kanryo Higaonna of Naha and he did. Here he learned the powerful and circular techniques that later became the core of Sensei Miyagi’s style (Goju-Ryu).
In 1929 Sensei Mabuni Kenwa moved to mainland Japan with his family and settled in Osaka. He established his dojo “Yoshu-kan” in 1934 and formally registered his karate style as Shito-Ryu after both his masters.
Shito-ryu is influenced by Naha-te and Shuri-te disciplines. The name Shito is a name given to the combination of Japanese character of his first Sensei Ankoh Itosu (Shuri-te discipline) and his second Sensei Kanryo Higaonna (Naha-te discipline). So Shito-ryu has great emphasis on power and accuracy in striking, plus the soft circular blocking techniques in combination with powerful counter-strike combinations.
SAKAGAMI RYUSHO SENSEI
Ryusho Sakagami (1915-1993) studies Shito-Ryu under Sensei Mabuni Kenwa for many years and received his ‘Shihan” (master teacher) license from Master Mabuni Kenwa in 1941. He received numerous commendations and was presented by the Japan Budo Society the Distinguished Service Award in field of Budo on January 15th 1982. On August the 19th 1992 the Japan Karatodo Rengokai bestowed upon him Karatedo 10th Dan.
Sensei Ryusho Sakagami was highly qualified and well respected. He distinguished himself as Kendo Hanshi 7th Dan, Jodo Kyoshi 7th Dan, Iaido Hanshi 8th Dan and Ryukyu Kobudo Hanshi Shihan 8th Dan. On the 22nd of June 1994 the Japanese Karate Foundation bestowed upon him Karatedo Hanshi 9th Dan posthumously.
Master Sakagami disciples were his son Shihan Sadaake Sakagami (Chief Instructor, Japan Headquarters), Shihan Seiko Suzuki (Tokyo – founder of present Seiko-Kai Shito-Ryu), Shihan Fumio Demura, (1965 founder of Shito-Ryu Itosu-Kai U.S.A.) and Shihan Kei C. Tsumura (1969 Founder of Shito-Ryu Itosu-Kai, Canada).
Grandmaster Ryusho Sakagami died on December 28, 1993.
SUZUKI SEIKO SENSEI
Seiko-Kai, a branch of the Shito-Ryu style, was founded by Soke Seiko Suzuki, of Shinkoiwa Tokyo. Suzuki Sensei commenced his training in Karate in 1954 under Sakagami Sensei.
In 1957 Sakagami Sensei relocated from Tokyo to Yokohama and left Suzuki Sensei to run the Tokyo dojo. In 1963 he commenced study of Ryu Kyu Kobudo under Shinken Taira Sensei.
In 1965 Sakagami Sensei presented Suzuki Sensei with his Karate-do Shihan certificate. In 1968 he was awarded 7th Dan Kyoshi in Kobudo by Shiken Taira Sensei.
After Sensei Sakagami’s passing in 1993, Suzuki Sensei decided to form his own organization, the Suzuki-Ha Shito-Ryu Nihon Karatedo Seiko-Kai.
SATO AKIRA SENSEI
Sato sensei (on the left) started studying karate in 1962. A few years later he became a member of Suzuki sensei’s dojo and practiced there for many years.
In 1970 he traveled to Canada to study English at a college and continued to practice karate on his own. Other students saw him practicing by himself on the grass at the college and asked him to become their teacher.
Instead of returning to Japan after one-year study, he stayed in Canada and has since then devoted all his energies to develop Shito Ryu karate in Canada and all over the world.
In 2017 Sato sensei formed his own organization and adopted the name Sato-Ha Shito-ryu Kokusai Rengo (International Federation) with affiliations in over 25 countries.
In Canada the organization is known as Shitoryu Satokai Canada.
NEIL SMITH SENSEI
Neil Smith is a 4th Dan instructor and the Sensei of Traditional Shito Ryu Karate Do Australia.
Neil Sensei originally started training in Jin Wu Koon Shaloin Double Dragon Kung Fu in 1984, then transferred to Shotokan Karate in 1986 and trained till 2008 and achieved 2nd Dan in this style.
Years ago he moved to the Central Coast and started training Shito Ryu karate with Ron Matthews Sensei at his Ettalong dojos. In 2013 Neil Sensei received the award of Seiko-kai Shito Ryu Student of the year for his training efforts.
Since 2014 Sensei Neil has traveled to Japan every few years. He was awarded his 3rd Dan by Soke Suzuki in the hombu in Tokyo. Neil Sensei has practiced the art of karate for over 35 years and supports students’ beliefs that they can do well. He is excellent in encouraging and facilitating his students’ learning and has a very positive learning environment.
In 2022 Soke Sato awarded Neil Smith his 4th Dan. Besides Shito Ryu, sensei Neil also trains in Iaido and Japanese Jujutsu. Back in 2017 Neil sensei and Charlotte sensei opened up their karate school at Lake Macquarie.