Kori Hisataka

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Masayoshi Kori Hisataka (Seiki Kudaka in Okinawan, b. April 22, 1907) was the founder of Shorinjiryu Kenkokan Karate.

Born in Shuri (Naha City in Okinawa), he was a descendant of Seiwa, the 56th Emperor of Japan. He studied jujutsu and karate, most notably under the Okinawan karate master Chojun Kyamu and did a period of service in the military.

In 1929 he toured Taiwan with Chojun Kyamu and Ryosei Kuwae for about one year and was undefeated against the local kempo practitioners. Upon returning to Japan he studied judo at the Kodokan with Sanpo Toku and achieved 4th dan within a year of training. He studied kendo and competed at Police Department competitions.

During World War II, he was sent to Manchuria and assigned as a station master along the railway at Bakudashu, Sarachi, and Cho Kakko. When possible he would practice karate and judo, and studied Chinese martial arts with a master of Hakkyoku kempo. He is credited with saving both Chinese and Japanese lives during his stint as station master.

After World War II he returned to Japan to find that the Japanese people were demoralized by the war so he placed a greater emphasis on spiritual development of the individual through karate training. He founded the first Shorinjiryu Kenkokan Karate dojo in Oshima Park, Hamada village, in Kumamoto prefecture, Kyushu in 1945.

He also made several innovations to karate training including:

Use of the heel when kicking
Whole body is put into action when executing a technique, using a follow through motion
Use of the vertical fist (tate ken)
Practice of yakusoku kumite
Use of protective equipment to allow the karatedo student to really test their techniques without having to hold back their power
Practice of weapons (buki ho)

Masayuki Kori Hisataka died in Tokyo, Japan on April 14, 1988. His legacy continues on today through the practitioners of Shorinjiryu Kenkokan Karate (headed by his son Masayuki Hisataka) and the various branches that trace their origin to his style of karate.