U.S. Yoshukai Karate
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U.S. Yoshukai Karate is a style of Martial Arts originating from Japan. It currently operates many dojos, most of which are located around the Southeast United States.
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[edit] History
[edit] 1960s
U.S. Yoshukai Karate began in the fall of 1969 when Karate master Soke Hiroyuki Koda arrived in the United States from Fukuoka, Japan. At that time Soke Koda was an instructor of the Yoshukan branch of the Chito-Kai style of Karate, under Master Tsuoshi Chitose. His original purpose was to assist American Chito-Kai instructors in proper techniques in kata and weapons.
[edit] 1970s
Shortly after his arrival, Soke Koda met an American woman, Ms. Gwen Lisk, who was also a Chito-Kai Black Belt. The two quickly fell in love and in 1970 they were married in a small ceremony in Florida. In 1971 immediately after the birth of his first son, David Yuki, Soke Koda had to return to Japan on business. In August 1971, while Soke Koda was still in Japan, Mrs. Gwen Koda opened the first dojo under the Directorship of Soke Koda, in Lincoln, Illinois, and U.S. Yoshukai Karate was born.
In 1973, the Yoshukan branch of Chito-Kai became Yoshukai Karate, an independent karate style. During the winter of the same year, Soke Koda moved his family to Birmingham, Alabama, where he became a journeyman ironworker. In 1974, Soke Koda's second son, Steven Hiro, was born. At that time Soke Koda named his small organization, which included schools in Alabama and Illinois, Mid-South Yoshukai. The Yoshukai Karate Organization grew quickly as students began to reach Black Belt status and began opening schools throughout Alabama and extending into Georgia and Florida. Its growth was further accelerated when several instructors from other styles were so impressed with Soke Koda's Karate expertise and leadership abilities that they transferred their entire schools to Soke Koda's organization. By 1975 Soke Koda believed the organization had spread enough to be renamed U.S. Yoshukai Karate.
[edit] 1980s
In 1982, a job offer transferred the Koda family to Texas, where Soke Koda opened two more schools. In 1987, Soke Koda and his wife had saved enough money to devote their energies to Karate on a full time basis. Since most of the U.S. Yoshukai Schools were in the Southeast, they set up the Honbu Dojo (Headquarters) in Montgomery, Alabama. The Honbu Dojo was relocated to 6001 Wares Ferry Road.
[edit] 1990s
In 1997, Soke Koda died after losing the fight against the deadliest form of cancer, pancreatic and liver cancer. According to his wishes the directorship of the U.S. Yoshukai Karate Association was passed on to his eldest son, David Yuki Koda and managerial duties remained with his wife.
[edit] 21st Century
In 2000, Gwen Koda, the manager for the U.S. Yoshukai Karate Association for 30 years, resigned her position, and passed those duties on to Soshu David Koda's wife, Adrienne Koda. The character and loyalty of the U.S. Yoshukai Karate Instructors, who placed their faith in Soke Koda's successor, form the backbone of the new U.S. Yoshukai Karate Association and share the dream instilled by its founder. As of January 2001 U.S. Yoshukai Karate is represented by dojos in Montgomery, Opp, Albertville, Hoover, Bessemer, Birmingham, Tuscaloosa, and Enterprise, Alabama; Joelton and Spring Hill, Tennessee; Tallahassee, Florida; Harrodsburg and Bowling Green, Kentucky; Bloomington, Illinois; and Los Angeles, California.
[edit] Belt System
The belt system in U.S. yoshukai runs from white belt to black belt, with each interval before black belt referred to as a "kyu". There are nine kyus in 3 different colored belt, and the level of each que is signified by black stripes that run the width of belt near the ends of it.
White Belt (No Stripes):
Ninth Kyu
Yellow Belt (Two Stripes):
1 stripe = Eighth Kyu
2 stripes = Seventh Kyu
Green Belt (Three Stripes):
1 stripe = Sixth Kyu
2 stripes = Fifth Kyu
3 stripes = Fourth Kyu
Brown Belt (Three Stripes):
1 stripe = Third Kyu
2 stripes = Second Kyu
3 stripes = First Kyu
Black Belt:
1st Degree - Shodan
2nd Degree - Nidan
3rd Degree - Sandan
4th Degree - Yondan
5th Degree - Shihan
Fifth Degree is currently the highest rank attainable in the U.S. Yoshukai System.
[edit] Weapons
Kobudo means way of weapons. Yoshukai encompasses numerous weapons which were an improvisation of farm implements converted into protective devices. Yoshukai Karate is widely known for its weaponry. Mastering the techniques of a great variety of martial arts weapons is required for advancing in rank. These weapons include the Nunchaku, Bo, Sai, Kama, Tonfa, and the Katana or Samurai sword.
[edit] Famous Students
Hiro Koda is the son of the U.S. Yoshukai Founder, Soke Yuki Koda. Hiro Koda is a fourth degree Black Belt (Shihan), has a long list of Tournament Championships to his credit, and has placed first nationally in the NASKA, the NBL and the USYKA circuit. Hiro worked on The Mummy 2 as the fight coordinator. He has also done choreography for Fight Club, Bowfinger, Lethal Weapon 4, Blade, Red Corner, Full Contact, and Beverly Hills Ninja Hiro is the lead actor's double in Prophecy III - the Ascent. He also has an acting part in Children of the Corn V, his character's name is Caleb. On the small screen Hiro has been quite busy as well. He's is Sammo Hung's stunt double in the TV show Martial Law. He is also a regular stunt player on Power Rangers - Lightspeed Rescue. Some of the other TV shows Hiro has been in include: Nash Bridges, Buddy Faro, VIP, Air America, Moesha, Sabrina, the Teenage Witch, Diagnosis Murder, and L.A. Heat.
Gunnar Nelson, lead singer for the rock band "Nelson" is a long time student and long time friend.
Chris Penn, brother to Academy Award nominee, Sean Penn, Chris has starred in Reservoir Dogs, Best of the Best and Footloose. His most recent role was starring with Nick Nolte in the movie Mulholland Falls.
