Kenkojuku
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Tomosaburo Okano, a student of Gichin Funakoshi, lead a school of Shotokan karate, which later evolved into a separate organization known as Kenkojuku Karate Association ("Strength with Modesty)[citation needed].
The practice of karate in Kenkojuku is similar to mainstream JKA Shotokan (which it predates), including dojo kun (the vow repeated at each training). Kenkojuku's version of Karate is, however, supposedly more similar to the original teachings of Gichin and, more-so, Gigo Funakoshi. There are some notable differences in the way certain techniques were performed (i.e. the high block is less of a block, than a rising strike and is tilted to an angle), the kata (i.e. Chito-Ryu Niseishi is often included in the syllabus instead of Nijushiho), and their style of kumite (continuous fighting ala boxing, rather than stop-and-start point sparring).
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[edit] Notable Instructors
[edit] Sensei Tomosaburo Okano
1922 - 2003
Founder and Chief Instructor of Kenkojuku Shotokan Federation
Master Tomosaburo Okano was born in 1922 and is a direct student of Master Gichin Funakoshi and his third son Gigo Funakoshi. He was a member of Master Funakoshi's karate association the Dai Nihon Karate-do Shotokai.
In 1942, Master Okano was given permission to start a karate research club named Kenkokai Karate-bu in his home town of Hachioji. The club was started with the help of Master Okano's friends, Suzuki Shinjo, Kaneko Isamu, and Takagi Yoshitomo. With the guidance and blessing of his teacher he renamed the dojo and called it Kenkojuku Budokan in 1948.
Master Okano's karate was greatly influenced by both Masters Gichin and Gigo Funakoshi and eventually this branch of Shotokan became known as Kenkojuku Shotokan. As such, he has retained the Shotokai lineage as well as the name Shotokan as the style of karate being taught.
Master Okano was also on the panel of masters of the Japan Karate-do Federation (JKF), and was declared a Living National Treasure of Japan before he died on July 19, 2003, at the advanced age of 81.
Some of his most famous students outside of Japan are Masters Takeshi Akuzawa, Toyotaro Miyazaki, Kazuo Kuriyama, Masakazu Takahashi, Koji Sugimoto and Minoru Horie.
Since Master Okano's passing the Kenkojuku Budokan is now run by his son Shihan Tomokatsu Okano.
[edit] Sensei Masakazu Takahashi
Sensei Takahashi is currently an 8th degree Black Belt and began his karate training in 1961 under Sensei Tomosaburo Okano, himself a student of Grandmaster Gichin Funakoshi, the founder of modern day Karate.
In 1971, he traveled to America to begin his teaching career in Kenkojuku karate. Originally teaching in Queens, he now has two dojos located in Mt. Kisco and Amityville, New York that have been established for more than 20 years.
[edit] Sensei Andrew Faupel
Began his martial arts training in 1986 and is a current student of Sensei Takahashi. Sensei Faupel is the owner and Chief Instructor of Kenkojuku Karate of South Jersey located in Haddon Township, NJ. http://www.kksj.net
