"Shito-ryu Shukokai Union Victoria"

Sensei Craig Catania is the official Victorian SSU representative.

The Shito-ryu Shukokai Karatedo Union is a worldwide acting organisation. Its aim is to provide for the continued study and development of the art of Shito-ryu Shukokai Karatedo.

Shukokai is one of the most dynamic and successful Karate schools in the world. Shukokai's Japanese roots centred on the universities of Osaka and Kyoto and their students established the school as a fast and powerful style.
Tani Sensei began his study of karate at junior high school practising Go Ju Ryu and continued his training at the Doshisha University in Kyoto where he studied under Chojun MIYAGI, the great karate Master (who was the founder of Go Ju Ryu and who had trained under Higaonna Sensei). Later when Sensei Miyagi returned to Okinawa, Tani Sensei trained under Kenwa Mabuni.

After the Second World War Tani Sensei started to teach Karate in an open air car park in the centre of Kobe. His group (Shukokai) soon grew and one year later he built his own Dojo attached to his house.

In 1946 Tani Sensei was presented with the scroll of succession from Mabuni Sensei and was given permission to start up his own school, Tani-Ha Shito-Ryu. Master Tani passed away on Sunday 11th January 1998.

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 its 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.

After the death of Tani sensei in 1998 YAMADA Haruyoshi sensei was elected to lead the organisation of Shukokai. He was born in 1938 in Akita prefecture, Japan. He began his martial arts study in Judo before becoming involved in Karate. In 1956 he became a disciple of Tani sensei and was one of his top ranking pupils. He is one of the highest representatives of Japan Karate Federation and is also engaged in the Japanese Olympic Committee and currently holds the following positions:

• 9th Dan President Shito-Ryu Shukokai Union
• 8th Dan Hanshi Japan Karate-Do Federation Supreme Judge Japan Karate-Do Federation
• President West Japan Workers Karate-Do Federation
• Game Director, Japan Society for Physical Culture
• Japanese Olympic Committee representative for Inagawa
• Professor Ashiya University, Japan

Yamada sensei is living in Amagasaki near Osaka, where he is running a bone setting clinic (Chiropractic clinic) as well as his dojo with approximately 10.000 students within Japan.