The Okinawan Lineage of Shorin-ryu Karate
Authenticity is the foundation of our practice. We maintain a direct, continuous connection to the Shorin-ryu Shorinkan Honbu Dojo in Okinawa, preserving the original techniques and discipline for students here.
With my teacher, Hanshi Minoru Nakazato, after being awarded the 7th Dan Kyoshi certificate. Receiving this rank in Okinawa, the home of karate, is a responsibility I hold with great respect.
Training in Kobudo alongside my teachers Maeshiro Sensei, Asato Sensei, and Saijo Sensei at the Honbu Dojo in Okinawa. Continuous learning from these masters is essential to my own growth and teaching.
Presenting a memento from our federation to Hanshi Minoru Nakazato at the Honbu Dojo in Okinawa. It is important for us to show our gratitude and maintain a strong connection with the world headquarters of our style.
Team OSKFI with Hanshi Minoru Nakazato, President of Shorin-ryu Shorinkan. These visits to the Honbu Dojo in Okinawa are vital for our students and instructors to experience the source of our art.
A cherished moment with a senior master at the Shorin-ryu Shorinkan Honbu Dojo in Okinawa. The walls are lined with weapons and portraits of past masters, a constant reminder of the legacy we uphold.
The training floor of the Shorin-ryu Shorinkan Honbu Dojo in Okinawa. This is a hallowed space where generations of masters have perfected their art. Training here is a humbling and inspiring experience.
The hands of a karate master, conditioned through decades of rigorous training. This is a physical manifestation of a lifetime of dedication to the art, showing the results of consistent practice and makiwara training.
At the monument for Shoshin Nagamine, a legendary karate master, in Tomari, Okinawa. His words, "It's still not enough. Train hard. Until the afterlife," are a powerful inspiration for all martial artists.
About Our Okinawan Lineage
When you train with us, you are following a syllabus approved directly by Hanshi Minoru Nakazato and the masters in Okinawa. I travel there regularly to undergo grading and refining, ensuring that what I teach on our mats in Bengaluru remains identical to the source. This is not just about physical movement; it is about keeping the spirit of the art intact.
In the world of martial arts, lineage is everything. Many programs offer a diluted version of karate, but we focus on the traditional Shorin-ryu Shorinkan style. By maintaining a living link to the Honbu Dojo, we ensure that every belt rank and every technical correction you receive is backed by the global headquarters in Japan.
My recent attainment of the Kyoshi Nanadan (7th Dan) rank is a reflection of this commitment. It requires years of study, specific grading in Okinawa, and the approval of the world president. When you see our instructors correcting your stance or demonstrating a kata, they are applying the same standards used in the birthplace of karate.
This connection benefits you directly. You learn the correct application of Kihon (basics), the deep history of our Kata (forms), and safe, traditional methods for Kobudo (weaponry). Whether you are training for fitness, self-defense, or the black belt, you are doing so within a system that has been passed down with precision for generations. We do not just teach you how to fight; we teach you how to maintain the discipline and humility that define a true martial artist.
Suresh Kenichira
I started teaching in 1992 because I wanted to offer training that was as real as what I learned in Okinawa. I still go back to the source to train and teach, and I bring that exact same traditional approach to every class we run here.
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