Soke Sakimukai's Karate-Do, the "CHINTOKAN"

Okinawa Karate-do Chintokan teaches primarily Shorin-Ryu Karate-Do which originated in Okinawa, Japan.  Widely accepted history of Shorin-Ryu Karate-Do tradition began in Shuri, Okinawa, at some point in 1800s.  It was introduced by Shuri-Te master, Sokon Matsumura (1809~1899), who is a well known Okinawa martial art icon.  Beyond that, unbroken lineage of Shorin Ryu legacy can be traced all the way back to the lords, nobles and bodyguards of Ryukyu Kingdom era in the 16th century.  Ryukyu is the original name for Okinawa.  In those days, however, all Ryukyu empty hand martial arts were simply known as "Tea," Okinawa pronounciation for hand(s).

It is said that most of Japanese Karate-Do derived from these three ancient Ryukyu Kenpo styles known as Shuri-Te, Naha-Te and Tomari-Te .  A prominent Okinawa master, Chotoku Kyan (1870~1945), who had studied under numerous legendary Shuri-Te and Tomari-Te masters including aforementioned Sokon Matsumura merged 2 of the three Ryukyu Kenpo styles and found his own Shorin Ryu Karate-Do, we call it "Kyan's Shorin-Ryu" or Kiyatake-Ha Shorin-Ryu in Japanese. 

Kyan's Shorin-Ryu was eventually handed down in its authentic form and later reinforced by another exceptional master Judan Hanshi Zenryo Shimabukuro (1909~1969), the founder of Seibukan Dojo, one of very few disciples, senior student and key successor to the Kyan's Shorin-Ryu legacy.  Other key successors include Joen Nakazato of Shorinji ryu, Shoshin Nagamine of Matsubayashi ryu (1907~1997), Tatsuo Shimabuku of Isshin ryu (1908~1975) and Eizo Shimabuku of Shobayashi ryu.  They have all become very well respected masters.  

Soke Sakimukai's first martial art exposure was Judo training at very young age, he was taught by his father before entering elementary school in 1950.  Upon entering elementary school at age 7, he began to train and compete in Judo for his school club.  Few years later in the same gym where school students trained Judo, Kendo, other budo or sports, young Sakimukai witnessed a man practicing Karate for the very first time.  This man was kata training by himself.  Young Sakimukai was much mesmorized by the art itself, however, he was more shocked to see there is a martial art one could effectively train without a partner.  At the time in a small town of Chiran in Kagoshima prefecture where Soke Sakimukai had lived, he felt no one could keep up hard training by his side.  He always felt training with a partner had too many obsticles in order to get enough training until he had finally found karate.  He could train wherever he wanted without waiting for anyone.  So Young Sakimukai immediately began to imitate that man's movements.  

In 1958, at age 15, Soke Sakimukai formally began his first karate training at Shorinji Ryu Renshinkan dojo under Soke Tamotsu Isamu.  At the time, Renshinkan was the only Karate dojo in town and Soke Sakimukai trained for 4 years there and received 2 Dan at early age 19.  In Spring of 1962, he decided to moved to a much bigger and challenging city, Osaka from his hometown in Kagoshima.  In Osaka, Soke Sakimukai meets Shihan Zenji Shimabukuro of Kyan's Shorin-Ryu (aka Chubu Shorin-ryu), who is cousin of Hanshi Zenpo Shimabukuro (Okinawa Shorin Ryu Seibukan) and nephew of Hanshi Zenryo Shimabukuro.  Soke Sakimukai's relationship with Shihan Zenji Shimabukuro quickly grew very strong.  I the fall of 1962, with the crucial support from Shihan Zenji Shimabukuro, Soke Sakimukai was granted to operate his first Karate-Do dojo by Hanshi Zenryo Shimabukuro and given the name "Chintokan."  Thus, Soke Sakimukai established his first Chintokan dojo in Jyuso, Osaka, at age 19.  

Though Shihan Zenji Shimabukuro and Soke Sakimukai clearly had teacher to student relationship, they also respected each other like brothers and best friends.  They would train together all night and day whenever possible as they lived as room mates for 4 years.  In 1964, Soke Sakimukai was granted "Visa" to go to Okinawa and trained under Shihan Zenji Shimabukuro's uncle - the aforementioned Hanshi Zenryo Shimabukuro at Seibukan dojo.  Before Soke Sakimukai was allowed to train under Hanshi Zenryo Shimabukuro though, he was asked to leave and inspect other martial arts dojo on the island.  Hanshi Zenryo Shimabukuro wanted the young Sakimukai to be abosolutely certain of his decision to study Kyan's Shorin-Ryu under his instruction before he made a commitment, so he checked all the dojo around and returned to ask again.  He was accepted.

In 1969, his Karate-Do mentor, Hanshi Zenryo Shimabukuro passed away.  Soke Sakimukai moved back to Kagoshima prefecture to focus his support to the modern and sport oriented All Japan Karate-Do Federation (JKF), Renbukai, as a hometown representative.  While keeping his identitiy  "KORYU" (ancient style) intact, he began trainining with all four major Japanese Karate-do styles including Shotokan, Shito Ryu, Goju Ryu and Wado Ryu from their top representatives.  Today, at Chintokan dojo we train all of the Shuri-Te, Tomari-Te and Naha-Te Kata with primary emphasis placed on the Sakimukai's Shorin-Ryu. 

"JKF" is exclusive National Governing Body for sport Karate-Do organization in Japan, formed primarily by the 4 Major Japanese Karate-do organizations known as Wado-Kai, Shito-Kai, Shoto-Kai and Goju-Kai, in addition to numerous other minor Japanese/Okinawa  Karate-Do organizations in 1962, but reestablished in 1964.  Soke Sakimukai began supporting JKF since the beginning.  When Soke Sakimukai returned to his home state in 1969, he began expanding Chintokan Karate-Do organization.  In 1970, added 2 dojo(s) in the cities of Amagasaki and Makurazaki.  By 1973, he added 7 more Chintokan dojo(s) in the following cities; Okayama, Tokyo, Nagoya, Kagoshima, Kaseda, Chiran, and Kawanabe.

In 1976, Soke Sakimukai visited USA for the first time and taught at Pennsylvania, Delaware and Mexico Seibukan Karate-Do dojo(s) for three months.  Three years later, in 1979, he visited USA another three months and taught more at Pennsylvania, Delaware and Florida Seibukan Karate-Do dojo(s).  The next time, he thought to move his family to the US. 

In 1980, he moved his family to Newark, DE, USA.  Upon arrival to the US, Soke Sakimukai began supporting USAKF/AAU (USANKF has the current NGB) which was recommended by the chief director of the JKF-Renbukai at the time.  USAKF, under the leadership of late Hanshi George Anderson, was the National Govening Body for sport karate in the US at the time.  In 1992, Soke Sakimukai became a prestigious International WUKO Judge, currently this organization is called the WKF, and it is the Intenational Governing Body for the Japanese "Kyogi" Karate recognized by the International Olympic Committee.  As an International WUKO Judge, Soke Sakimukai supported the International Karate-Do competitions worldwide for many years.    

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Everyone knows that any martial art teaches you how to defend yourself from adversaries. Beyond that, Chintokan Karate can help you to be fit physically and to stay mentally competitive both personally and professionally.

Not only that, traditional karate that you'll learn in Chintokan Karate-Do can :