World Genseiryū Karatedō Federation

World Genseiryū Karatedō Federation (WGKF) is an international karate organization established in 2003.[1]

Instructors from several countries, including Denmark, the Netherlands, Spain, Finland and Japan, met in Oviedo, Spain in November, 2003, for purposes of establishing the World Genseiryū Karatedō Federation.[1] At the end of the meeting, on November 14, the parties signed an agreement promising, among other things, to follow Seiken Shukumine's book Shin Karatedō Kyōhan (published 1964),[2] which the WGKF considers the original Genseiryū, as a training guideline. Ten-i, Chi-i and Jin-i are considered by the WGKF to be among the basic and most essential kata of the organization's curriculum. Some instructors from within the WGKF have chosen to also practice and teach other kata such as Heian (basic kata from Shotokan), kata that are not included in the official curriculum. None of these instructors have rejected any of the kata mentioned in the book Shin Karatedō Kyōhan.

Currently, the President of the WGKF is Yasunori Kanai, Vice-President is Rodolfo S. Alonso and the Director-General is Nobuaki Konno.[1]

Seiken Shukumine (1925–2001) founded both Genseiryū (in 1950) and Taidō (in 1965).[3][4][5] Since 1962 Shukumine involved himself mainly with matters related to Taidō.,[6] but he also stayed involved in Genseiryu karate[3][4][7] He received the title of Grand Master (Saikō-Shihan) of Genseiryū, which he carried until his death in 2001. He appointed several former students, as teachers and to operate the Genseiryū schools as the Head Master/President. The first was Yamada (one of Shukumine's first students) in 1968, later followed by Haruo Saito.[3][5]

The Nippon Karate Budō Kyōkai, which takes part in the World Genseiryū Karatedō Federation (WGKF), has Yasunori Kanai as the president of both.[8] The Nippon Karate Budō Kyōkai took up the role as honbu (本部, headquarters) of the World Genseiryū Karatedō Federation with the office located in Itō, Japan.[9] Seiken Shukumine lived in Ito for many years and was eventually buried there.[5]

External links edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b c Agreement of the World/European Genseiryu Karatedo Federation, Oviedo, Spain, November 14th 2003
  2. ^ Shukumine, Seiken (1964). 「新空手道教範」 (Shin Karatedō Kyōhan) translated: "New Karatedō Teaching Methods".
  3. ^ a b c Taido's Position in the History of Budo: From Okinawa karate to Taido (on Swedish Taido site)
  4. ^ a b Taniguchi, Koichi (2005). "Genseiryū Karatedō to Taidō no sosaku wo kaerimiru" translated: "Looking back at the creation of Genseiryū Karatedō and Taidō".
  5. ^ a b c 玄制流の歴史 ('Genseiryū no rekishi') or "The history of Genseiryū" on the official Japanese Genseiryū website
  6. ^ Shukumine, Seiken (1988). 「躰道概論」 ("Taidō Gairon") translated: "Taidō in general".
  7. ^ Shukumine, Seiken (1981). 「空手鍛錬三カ月」 ("Karate tanren sankagetsu") translated: "3 months of hard training in karate".
  8. ^ 玄制流組織体系 ('Genseiryū Soshiki Taikei') or Genseiryū Organization Structure on the Official Japanese website of Genseiryū
  9. ^ 玄制流空手道本部 ('Genseiryū Karatedō Honbu') or Genseiryū Karatedō Headquarters (Official Japanese website of Genseiryū)