Okinawa Seidokan

Okinawa Seidokan is a style of Okinawa classical karate (Tode) and Kobudo founded in 1984 by Shian Toma. It is a synthesis of the Shorin Ryu katas, Motobu Ryu two-person open hand grappling and weapons techniques, and kobudo katas mostly of the Ryukyu Kobudo lineages.[1]

Shian Toma
Born(1929-11-23)November 23, 1929
Okinawa, Japan
DiedMay 30, 2013(2013-05-30) (aged 83)
Okinawa, Japan
Residence
StyleShorin-Ryu, Goju-Ryu, Motobu-Ryu, Kenpō, Okinawan kobudō
Teacher(s)Shinzato Sokishi, Zenpo Shimabukuro, Nakamura Shigeru, Seikichi Uehara
Rank  10th degree red belt in Okinawan Karate and Kobudo

History

Shian Toma opened his dojo in 1960 teaching Shorin Ryu and Kobudo to the local populace and US Servicemen.

Originally Shian Toma named his dojo Toma Dojo, but later the name was changed to Sei-Do-Kan Dojo. This translated to "True Way House/Style" or A House of the True Way.

In the early 1960s Shian Toma's teachings were referred to as a style called Shorinji Ryu, and his dojo belonged to the Okinawa Kenpo Renmei under Shigeru Nakamura. In 1968 Shian Toma, Seikichi Uehara and Seiyu Oyata formed the Ryukyu Karate-do Renmei.[2] Then in 1969 the dojo became an official member of the Motobu Undun Di society and the style came to be referred to as Seidokan Motobu Ryu, Toma was promoted by the 13th Soke of Motobu-Ryu, Seikichi Uehara, to 9th Dan Hanshi. Toma was the first person to introduce Motobu-Ryu outside of Okinawa, teaching in North American. The first student of Master Toma to bring Seidokan to the United States was John E. Kennedy who was promoted to 9th Dan by Grand Master Toma in 2001. He is the senior student of Grand Master Toma and continues to teach the true Seidokan in Spencerport, NY. His senior student is John LaMarca, 8th Dan and Chief of Instruction for Toma Karate Dojos in Spencerport and Ariona.[3] After a separation from the Motobu Society in 1983, Shian Toma formed his own organization called the Zen Okinawa Seidokan Karate Kobudo.[4][5][6]

A need to develop and organize Okinawa Seidokan's international efforts gave birth to the Ryukoku Seidokan Karate Kobudo Renmei (RSKKR) in 2008. This international headquarters is located at the Nix Seidokan Dojo, 5-20-24 Misato, Okinawa City, Okinawa-Ken, Japan 904-2153. Ron Nix is the International Ambassador and President of the RSKKR.

Due to the passing of the headmaster Shian Toma in May 2013, the mantel passed to Shigemitsu Tamari of Yomitan Okinawa Japan to become the second headmaster of Okinawa Seidokan. The surviving Toma family officially retired the original organization "Zen Okinawa Seidokan Karate Kobudo Renmei" name. The first word 'Zen' was then dropped out of respect to the Toma Family wishes and Shigemitsu Tamaie formed the 'Okinawa Seidokan Karate Kobudo Renmei' (OSKKR) as the 'Honbu Dojo'. Shigemitsu Tamaie and Ron Nix travel out of Okinawa to teach seminars as well as host visiting karateka from all over the world to come to the heart of karate and train in the Okinawa Seidokan system.

In 2016 C. Michial Jones, who was graded to Shihan by Shian Toma and to Kyoshi by Col. Roy J. Hobbs in Seidokan Karate and Kobudo, founded the International Karate Kobudo Kyokai to further the teachings of Shian Toma.

The largest contingent of Seidokan practitioners, outside of Okinawa Japan, exist in the United States of America.

Kata Syllabi:

Basic empty-hand kata added to the Dojo Curriculum during 2003 - 2016 by Tamaie and Nix

  1. Kihon Kata Ichi
  2. Kihon Kata Ni
  3. Kihon Kata Dai San

Basic empty-hand kata added to the curriculum by Hobbs

  1. Seisan Sho

Original Toma Dojo Empty-hand Curriculum (est. 1960):

  1. Seisan
  2. Ananku
  3. Wansu
  4. Passai-Dai
  5. Pinan Shodan
  6. Pinan Nidan
  7. Pinan Sandan
  8. Pinan Yondan
  9. Pinan Godan
  10. Naihanchi (Shodan)
  11. Passai-Sho
  12. Gojushiho
  13. Chinto
  14. Kusanku
  15. Sanchin (this kata was discontinued as part of the main curriculum)

Original Toma Dojo Kobudo Curriculum (est. 1960)

  1. Kihon Bo (a.k.a. Toma no Bo)
  2. Tokumine no Kun
  3. Sai Kata (a.k.a. Toma no Sai)
  4. Tunfa Kata (a.k.a. Toma no Tunfa)
  5. Kama Kata (a.k.a. Toma no Kama)

Major associations

Publications
  • Seidokan Karate History by Roy Hobbs, Official Karate Magazine, April 1984
  • History of Seidokan Karate Kobudo and Toide by Mimoun Boulahfa, 7 September 1999
  • The Genealogy of Okinawa Seidokan by Roy J. Hobbs and C. Michial Jones, Traditional Karate Magazine, Vol. 15 No. 7, March 2002
  • Okinawa Seidokan Tome 1 by Donnie Hayhurst, Lulu Press, 2011

References
  1. Hobbs, Roy J.; Jones, C. Michial (March 2002). The Genealogy of Seidokan (Vol 15 No 7 ed.). Traditional Karate Magazine.
  2. "Ryute". Ryute.com.
  3. McCarthy, Patrick (1987). Classical Kata of Okinawan Karate. Ohara Publications. p. 47. ISBN 0-89750-113-6.
  4. "Shian Toma". Ryukoku Seidokan. Retrieved 3 March 2017.
  5. Hobbs, Roy (2 April 1984). "Seidokan Karate History". Official Karate.
  6. Mimoun, Boulahfa. "History of Seidokan Karate Kobudo and Toide". russbo.com. Retrieved 3 March 2017.
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