A Historical Note on Shorinji Zendo-ryu Karate
CHOTOKU KYAN (December 1870 - 1945)
Chotoku Kyan was the direct descendant of the Shaolin temple (Shorin ji) martial arts system from China, passed down to him by great Okinawan masters. He founded the RYU (school-style) of Shobayashi Shorin(ji) ryu Karate. He had trained in both the Shorin (Shuri-te) and the Shorei (Naha-te) karates. Both are offshoots and direct descendents of the original Shaolin temple system of Chuan-fa Kung-fu (Kempo) brought to Okinawa 600 years ago.
Kyan taught such great masters as Gigen Funakoshi, who went on to be the founder of Japanese Karate called Shotokan. He was also the teacher of Master Eizo Shimabuku, who became head of the system and then passed the Shorin(ji) techniques and legacy on to Master Skornia 50 years ago.
Kyan also taught Masayoshi Kori Hisataka, who later took his Shorin-ji style to Japan. Upon becoming a Grandmaster, he named his ryu (school-style) Shorinji Kenkokan Karate. It is very similar to Shorinji Zendo-ryu Karate and has many branches and offshoot styles around the world. Many years later, Kyan taught Richard Kim, a Grandmaster, 10th dan, himself, but now deceased. Master Kim later mentored Sensei Skornia over a 30-year period and was an advisor to ZENDOKAI (
Zendo-ryu Karate Association International) and Master Skornia. Master Kim taught Shorinji Karate under the Butokukai organization from Japan in the San Francisco area. His students have many schools there. He was an advisor to AAKF (American Amateur Karate Federation) under Grandmaster Hidetaka Nishiyama, 10th dan.
Master Nishiyama trained under Japan Karate Association's Chief Instructor, Master Nakayama who, in turn, learned from Supreme Master Funakoshi. Master Skornia also trained with Nakayama Sensei.
Nishiyama's first instructor was Master Kanken Toyama (1888-1966), who was a contemporary of Chotoku Kyan. They both had trained under the legendary Yosutsune Itosu in Shorinji, which, at that time, was called Shurite in Okinawa. Kanken Toyama was the founder of the All Japan Karate Association. He promoted Eizo Shimabuku to 10th dan and was the signer of Master Skornia's first Black Belt certificate. In 1961, the Academy of Judo & Karate introduced Nishiyama Sensei to the American martial arts community at the first Karate demonstration ever at Neisei Week Judo tournament. Master Skornia is one of the five oldest members of Sensei Nishiyama's AAKF in American. Mr. Skornia was given the first lifetime membership and is the highest ranking non-Oriental in the AAKF.
One hundred years later, Master Skornia became the personal instructor of the great-granddaughter of Master Chotoku Kyan in America. He also taught Eizo Shimabuku's grand-nephew, who now lives in the United States. Prof. Phillip M. Skornia was the president of the All Japan Karate Association International until his death, 2013. Prof. Susan L. Skornia is the current president.
A complete detailed history of Shorinji Zendo-ryu Karate and the history and symbolic meaning of the Zendo-ryu logo are available in booklet form to purchase
.
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