Seiwakai Goju-ryu
Japanese line of Goju-ryu founded by Tasaki Shuji, a student of Yamaguchi Gogen. Fujiwara Seiichi leads it, and it has dojo in more than thirty countries.
Quick Facts
JapanCharacter & Origin
Training
Who It Suits
Organisation & Competition
What the style is built from
Editorial rating on a 0–3 scale, based on how much room each area gets in ordinary training.
Catalogs & Databases for Seiwakai Goju-ryu
About Seiwakai Goju-ryu
Seiwakai is a Japanese organization and technical line of Goju-ryu founded by Tasaki Shuji. According to an interview he gave in 1987, he was born on 20 January 1933 in Tokyo and began Goju-ryu on 15 August 1951 at the main Goju-kai dojo in Asakusa under Yamaguchi Gogen. He described Yamaguchi as his first and only teacher. Yamaguchi Gogen, born in 1909 in Miyakonojo, received from Miyagi Chojun in 1937, according to the Goju-kai USA website, the name Gogen and authorization to spread Goju-ryu in Japan. In the USA he is known by the nickname the Cat. According to Tasaki, Yamaguchi founded Goju-kai in 1950, and the organization later joined the all-Japan karate federation. By his own words Tasaki was vice-chairman of JKF Gojukai and a national instructor. According to the website of one network member, Seiwakai and JKF Gojukai are separate organizations, and Seiwakai dojo can affiliate with JKF Gojukai separately. Tasaki also stressed that Seiwakai has no relationship to the IKGA group led by Yamaguchi. Today Seiwakai is led by Fujiwara Seiichi with the title shuseki shihan from a dojo in Daisen in Akita Prefecture. The network lists dojo in more than thirty countries, including the Czech Republic.
History
According to an interview from 1987, Tasaki Shuji was born on 20 January 1933 in Tokyo. He began Goju-ryu on 15 August 1951 at the main Goju-kai dojo in Asakusa under Yamaguchi Gogen, whom he described as his first and only teacher. At the first Goju-kai tournament he won the final for Tokyo. Yamaguchi Gogen was born on 20 January 1909 in Miyakonojo in Miyazaki Prefecture. According to the Goju-kai USA website, in 1937 he received from Miyagi Chojun the name Gogen and authorization to spread Goju-ryu in Japan. According to Tasaki, Yamaguchi founded Goju-kai in 1950, and in 1965 the organization joined the all-Japan federation FAJKO. When Yamaguchi left it after several years, it continued as Nihon Karatedo Renmei Gojukai under chairman Ujita Shozo.
How it differs
According to Tasaki, Seiwakai has no relationship to the IKGA group led by Yamaguchi, and they are completely different organizations. Seiwakai and JKF Gojukai are also separate, and Seiwakai dojo can affiliate with JKF Gojukai separately.
Training
According to the website of a network member, Seiwakai holds an annual international gasshuku in Japan and regional seminars for America, Africa, Oceania and Europe. We have not been able to find the kata syllabus of Seiwakai in the sources.
Ranks and progression
Per a network member's website, Seiwakai members can have their dan confirmed, take higher dan examinations internationally and obtain a grade recognized by JKF Gojukai. Tasaki, in his own words, was vice-chairman of JKF Gojukai and a national instructor.
Today
Seiwakai Goju-ryu Karatedo is led by Fujiwara Seiichi with the titles shuseki shihan and hanshi. Headquarters is in the Omagari dojo in Daisen, Akita Prefecture. The network lists dojo in more than thirty countries, including the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Germany, the USA and Japan. One member club keeps the list and headquarters does not confirm it. According to the Seiwakai Ibaraki branch website, Fujiwara Seiichi holds the JKF Gojukai hanshi eighth dan, is JKF Gojukai vice-chairman for overseas affairs and president of the Akita Prefecture karate federation.
Did you know
Yamaguchi Gogen is nicknamed the Cat in the USA. Per the Goju-kai USA website, he received the Ranju Hosho decoration from Emperor Hirohito in 1969, but we have not verified the claim in another source.
Frequently asked questions
Who founded Seiwakai?
Tasaki Shuji, a student of Yamaguchi Gogen, under whom he began Goju-ryu in 1951. Today Seiwakai is led by Fujiwara Seiichi.
Is Seiwakai part of JKF Gojukai?
No. They are separate organizations, and Seiwakai dojo can affiliate with JKF Gojukai separately.
Where is Seiwakai practised?
Headquarters is in Daisen in Akita Prefecture, and the network lists dojo in more than thirty countries, including the Czech Republic.
Similar styles
Selected by overlap in the style profile, not by historical lineage.