My thesis will address the nature of change within our karate system.
Starting with Yoshukai’s roots in Chito Ryu Karate, I will discuss the evolution that has taken place over time and investigate how this development is reflected through the changes that have taken place in kata and kumite. In conclusion, I will consider the question of the future of Yoshukai Karate and where it might develop going forward, and how if indeed this is a worthwhile outcome, it could be achieved.
I will present these ideas through an interview process and discussions with senior Yoshukai Yudansha. These precious conversations offer wisdom and insight which truly reflect howthe changes and developments have taken place from the formation of Chito Ryu karate to the present day Yoshukai Karate.
Chitose Sensei began his ( Tode)Karate training in 1905 at age 7. He trained with and under influential instructors from a variety of systems, his primary instructor the father of modern karate Gichin Funakoshi.(1)
By 1946 – 48 the system known as Chito Ryu had developed to its independent potential as a complete martial arts style with Okinawan influence. Compared to Japanese karate styles Chito Ryu was described as more fluid with higher and shorter stances. Like most Karate styles of the period kicks were low and practical, round kicks and head kicks were rare.
Much of the technique or Waza of the system was developed during the period between 1920 and 1946. It was designed to be appropriate and useful for the karateka of the period, an average Japanese man in 1930 weighed about 116 pounds and was about 5 feet 3 inches in height.(2)
As karate began to proliferate throughout the world into the 1950’s and 60’s a number of new influences began to be integrated into the practice. Boxing, Judo, Taekwondo and Savate, among other fighting styles, contributed to the evolution of the contemporary fighting systems.
On a physiological level the changes in the body types that resulted from a western diet and exercise routine saw a much larger karate practitioner begin to emerge. A shotei (palm strike) to the solar plexus of a 300-pound man, would be considerably less effective than the same move on a man half the weight. Consequently, karate systems began to move away from open hand strikes toward more closed fist techniques. The average US male aged 20 years is today 197 pounds. (3)
“Another reason underpinning these changes was the transition from a self-defence art to physical education in the Okinawa school systems, closed hand strikes are somewhat safer to teach children than shuto or nukite” (Hanshi McClernan).
A movement toward tournament karate and the introduction of protective equipment would also change the approach to striking.
Much of the emphasis in karate training centres became focused on the development of speed and power in striking through correct body position and movement. By the same token significant changes in the size and strength of karate practitioners today requires different emphasis on stance, hip rotation and movement.
The average male American today stands 5 foot 9 inches and weighs 200 pounds.
Mr Yamamoto was a physically large man for the society and time he was practicing karate. He was a very successful tournament competitor and rose to a position of dominance within the Chito Ryu system as Dr Chitose’s top student. When it came time for Mr Yamamoto to form his own Dojo, Dr Chitose gave Mr Yamamoto the Dojo name Yoshukan – at this point the Dojo was still regarded as teaching Chito Ryu karate.
Mr Foster once described as the southern giant of US karate, with a background in Goju Ryu Karate, was clearly drawn toward the impressive size and athleticism of Mr Yamamoto and his ability and approach to karate. Mr Foster studied in Japan with Mr Yamamoto for a period of 10 years.
I interviewed Hanshi Michael McClernan 9th degree blackbelt and director of the Yoshukai Association on the 18th & 19 th April 2023. I have with his consent paraphrased this interview in the interests of providing a more coherent document and the discussion is summarised below.
Question:
What distinguishes Yoshukai karate from the other systems?
In the Yoshukai system, an attitude that leans toward a more aggressive and proactive strategy in kumite manifests itself in both kata and fighting.
The term ‘Coming to point‘ is often used to describe the way in which a Yoshukai fighter moves into and maintains a forward weight distribution to create a state of constant readiness to engage without the need for further stance
adjustment in order to attack or defend.
Weapon alignment refers to the position of both hands and feet with all weapons pointing to their target.
The term ‘no regressive movement or premotion’ refers to the way the combatant maintains a forward weight distribution and efficiency in attack without any advanced indication of the attack by preliminary movement, especially in a backwards direction.
Mr Yamamoto had already modified ChitoRyu stances with an influence from Shotokan karate. “We haven’t changed the Waza – we have modified kata, but the application has changed very little’’. (These stance changes were taking place while still within the Chito Ryu system with the approval of Dr Chitose).
“Mr Yamamoto and Mr Foster moved toward a more aggressive form of karate, more offensive than defensive. The ideas of no regressive movement isn’t something that the Chito Ryu emphasise.’”
This is exemplified by the stance differences- For example, the Yoshukai Zenkutsu Dachi is best compared with Chito Ryu Seisan Dachi. Weight distribution, as described in the Chito Ryu training guidelines of Mr William Dometric, emphasises a 50 / 50 weight distribution in most kata including Seisan Dachi. The most equivalent stance in Yoshukai karate is the Zenkutsu Dachi which is described as 60/40 weight distribution with 60% weight on the front foot. The stance is not as wide with more mobility but less offensive capacity. The deeper Yoshukai stance also allows the potential for more power generation.
The Chito- Ryu approach, being more weight neutral, allows for a more effective regressive response to an attack or perhaps a quicker offline movement in defence.
In order to avoid confusion regarding weight distribution and how it affects offence and defence, Yoshukai puts emphasis on deflection angles as well as moving off the line 45% or similar.
The thinking being that this is superior to regressive motion.
In a similar manner, the Yoshukai Shiko Dachi has a different foot placement that affects the strength of the stance in sideways motion and general stability. The knees are over the ankle or slightly behind whereas the Chito Ryu stance has the knees almost over their toes.
Another example is in the Koza Dachi (Enoji Dachi , Hasama Dachi) which also varies in the weight distribution, described by Mr Dometric once again as being 50/50. The Yoshukai version again has the weight at least 40/60, demonstrated by being able to lift the rear foot while in stance.
The position of the legs has also been reengineered to have a small space between the knees allowing for more speed in transitioning out the stance, in rotation or to step forward or kick. “Both Mr Foster and Mr Yamamoto used this stance to great advantage in fighting, the knees not locked together allowing them to move in and out of stance fluidly”.
Philosophically, Mr McClernan sees these differences in stance aligning with the idea of a more offensive fighting style and less allowance for regressive or sideways movement.
The differences in stances between Chito Ryu and Yoshukai are exemplified in kata through a comparatively deeper and more weight forward Yoshukai stance.
When Chito Ryu begin to transition to Seisan Dachi when performing the initial movement in preparation for inline drills they traditionally stepped left foot back, aligning with a more offensive philosophy. Mr Foster changed the movement to stepping to a right foot forward Zenkutsu Dachi. When in the early years of the Yoshukai system a number of Shotokan karate practitioners assimilated into the ranks of Yoshukai, relatively small stance adjustments were required.
Mr Foster allowed his method of fighting to influence his interpretation of Yoshukai kata, retrofitting the movement and bunkai to accommodate his thoughts and actions within the kata. His main priority leaning toward power generation and efficient movement to facilitate an effective attack.
Chito Ryu kata bunkai in large measure pays homage to the preceding history and is less about adapting the movement to a real Karate fight.
Question:
Where do you see the system going from here?
“The association and the system of Yoshukai Karate is generally suffering from aging. The demographic of students falls more and more into two camps, one is the younger student whose training looks to be a combination of after school care and a sport that occupies them through their growing years. These students seem to lose interest at a certain point and very few continue to a lifelong study of karate.
The second type of student has studied karate for a significant period of time, and perhaps introduced their children to the system. In Yoshukai karate we have an enormous depth of knowledge within these ranks. To have retained these members over such a long period is very significant.
Concerns about the future centre around the lack of students in the demographic between these two groups. Popularity of the martial arts tends to be fashion driven, a new movie or fighting platform can attract new audiences toward Karate, Jui-Jitsu or Kungfu.
Hanshi believes the system will continue to be taught and encourages the integration of practitioners from other associations and systems.
An open and accepting attitude towards the inclusion of students from outside the association can enrich the system while adding to the membership base.
“We as an association have the knowledge and capacity to continue to grow. Initiatives include putting together a technical manual, strengthening the organisation, and supporting its continuation regardless of its size”.
“Technically the system will, going forward, incorporate more Waza and techniques from other systems such as boxing, grappling and ground techniques and we have people capable of doing that”.
Hanshi McClernan supports the continued fostering of legitimate weapons training, not just the traditional Yoshukai weapons kata adapted from free hand kata.
He believes the organisation should gravitate toward being a Karate / Kubudo organisation rather than a standup Karate organisation. In accordance with this goal, he sees the strengthening of Yoshukai black belt weapons teaching capability as a priority.
Encouraging students to take their own training forward into instruction, starting classes at college level is a way to further nurture the system.
The system generally contains good karate practices, in fighting ideas and application of power generation and offline movement in attack and defence.
“The training hall of continuing development and improvement‘ still exemplifies Yoshukai thought and values.”
William ( Tiger) Moore , Hachi Dan has witnessed many changes in the system through his nearly 60 years of Chito ryu and Yoshukai karate. His perspective is shaped by the experience of training in Japan in the summer of 1972 at a time when Yamamoto Sensei and Dr Chitose OSensei were both present and interacting.
The dynamics of the relationship between these central figures and their influence on Mr Foster are very much at the core of understanding the evolution of change and development as what started as Chito ryu Karate branched off into first the Yoshukan Dojo and then eventually the Yoshukai system or style.
A definitive timeline for this change is very difficult to pinpoint but Mr Moore believes that it occurred around 1970 (refer, photo figure 1).
Mr Moore considers this time as one of transition in the fighting approach of Mr Foster. Returning to the US from an extended period of training in Japan “around the time he was promoted to 5th Dan”. Mr Foster who had previously fought mostly from a deep Shiko Dachi stance (i.e., fighting from a side orientation) began to turn and rise into a higher and more aggressive posture. This position allowed a quicker offensive response, improved mobility and resulted in an improved distance recognition and response.
Mr Foster was having tremendous tournament success as a direct result of these improvements and his ability to launch an effective and well-timed attack. For example, Mr Foster would alter his weight distribution with just the lifting of his heel to attain an immediate attack, almost falling into the movement.
“His ability to launch the attack“ created tremendous pressure through an awareness of distance and posture, weight distribution.
In tandem with a more aggressive offense at this time there was also a subtle but effective change in the use of defence. A traditional reliance on large blocking movements changed toward much smaller sometimes offline counters. Counterattack rather than defence became the priority. The angles involved in offline defensive movements were reduced to the smallest effective amount. The punch instead of being blocked in a large movement was now often deflected with much smaller modified movement setting up for an effective counterattack. The opponent’s momentum redirected to find an instantaneous counterattack from a strong body position with hip torque.
Going forward Mr Moore believes the core of Yoshukai Karate is still the teaching of fighting to a really high level. He believes many of the effective techniques that came from the traditional karate are not utilised in a sport karate forum with the wearing of bulky safety equipment. The technique taught must have real practical applications, and at a higher level should involve the practicalities of striking without the use of protective equipment. Distance, timing and position are fundamental to the delivery of the technique. “At its core our system is about learning how to fight”.
Mr Don McNatt Karate Hall of Fame inductee and a 9th Degree Shotokan Black Belt and an influential 5th Degree Yoshukai instructor offers a unique perspective on the development of Yoshukai Karate. He began training in 1957 spending three years training in Okinawa in the Shotokan style. Around 1966 Mr McNatt was introduced and became closely involved with Mr Foster and the then Chito Ryu style of Karate. A strong impression was formed of the style through the teaching of both Mr Yamamoto who visited and trained with Mr McNatt and the leadership of the US branch by Mr Foster.
“Mr Foster stood very tall at 6’5 and knew how to use his height and reach effectively in fighting. He cleaned house winning almost all the tournaments at the time.”
Mr McNatt reflected on the stance used by Mr Foster and believes that a higher stance allowed him to achieve quicker movement and general mobility.
Through my own time in Yoshukai Karate I have seen stance variations particularly in height reflected in both kata and kumite. This problem is in balancing the strength of a deeper longer stance with the increased mobility of the higher shorter stance.
I have reasoned that a more offensive weight forward stance had became synonymous with the development of a Yoshukai fighting style and was also impacted in the kata. The height of the stance might well vary between kata and fighting to better express the different concerns.
Mr McNatt sees karate as a “fantastic art, but it requires discipline “. Clearly it takes skill and control to punch and kick without causing injury to yourself or your opponent. He sees the use of safety equipment as having some positive benefits for fighter safety. Consistency in style and training throughout the system is an important goal for the Yoshukai Association going forward.
As an association we are built on the work and success of those who went before, some of whom sadly are no longer with us. Mr Moore acknowledges the value of this heritage, “There are many black belts in the organization who never had the opportunity to study with Mr Yamamoto and Foster Sensei. It’s our job to educate them and see that they understand their heritage.
Truly, a well-trained and enlightened yudansha is the backbone of any sound and vibrant Karate organization.”
M. Nakayama (1966) Dynamic Karate
Jose M. Fraguas (2001) Karate Masters
The transition to Yoshukai
Mr Moore says dojo’s transitioned around 1970, initially wearing both patches, indicating Chito Ryu as the style and the Yoshukan Dojo – this
photograph was taken in Florida about the end of 1970 to early 1971 and reveals all the karateka wearing patches that are Chitokai except Mr Fosters Yoshukan embroidery. By 1972 Mr Moore remembers the principle dojo of Mr Yamamoto in Kogasaki Japan being described as the Yoshukai Dojo though still teaching the Chito Ryu style of karate.
1, Author Unknown, United States Chito Ryu Karate Federation, The foundation years.
2, Hatena Blog, Japanese website.
3, US Centre for disease control statistics.
