HISTORY OF SHITO RYU SEIKO KAI
For an overview please refer to:
www.karatebc.org- general karate
www.shitoryu.net - our hombu dojo site
Shito Ryu is one of the four main styles of karate and was developed by Kenwa Mabuni. He named his style of karate after his two teachers. One of the most prominent students of Mabuni-sensei was Sakagami Ryusho, who taught the Shito Ryu Itosu Kai style of karate in Osaka and later on in Tokyo. Sakagami-sensei died in 1993. After Grandmaster Sakagami’s death Suzuki Seiko, one of the premier students of Sakagami-sensei in Tokyo, separated from the main Itosu style and formed his own organization called Shito Ryu Seiko Kai. Grandmaster of Shito Ryu Seiko Kai is Suzuki-sensei, who lives and works in Tokyo. He is a 9th degree black belt. In Canada, the Chief Instructor is Master Akira Sato. He is an eighth degree black belt and lives in Vancouver. Shito Ryu Seiko Kai has clubs in Japan, Canada, Argentina, Venezuela and many other countries.

KATA
Kata is a pre-arranged pattern of defensive and offensive techniques against imaginary opponents, each carefully studied, cultivated and defined through many centuries of traditional passage between a master and his students. The traditional katas are karate’s library of information and knowledge. A kata should be performed with the correct understanding of the principles of each movement as well as integrating those movements (techniques) into a pattern of dynamism and expression, that is timing, distance, power, balance, speed and correct attitude. Practicing a kata correctly becomes a means of self-discovery. Kata is also performed during competitions. The execution of a kata, based on the above mentioned criteria, is judged by a panel of judges. In a tournament participants are grouped based on their belt level and age; thus the competion is between contestants with more or less the same amount of exprerience and practice.

KUMITE
Kumite (sparring) is a relatively new component of karate. Kumite competitions are held between two contestants using a free combination of karate techniques. Points are scored when an attack (technique) is targeted with precision, applied vigrously and with good form while maintaining correct distance, proper timing and “zanshin”. Although contact to some parts of the body is allowed, any punch or kick has to be controlled, so as not to inflict damage on the opponent. Bouts usually last 3 minutes and the competitor with the highest score wins.