An interviewed article by
JKFan Vol.15 2004 Tokyo Japan
Edited & translated by SSU-USA

Shukokai was founded by Soke Chojiro Tani in 1951. "Shukokai" means to master various things through interaction. Due to the death of Soke Tani in 1998, the reconstruction of Shukokai started. By a vote at the Shukokai general meeting in June 28th 1998, Shito-ryu Shukokai Karate Do Union was formed under the new president Mr. Haruyoshi Yamada, JKF Certified Hanshi 8th Dan, Shito-ryu Shukokai Karate Do Union world chief instructor 9th Dan. Mr. Yamada has clearly stated his mission that he would strive to promote a traditional karate do as budo and karate do in the world.
By adopting a self-government style for the organization, he hopes to build a strong structure in the organization in order to contribute to the future of karate do and spread Shukokai karate do worldwide. In 2003, European Championships were held in Vienna, Austria. Shukokai World Cup will be held every five years at Amagasaki. This event will be held on July 18th 2004.

"The secret therein lies in the basics," "There are no shortcuts for improvement." - Haruyoshi Yamada, the president of shito-ryu Shukokai Karate Do Union who discovered karate do when he was 16, uses these words as a motto and a lesson for himself. Just like a traveler who is constantly walking along a path called karate do, he is a gentleman who is respected and loved by everybody. We will focus on his personality and find the secret of his charisma.

It is not possible to be too humble.
President Yamada, you have always said how important the basics can be and everything starts from here. Most people describe you as humble, without regard to the importance of what you have done.

Do they? I haven't got anything to be too proud of besides this (laugh). People may think I am a willy-nilly person (laugh), but I always remind my students the importance of the basics. This is all there is to karate do. It may sound obsolete and old fashion; however, one could always find new things from here.
I put "The secret therein lies in the basics," "There are no shortcuts for improvement." as one of our dojo creeds. What this really means is that nothing can be made in a single day whether it is to improve your skills or to receive public recognition toward karate do.

I started karate intensively after I moved into Amagasaki from Akita. By hosting many karate tournaments, people gradually understood what we are doing. We supported and worked with public and the administration or community events as much as we possibly could. Even those small efforts would come back to you, like having many positive supporters, the successive Amagasaki mayors for example. One loses nothing by being very humble (laugh). A road seems to be formed, whether it is a mountain road or an unpaved gravel road, when people start walking back and forth to commute. This is exactly what we are doing.

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