HARUYOSHI YAMADA, HANSHI
Shito-ryu Shukokai World Karate-do Union Chief Instructor

Yamada9th Dan, Tani-Ha Shito-ryu Shukokai
President of Shukokai Gishinkan
8th Dan, Japan Karate Federation (JKF)
4th Dan Kodokan Judo
President, West Japan Workers' Karate Federation
Supreme Judge, JKF
Director Class A, JKF
Referee of Kumite & Kata, JKF
Games Director, Japan Society for Physical Culture

Haruyoshi Yamada was born in 1938 in Akita Prefecture, Japan. In 1956, he became a disciple of Chojiro Tani, the founder of Shukokai, in Kobe. After years of study and training under Tani Sensei, Yamada became one of the highest ranking pupils within the organization. Yamada is the founder and president of Gishinkan, a faction of Shukokai based in Amagasaki City. With approximately 3,000 members nationwide, Gishinkan is especially strong in the Kansai area (Kobe, Osaka and Kyotodistricts). Each year the Gishinkan Cup attracts over 1,500 competitors throughout Japan (Continue Below)


TomlinsonEric Tomlinson
SSU-USA Chief Instructor

6th Dan Shito-ryu Shukokai

1982: England All Style Team member under Sensei Ticky Donovan (8th Dan British Team Manager)
1974 - 1984: SKU (Shukokai Karate Union) England Team member
1980, 1982: British Shukokai International team member
1974, 1984: England Shukokai International member
1975: British All Style International Champion
1974, 1977, 1978: British Shukokai Champion


Born July 22nd, 1948 in Bolton Manchester in England. Sensei Eric started karate in 1971 at the age of 23. He trained under Sensei Roy Stanhope (now 7th Dan) and Sensei Terry Pottage (now 7th Dan), Shukokai Karate Union (SKU) in UK. He then trained under Soke Tani (10th Dan) and Sensei Kimura (8th Dan) and Sensei Eddie Daniels (now 7th Dan) in UK in 1973. He energetically attended numerous seminars and courses under the highest ranking Japanese instructors, especially under Sensei Kimura until he passed away in 1995. During this time of intense training, he analyzed, adopted and developed his skills in the Shukokai karate-do techniques of speed, power and body mechanics.
In 1996, he moved to the United States and started a dojo in Missouri. Realizing the great benefit to his students of being affiliated with a worldwide organization, Sensei Eric joined Shito-ryu Shukokai Karate-do World Union in 2002 under Hanshi Yamada (9th Dan) and was commissioned as Chief Instructor of the United States. Under Hanshi Yamada's guidance, Sensei Eric has continued to dedicate himself to promoting the traditional Japanese style of Karate-do, merged with the exceptionally powerful techniques of Sensei Kimura, in order to develop students of exceptional quality.