In 1998, after the death of Tani sensei, Mr. Yamada was elected as the
new chairman of the association as recommended by the committee. His steady
efforts and his ability to see the future finally bore fruit. When Mr.
Yamada succeeded the former Shukokai legally and reconstructed the association,
he changed its name into Shito-ryu Shukokai Karate-Do Union. Mr. Yamada
said, "I think one's own style would be only develop during one's
lifetime. Techniques passed on to one's students may not be the same as
their master had instructed, as style is totally dependent on or reflected
upon the student's characters, physical abilities and philosopies. One
can only do one's own version of karate." To show respect for each
Hanshi colleague and all of the students who had the same aim in former
Shukokai, he named the association "Union," and he even put
his own style of
karate-do "Yamada-ha Shito-ryu Shukokai" under the Union.
Mr. Yamada's principles have attracted so many people in sports clubs
under the social organizations and also overseas branches that had been
carefully observing what the new organization would be like. As a result
of their careful study, they have offered a contract to Mr. Yamada one
after another. This was the result of Mr. Yamada's fairness, which appealed
to the European society.
The more trends, the less privileges
Since JKF started in 1964, karate has spread out all over the world
very quickly. However, all was not well for opening the door to the
world. This brought both positive and nagative sides, like a double-edged
knife, to the traditional karate-do. Behind this thriving conglomeration,
there was a fact that karate became very competitive. Mr. Yamada said,
"Karate has become popular because people have been involved in
competitions. Simultaneously, this has popularized karate but has made
people forget the fundamental basics. I have sometimes heard that the
French and English have said that there is nothing to learn from Japan
regarding to kumite fighting, which I totally disagree with. Whether
you think about karate as a sport or a real sense of budo, you should
think that both are important; however, this is a fact - there are not
many people who regard karate as a budo nowadays, when the idea of karate
as a sport is major and most people think that is all there is to karate."
The idea that karate as budo is on the verge of becoming obsolete, "Nevertheless,"
Mr. Yamada continues, "if karate rules are ever changed into more
competition-oriented as is the movement leb by European guidance desires
and if that would allow karate to become one of the Olympic games as
a result, I would like to send my students to the competitions if they
want to compete. I think it is rather good idea, especially for younger
students, to experience karate as a sport. When this time come in the
future and how our generation would adopt it and fit into a new karate
would be a big question for us.
When a player retired, such as in boxing for instance, one could be
a trainer but would never be trained like one used to. However, a practitioner
for karate as a budo would not only be an instructor but also one would
be able to continue to train for one's mind and body. On the contrary,
if one neglects to do so, the true meanings of budo would be lost.
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