Shorinjiryu Karatedo Australia Proud to Become Part of the Shorinjiryu Kenyukai Watanabe Ha World Federation

Shorinjiryu Karatedo Australia was formed in the late 1970's by Shihan Laurie Vanniekirk, a long time pioneer of karate in Australia who became a follower of Shorinjiryu after reading the book Scientific Karatedo by Hanshi Masayuki Hisataka.  After reading the book, Shihan Laurie travelled to Japan where he trained with Shinan Kori HIsataka and Hanshi Masayuki Hisataka, before returning to Australia and founding Shorinjiryu Karatedo Australia.  Currently Shorinjiryu Karatedo Australia is under the joint leadership of our Chief Instructors, Shihan Jim Griffin, 6th Dan and Shihan Max Estens, 5th Dan.  We have 10 dojo running in locations along the east coast of Australia, between Cairns in the tropical north to Sydney in the south, with our largest group centred around Brisbane.

In the mid-1990's Shorinjiryu Karatedo Australia became an independent school of Shorinjiryu.  Having become disillusioned with the sporting focus that Shorinjiryu was taking in Japan, and with other aspects of the direction of the hombu, our Australian organisation determined to refocus on the roots of Shorinjiryu and try to maintain and ultimately get closer to the teachings of Shinan Kori Hisataka.  In time, Shorinjiryu Karatedo Australia became a member of the Shorinjiryu Shinzen Kyokai, and our members have participated in three  International Shorinjiryu Shinzen Shiai events.  We are proud that we are part of the Shinzen Kyokai, as we believe it is an important glue that is bringing together many disparate Shorinjiryu groups, worldwide.

In October 2006, 6 of our number visited the US, and spent several days training with Kaicho Shunji Watanabe (Shorinjiryu Kenyukai Watanabe Ha), Hanshi Myron Lubitsch (Shorinjiryu Kenryukan Karate), Shihan Dan Hayes (Shorinjiryu Kenyukai Watanabe Ha), Shihan Page Christis (Shorinjiryu Kenyukai Watanabe Ha), Shihan John Salasko (Shorinjiryu Kenyukai Watanabe Ha), Shihan Vincent Capers, Jr (Shorinjiryu Kenryukan Karate) and other senior Shorinjiryu Karateka at dojos in Baltimore, New York and Long Island.  Key among this was our days spent in Baltimore with Kaicho Watanabe and his team of Shihan and Sensei.  In this time we saw and learned Shorinjiryu Karatedo from a direct student of the founder, who has kept the original teachings pure.  This was a turning point for us, in that we could see what we had long suspected - that the teachings of Shinan Kori HIsataka have been changed significantly in the Kenkokan organisation in the years since his retirement and passing.

After heady 2 weeks in the States, where the other highlight was our visit to New York and participation in the 20th Annual Shorinjiryu Shinzen Shiai, we headed back to Australia, with lots of new (old) material to absorb and practice.

In March 2007, we had the great honour of hosting Kaicho Watanabe, Shihan Dan, Shihan Page and Sensei Richard Alicea to our shores.  Here they gave 150% of themselves, participating in our National Training Camp (3 days), plus evening training sessions in Brisbane and even a one day trip to Sydeny where they also trained at a local dojo.  We were inspired by the energy and talent of these fine karateka. 

During the visit, we were humbled and honoured that Kaicho Watanabe invited our organisaiton to become part of the Shorinjiryu Kenyukai Watanabe Ha Federation.  We were delighted to accept this invitation, and in many ways we have come full circle.  We are closer now to the teachings of the founder, and we are grateful to have the opportuity to become students of such a fine karateka and wonderful human being as is Kaicho Watanabe.  To have such wonderful people as Shihan Dan, Shihan Page and Sensei Richard to also support us is incredible.

So, we are setting forth on a new journey.  As Shihan Jim Griffin stated we are now "making progress by returning to the roots of Shorinjiryu".  We look forward to working with all the members of the Shorinjiryu Kenyukai Watanabe Ha family.

The members of Shorinjiryu Kenyukai Watanabe Ha Australia (as we will henceforth be known) would like to express our sincere thanks to Kaicho Watanabe for your leadership and willingness to invite us into your organisation.  Also to Shihan Dan for your vision, and Shihan Page for your support and patient teaching.  

We should also pass a thanks to Hanshi Myron Lubitsch, whose frienship and support continues to be instrumental to us, and whose vision for the Shorinjiryu Shinzen Kyokai is a major factor in bringing Shorinjiryu Karatedo Australia into the Shorinjiryu Kenyukai Watanabe Ha family.