Motobu Ha Seishinkai and Tani-Ha History

 Motubu Ha Seishinkai  is a sub-style of Japanese Shitō-ryū Karate-Do.

Seishinkai started as a dojo (training area) called Seishin-Kan, founded by (Kuniba) Kokuba Kosei in 1943,  in Osaka, Japan.  He believed that true Karate-dō comes from the heart so he called his dojo Seishin or "pure heart" dojo.

During World War II, the Seishin-Kan dojo became a well-known meeting place, and many of the founders of other different styles of Karate trained and taught there.  (Kuniba) Kokuba Kosei was a devoted student of Choki Motobu, and upon Motobu's death in 1947,  Kuniba became the second Sōke of Motobu's branch of karate, known as Motobu-ha Karate-dō, and Seishin-kan became the center of the new organization,  Kuniba then renamed the style as Motuba-Ha Seishin-Kai, and began promoting this style.

In 1959, after the death of (Kuniba) Kokuba Kosei, his only son Shogo Kuniba (Kosho) became the third Sōke of Motobu-Ha Seishinkai Karate-Do.  Shogo Kuniba however, was only 29 years old, so Teruo Hayashi was appointed as technical advisor and president of Motubu Ha Seishin-kai from 1959 until 1970.

In 1983 Sōke Kuniba left Japan and moved the center of operation for Motobu-ha Seishinkai Shitō-ryū Karate-do to Portsmouth, Virginia.  After Kuniba’s death in 1992, Kunio Tatsuno emerged as the Kaicho of Seishinkai. Kuniba's dojo in the U.S. separated from Seishinkai and became independent.  Kunio Tatsuno died suddenly in May, 1999, and Seishinkai soon dissolved as an organization in Japan.

In the same year the sons of Shogo Kuniba, (Kosuke Kuniba and Kozo Kuniba), formed Nihon Karate-do Kuniba-kai, which is currently operating in Japan, as the home of Motobu-ha Shito-ryu.

 

 

Tani-Ha Shitō-ryū -aka- Shukokai: founded by Chōjirō Tani, student of Mabuni Kenwa, in 1949. This style represents the Tani-ha version of Shitō-ryū.  Tani's most senior student, Shigeru Kimura, left Japan in 1965 to teach Shūkōkai in Africa. Kimura continued to teach after travelling to Europe, before settling in the United States in 1970 at the age of 29.  Sensei Kimura taught Shukokai Shito Ryu aso known as Tani-Ha in America.  He passed away in 1998.

 

Irvin Shelton (1936-1999)  studied Motobu Ha Seishinkai Karate in Japan, beginning in the late 1960’s.  Shelton Sensei also studied Tani-Ha Shito-Ryu Karate in the United States, in the 1970’s.  Our organization is committed and dedicated to carrying on the knowledge, the traditions, and the vast teachings of Shelton Sensei.

 

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Our Instructors

 

Hamilton Perkins

Mr. Hamilton Perkins has earned the rank of 7th Degree Black Belt in Japanese Karate, 4th Degree in Okinawan Karate, 3rd Degree in Tae Kwon Do, and 2nd Degree in American Karate. 

 Perkins Sensei is a Certified Master Karate Instructor, who has taught and trained well-known, highly-respected martial artists.  He has conducted many karate seminars and clinics, and he has earned numerous Instructor of the Year Awards.

As a promoter of the Alamance Nationals, and Alamance Open Sport Karate Tournaments, he was one of the first promoters in North Carolina to offer equal prize money to men and women. 

 He was a Top Ten Rated tournament competitor in fighting, forms, and weapons during the 1980’s and 1990’s, and he was inducted into the National Black Belt Hall of Fame, by the Professional Karate League!

 He is also featured in the national publication, “WHO’S WHO in the Martial Arts”, and he had the honor of receiving the 2016-2017 LEGENDS Award, for his accomplishments and contributions to the martial arts in America!

 He is a High School Psychology, and Sociology Teacher, and Public Speaker!  He is also a highly successful Varsity High School Basketball Coach, with over 450 career wins!

 He attributes his success and accomplishments to the discipline, the dedication, and the determination that he has gained, from his 40 years of continuous martial arts training.

 

 

Travis Hinson

Mr. Travis Hinson has earned the rank of 5th Degree Black Belt in Japanese Karate, and 3rd Degree Black Belt in Okinawan Karate. He began his karate training in 1980.

Hinson Sensei is a Certified Master Karate Instructor with the Mid Eastern Karate Association.  He is very well respected throughout the martial arts community. Among his many accolades... he was triple crown tournament competitor in fighting, forms, and weapons, who also had the honor serving as a "Fighting Foot Soldier" movie stuntman, in "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles."  

 Continuing to inspire through teaching and competition, Mr. Hinson was the 2016 North Carolina AAU Champion in Black Belt Fighting (Kumite), and Black Belt Weapons (Kobudo).   He is the Black Belt Silver Medalist (2nd Place, in Back Belt Forms (Kata).

 

Earnest Nickerson

Mr. Earnest Nickerson has earned the rank of 6th Degree Black Belt in Japanese Karate. He began his karate training in 1981.

 Nickerson Sensei is a Certified Master Karate Instructor with the Mid Eastern Karate Association.  Mr. Nickerson was a top tournament competitor in fighting, forms, weapons, and breaking.  He was also a Light Heavyweight  Full-Contact Kickboxer, who was ranked in the Top Ten!

 Mr. Nickerson continues to share his knowledge and expertise with our students, through his teachings.

  

BIOS FOR OTHER INSTRUCTORS – COMING SOON!