The Association
History Of The Association
Sensei Hudson
Gradings
Combinations
History Of The Association
The Shukokai style was founded in 1950 by Chojiro Tani who studied Shito-ryu under Kenwa Mabuni.
Shukokai means "Way for All" and this reflects how the style has developed although it keeps its purity. The style is very fast using a relatively high stance to aid mobility. The Martial Arts Commission of Great Britain has also stated in its Official Handbook that "Shukokai punches are the strongest to be found in Karate".
The style stresses controlled contact in competition sparring. However real experience of full-power techniques is enabled by the use of pad work. 
The Shukokai Karate Association (SKA) was founded in 1991 when senior instructors decided to form their own association. Since then the association has flourished, now having over 20 clubs with hundreds of members. The SKA has maintained the teachings of Shigeru Kimura (7th dan) with whom Shihan Hudson had the privelege of training for several years befor Mr Kimura sadly passed away.
Shukokai as taught by Chojiro Tani had a distinctive double hip twist creating a motion that ensured that punches were delivered using the big muscles of the upper leg and with body rotation. Shigeru Kimura was not happy that this produced the fastest or strongest technique. In 1966 he left Japan and spent 3 years travelling throughout Africa and Europe studying and refining his techniques. These techniques also stressed rotation, utilising the strongest muscles but was also faster, saving time by having the body already rotated in the ready stance. The style was adopted by the Shukokai Karate Union who appointed Mr Kimura as Chief Instructor. In 1980 a 3 way split occured leaving the original Shukokai Karate Union and 2 others, one of which was the KEN-YU-KAI Karate Association (when translated this means "Hands that move in harmony") with their Chief Instructor Terry Pottage. Then in 1991 some senior intructors decided to start their own association and the Shukokai Karate Association was born. In 1993 the SKA was accepted as a full member of the English Karate Governing Body
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Sensei Hudson
Malcolm Hudson (7th dan)started training in Karate in January 1975. He trained as part of the Shukokai Karate Union and then the Kenyu Kai Karate Association before founding the Shukokai Karate Association (SKA) in 1991. He trained frequently with Sensai Shigaru Kimura gaining his 3rd Dan under Mr Kimura's examination.
Sensai Hudson has been very succesful in competitions including:
Member of British SKU Champions 1976, 1978, 1979, 1980
Member of England SKF team to tour America
Welsh Open Middle Weight Champion 1979
Shokokai British Middle Weight Champion 1980
3rd place in Shukokai World Team Championship, New York USA 1981
World Light Weight Shukokai Champion, New York USA 1981
World Overall Champion, New York USA 1981
Kenyu Kai Middle Weight Champion 1983
Light Weight Champion, Buxton Open 1984
Ceased competing in 1987
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Gradings
The association has a series of gradings. These range from the novice through the Kyus (10th Kyu to 1st Kyu) to the Dans (Black belts 1st dan and upwards). Each Grade is attained by a mixture of experience and passing an assessment- both criteria have to be met before progression can be made. These assesments are held regularly throughout the year and, as you would expect, earlier grades have less demanding assessments (but still appropriate to the experience) which are able to be carried out after a set time limit.
Senior grades have to hone their skills for longer before attempting more exacting assessments. In order to gain a Black Belt it is necessary for the student to demonstrate a technical knowledge and skil to a level laid down in their Association Grading Syllabus, for each of the 3 fundamental competencies of Karate which are kihan (basic techniques), kata (set formal excercise) and kumite (sparring).
The SKA Grading structure is shown below. It is based on a student training twice a week. There are titles for the grades - 1st Kyu and 1st Dan are referred to as sempai (senior), 2nd Dan to 5th Dan are referred to as sensai (teacher) whilst 6th dan and above are shihan (master).
10th Kyu - white belt with red stripe
9th Kyu - red belt
8th Kyu - Yellow belt
7th Kyu - Orange belt
6th Kyu - Green belt
5th Kyu - Blue belt
4th Kyu - Purple belt
3rd Kyu - Brown belt
2nd Kyu - Brown belt with white stripe
1st Kyu - Brown belt with red stripe
Shodan 1st Dan - Black belt with 1 red tab
Nidan 2nd Dan - Black belt with 2 red tabs
Sandan 3rd Dan - Black belt with 3 red tabs
Yondan 4th Dan - Black belt with 4 red tabs
| Grade: | 10th Kyu - white belt with red stripe | |||
| Training requirement: | 10 weeks minimum | |||
| A: | Basics in parallel stance (Yoi) | Jodan Zuki, Chudan Zuki | ||
| Blocks | Gedan Barai | |||
| B: | Basics in forward stance (Kamae) | Oi Zuki, Gyaku Zuki | ||
| C: | Kicks | Mae Geri | ||
| Grade: | 9th Kyu - Red belt | |||
| Training requirement: | minimum 3 months training from last grading | |||
| A: | Basics (Kamae) | Oi Zuki, Gyaku Zuki | ||
| Blocks | Gedan Barai | |||
| B: | Combinations | 1, 2 | ||
| C: | Kicks | Mae Geri | ||
| Grade: | 8th Kyu - Yellow belt | |||
| Training requirement: | minimum 3 months training from last grading | |||
| A: | Basics (Kamae) | as 9th kyu | ||
| Blocks | Jodan Uke | |||
| B: | Combinations | 1, 2 | ||
| C: | Kicks | Mae Geri, Mawashi Geri | ||
| D: | Kata | Junino Kata - any of 4 blocks | ||
| Grade: | 7th Kyu - Orange belt | |||
| Training requirement: | minimum 3 months training from last grading | |||
| A: | Basics (Kamae) | as 8th kyu plus Mackan Zuki | ||
| Blocks | Jodan Uke, Shutto Uke | |||
| B: | Combinations | 1, 2, 3 | ||
| C: | Kicks | Mae Geri, Mawashi Geri | ||
| D: | Kata | Pinan Nidan | ||
| E: | Impact | Oi Zuki, Gyaku Zuki, Mae Geri | ||
| Grade: | 6th Kyu - Green belt | |||
| Training requirement: | minimum 3 months training from last grading | |||
| A: | Basics (Kamae) | as 7th kyu | ||
| Blocks | Jodan Uke, Shutto Uke | |||
| B: | Combinations | 3, 4, 5 | ||
| C: | Kicks | Mae Geri, Mawashi Geri | ||
| D: | Kata | Pinan Sandan | ||
| E: | Impact | Gyaku Zuki, Mackan Zuki, Mae Geri, Mawashi Geri | ||
| Grade: | 5th Kyu - Blue belt | |||
| Training requirement: | minimum 4 months training from last grading | |||
| A: | Basics (Kamae) | as 6th kyu plus Sekkyaku Zuki | ||
| Blocks | Shuto Uke, Soto Uke | |||
| B: | Combinations | 4, 5, 6 | ||
| C: | Kicks | Mae Geri, Mawashi Geri, Yoko Geri | ||
| D: | Kata | Pinan Shodan | ||
| E: | Impact | as 6th Kyu plus Oi Zuki | ||
| E: | Sparring | Protective equipment must be worn | ||
| Grade: | 4th Kyu - Purple belt | |||
| Training requirement: | minimum 4 months training from last grading | |||
| A: | Basics (Kamae) | as 5th kyu plus Ashi Barai | ||
| Blocks | Shuto Uke, Uchi Uke | |||
| B: | Combinations | 5, 6, 7 | ||
| C: | Kicks | as 5th Kyu | ||
| D: | Kata | Pinan Yondan, plus any previous Kata | ||
| E: | Impact | Oi Zuki, Gyaku Zuki, Sekkyaku Zuki, Mae Geri, Mawashi Geri, Yoko Geri | ||
| E: | Sparring | Protective equipment must be worn | ||
| Grade: | 3rd Kyu - Brown belt | |||
| Training requirement: | minimum 6 months training from last grading | |||
| A: | Basics (Kamae) | Oi Zuki, Gyaku Zuki, Mackan Zuki, Uraken Uchi, Ashi Barai | ||
| Blocks | Gedan Barai, Jodan Uke, Shuto Uke | |||
| B: | Combinations | 6, 7, 8 | ||
| C: | Kicks | Mae Geri, Mawashi Geri, Ushiro Geri | ||
| D: | Kata | Pinan Godan, plus any previous Kata | ||
| E: | Impact | as 4th Kyu plus Mackan Zuki, Gedan Barai, Gyaku Zuki, Ashi Barai | ||
| E: | Sparring | Protective equipment must be worn | ||
| Grade: | 2nd Kyu - Brown belt with white stripe | |||
| Training requirement: | minimum 6 months training from last grading | |||
| A: | Basics (Kamae) | Oi Zuki, Gyaku Zuki, Sekkyaku Zuki, Uraken Uchi, Ashi Barai | ||
| Blocks | Gedan Barai, Jodan Uke, Soto Uke | |||
| B: | Combinations | 7, 8, 9 | ||
| C: | Kicks | as 3rd Kyu plus Yoko Geri | ||
| D: | Kata | Giin (Kokaiteki Sento Gijutsu), plus any previous Katas | ||
| E: | Impact | as 3rd Kyu plus Ushiro Geri. Substitute Jodan Uke for Gedan Barai | ||
| E: | Sparring | Protective equipment must be worn | ||
| Grade: | 1st Kyu - Brown belt with red stripe | |||
| Training requirement: | minimum 6 months training from last grading | |||
| A: | Basics (Kamae) | as 2nd Kyu plus Mackan Zuki | ||
| Blocks | Shuto Uke, Soto Uke, Uchi Uke | |||
| B: | Combinations | 8, 9, 10 | ||
| C: | Kicks | as 2nd Kyu | ||
| D: | Kata | Annanko Kokaiteki Sento Gijutsu, plus any previous Katas | ||
| E: | Impact | as 2nd Kyu plus Uraken Uchi, Ushiro Mawashi Geri. Substitute Shuto Uke for Jodan Uke | ||
| E: | Sparring | Protective equipment must be worn | ||
| Grade: | Shodan 1st Dan - Black belt with 1 red tab | |||
| Training requirement: | minimum 6 months training from last grading | |||
| Syllabus | refer to SKA Manual | |||
| Grade: | Nidan 2nd Dan - Black belt with 2 red tabs | |||
| Training requirement: | minimum 2 years training from last grading | |||
| Syllabus | refer to SKA Manual | |||
| Grade: | Sandan 3rd Dan - Black belt with 3 red tabs | |||
| Training requirement: | minimum 3 years training from last grading | |||
| Syllabus | refer to SKA Manual | |||
| Grade: | Yondan 4th Dan - Black belt with 4 red tabs | |||
| Training requirement: | minimum 4 years training from last grading | |||
| Syllabus | refer to SKA Manual | |||
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Combinations
The association has a number of combinations that are needed in gradings. In all there are 10 combinations. Early gradings require fewer combinations and later gradings require proficiency in all the combinations.
10th Kyu - white belt with red stripe - no combinations
9th Kyu - red belt - combinations 1,2
8th Kyu - Yellow belt - combinations 1,2
7th Kyu - Orange belt - combinations 1,2,3
6th Kyu - Green belt - combinations 3,4,5
5th Kyu - Blue belt - combinations 4,5,6
4th Kyu - Purple belt - combinations 5,6,7
3rd Kyu - Brown belt - combinations 6,7,8
2nd Kyu - Brown belt with white stripe - combinations 7,8,9
1st Kyu - Brown belt with red stripe - combinations 8,9,10
1st Dan and above - refer to SKA Manual.
All Combinations start from Standard Stance.
Combination Number 1
Step forward and land. Right hand Jodan punch. Left hand Thrust. Step Back. Cross arms to Standard Stance.
Combination Number 2
Project Forward. Right hand Chudan punch. Left hand Thrust. Project Back. Cross arms to Standard Stance.
Combination Number 3
Project Forward. Change hands, Left hand Jodan punch. Right hand Thrust. Project Back. Cross arms to Standard Stance.
Combination Number 4
Right leg snap kick and land. Right hand Jodan punch. Left hand Thrust. Step Back. Cross arms to Standard Stance.
Combination Number 5
Right hand Chudan punch. Left hand Thrust. Step with the right leg, Left leg snap kick and land. Right hand Jodan punch. Left hand Thrust. Step Back. Cross arms to Right hand Standard Stance. Step Back. Cross arms to Standard Stance.
Combination Number 6
Step Back. Right hand Shuto block. Left hand Chudan punch. Right hand Thrust. Step Forward. Cross arms to Standard Stance.
Combination Number 7
Project forward. Left hand Gedan Block. Right hand Chudan punch. Left hand thrust. Project back. Cross arms to Standard Stance.
Combination Number 8
Step forward. Right hand feint, right hand Chudan punch, Right hand thrust (all movements are carried out as you step forward). Step back. Cross arms to Standard Stance.
Combination Number 9
Right foot Ashi bari and land forward. Right hand Jodan punch. Left hand thrust. Step Back. Cross arms to Standard Stance.
Combination Number 10
Right foot Mawashi Geri (changing guard hand). Land forward. Left hand Chudan punch. Right hand thrust. Step back. Cross arms to Standard Stance.
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