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Sunji Watanabe

One of the chief proponents of Shorinjiryu Karate Do, and a leading disciple of Shinan Kori Hisataka, is Shihan Shunji Watanabe, 7th Dan, chief instructor and president of the Shorinjiryu Watanabe-Ha Karate-Do Federation.

Shihan Shunji Watanabe

Shihan Watanabe was born in Japan in 1938, and began his martial arts instruction with Shinan Kori Hisataka in 1955 at the Hombu dojo in Tokyo. He was promoted to Shodan in 1958, and most recently promoted to shichidan in 1985.

In 1967, Shihan Watanabe came to North America, by way of Canada, to demonstrate Shorinjiryu Kenkokan Karate at the Montreal Expo. He made the journey along with Shihan Masayuki Hisataka, 9th Dan, the son of Shinan Kori Hisataka. Shihan Watanabe was asked by Shinan Hisataka to remain in North America and help to develop Shorinjiryu Karatedo in the United States and Canada. Shihan Watanabe made his home in Baltimore, Maryland and started the Japan Karate and Judo Center, which he maintains to this day.

Shihan Watanabe has carefully preserved the styles and principles taught to him by Shinan Hisataka and maintains a traditional Japanese dojo. Shihan Watanabe makes no compromises in his ideas or methods of teaching for the sake of modern concerns. The Baltimore dojo is for those dedicated students who love traditional Japanese karate and are not afraid of hard work. Shihan Watanabe believes the most important goal in martial arts training is the continual effort towards self-improvement, not just the perfection of fighting techniques. He expects his students to demonstrate respect, responsibility, manners, and effort.

The essence of his style is best summarized by the motto of Shorinjiryu Kenkokan Karatedo: Doku Ji Gyo Sei Ki, which translates to The Spiritual Development of Individualty in Mind and Body. Shorinjiryu Watanabe-Ha Karate-Do is the evolution of Shorinjiryu Kenyukai Karate-Do, founded by Kaicho (President) Shunji Watanabe, recognizing his more than half a century of training and dedication to the original techniques taught by Shinan Kori Hisataka.

The Watanabe Kamon, or family crest is used in conjunction with the Shorinjiryu seal, further emphasizing Kaicho Watanabe's influence on the evolution of Shorinjiryu Karate-Do.

The Watanabe Family Crest

In 2004, Shihan Watanabe was named as Honorary Technical Advisor to the Shorinjiryu Shinzen Kyokai, a sign of recognition of his many years of diligent study, promotion and loyalty to the Shorinjiryu Karate of Shinan Kori Hisataka.

Along with Hanshi Masayuki Hisataka, Shihan Watanabe is quite probably the most senior of Shinan Kori Hisataka’s students that is still actively teaching Shorinjiryu Karate.