About

Ryukoku Seidokan Karate Kobudo Renmei (RSKKR)

Ryu is an accepted abbreviation for Ryukyu Islands, the Southernmost island chain of Japan.

Koku is a shortened form of the word Kokusai, meaning International.

Sei means true.

Do means way, path, road, or destination.

Kan means style.

Kara means empty. Originally a different character was used that referred to the Chinese roots of Okinawan Karate. This was not popular in Japan so the character for empty was utilized instead.

Te / Ti means hand.

Ko means old or ancient.
Bu means weapon.
Do means way, path, road, or destination.

Ren combined with Mei for the word Renmei means an association, alliance, or group of persons with similar ideals.

Along with the characters for Sensei Toma's original world organization, the Zen Okinawa Karate Kobudo Toide Renmei, these are the words on the patch we wear: the 'Ryukyu International True Path Style Karate and Traditional Weapons'.

Our name represents our goals and preservation efforts to keep the the ways of Sensei Shian Toma's Seidokan Karate alive and teach it forward not only to the United States, but throughout the world.

Ryukoku Seidokan Karate Kobudo Renmei stood up on October 1, 2008 to meet the needs of Seidokan teachers and Karateka returning to reside in the USA. We serve as a direct path to Sensei Toma, who serves as Senior Advisor to our board of directors. Chaired by Ron Nix, Kyudan, the Ryukoku Seidokan Karate Kobudo Renmei provides support to Seidokan senseis and promotes training standards.

RSKKR is subordinate to our Sensei Toma's Honbu world association, the ZOKKTR. The RSKKR honbu dojo is Nix Seidokan Dojo, which has more students than any other dojo in Okinawa. For years, Seidokan Karateka have been making the pilgrimage back and forth from the USA to Okinawa.

Since the 1960s, U.S. military members have trained with Sensei Toma, an early supporter of teaching Okinawan Karate to U.S. military members after WWII. Sensei Toma wished to give back something to the Americans for their help in rebuilding his Okinawan island home after the devastation of the war. Over the years, thanks in part to Karate masters such as Shian Toma who were willing to share their knowledge, the popularity of Okinawan Karate has become a world passion.

This Renmei has been long in coming. The future belongs to those who become involved and look beyond their own dojos and into their Karate community. To this end, the Ryukoku Seidokan Karate Kobudo Renmei was created: to better us all.

Train well in the spirit of Seidokan.