Kanken Tōyama


Kanken Tōyama was a Japanese schoolteacher and karate master, who developed the foundation for the Shūdōkan karate style.
Born into a noble family in Shuri, Okinawa, Japan, he was given the name Oyadameri Kanken.
He trained under: Itosu Anko and Itarashiki primarily, and under Ankichi Aragaki, Azato Anko, Chosho Chibana, Oshiro, Tana, Yabu Kentsu
and Kanryo Higashionna.
Nine years old, he began his karate training under Ankō Itosu, and remained a student there until Itosu died in 1915.
He also studied Naha-te under Kanryō Higaonna and Tomari-te under Ankichi Aragaki.
In 1924 Toyama moved his family to Taiwan where he taught in an elementary school and studied Chinese Ch'uan Fa, which included Taku, Makaitan, Rutaobai, and Ubo. Given this diverse martial arts background, the Japanese government soon recognized Toyama's prowess, and awarded him the right to promote to any rank in any style of Okinawan karate. An official gave Toyama the title of master instructor.
In early 1930 he returned to Japan and on March 20, 1930, he opened his first dojo in Tokyo. He named his dojo Shu Do Kan meaning "the hall for the study of the karate way." Toyama taught what he had learnt from Itosu and the Ch'uan Fa and did not claim to have originated a new style of karate. In 1946, Toyama founded the All Japan Karate-Do Federation with the intention of unifying the various forms of karate of Japan and Okinawa under one governing organization.
This JKF is the old name of, and current JKF is the other organization.
The individuals listed below are Shudokan pupils of Toyama as listed in Karate-Do Tai Hokan. The translated partial list includes the karate-do shihan and hanshi title license and high degree rank. The '*' symbol indicates persons and organizations that did not train directly with Toyama, but were confirmed as members with the responsibilities of the shihan title and high degree rank. The '?' symbol indicate partial or missing translations.
NameTitlePosition / Location
Iji ChoshinShihanOkinawa Shuri City To Sho Kan-
Iwasa KahoyaHanshi ShihanHokaido Superior Branch Coal Mine, Branch Mining Director-
Ito MikihiroHanshi ShihanTokyo Distinguished College Teacher, Mori Dojo Director-
In Hei Jin ShihanSeoul, Korea Dojo-
In ? Hei ShihanTokyo Kanbukan Director-
Inoue KiyoshiShihanTokyo Metropolitan Ota District-
Izumikawa HirokiHanshi ShihanKawasaki City, Senbukan Director*
Hanaue ToshioHanshin ShihanKanagawa Prefecture, Atsugi City, Kodokan Director-
Toshishinga FumioShihanHokaido, Toshishinga Dojo Director-
Chitose TadashiHanshin ShihanChiba Prefecture, Choshi City Nen Dojo Cho-
Onishi EizoShihanEhime Prefecture, Iyo City, Koeikan Director-
Onishi KazuhiroShihanEhime Prefecture, Kawanoishi-
Ogawa HideharuShihanTokyo Metropolitan, Shinjuku District-
Watanabe KenichiHanshin ShihanTokyo Metropolitan, Ota District, Seidokan Director-
Katsumura MasaoHanshin ShihanYokohama City, Seidokan Director*
Yoshikawa HideoHanshin ShihanTokyo Metropolitan, Nerima District, Seifukan Director-
Yoshida TetsuoShihanIbaragi Prefecture, Tatsugazaki City, Taiikukyokai Karate Club Director-
Tamaki HakufuHanshin ShihanOita Prefecture, Beppu City, Tachinaka Section Junior High School Principal-
Takamine MichioShihanKyushu-
Mou HozoShihanKyushu-
Tsuchiya HideoShihanKanagawa Prefecture, Odawara City-
Narazaki TakeoHanshin ShihanTokyo Metropolitan, Setagaya Kempokan Director-
Nakagomi IchiroShihanYamanashi Prefecture, Yu Dan Sha Chairman-
Korishima IchiroHanshin ShihanTokyo, Retired Army Lieutenant General-
Kurita YoshifumiShihanEhime Prefecture-
Yabiku IsamuShihanTokyo Metropolitan, Muronouchi-
Fujiwara FumiyoshiShihanFukuoka City, Tenjin Cho, Seiki Dojo Director-
Kinoshita YoshifumiShihanSaitama Prefecture, Kitaadachi County-
Koizumi ShonosukeShihanTokyo Metropolitan, Meguro District-
Koyasu MichioShihanKyushu-
Amamiya HiroshiShihanYamnashi Prefecture, Shioyama City-
Akamine ShozukeShosuke ShihanKawasaki City, Nakajima*
Arai ToshiroShihanTokyo Metropolitan, Toshima District, Chihaya Preparatory School Director-
Arakaki RyushoShihanTokyo Metropolitan, Yoyogi Shudokan Branch Dojo Director-
Sakura ToshioShihanTokyo Metropolitan, Daito District-
Kinjyo HiroshiHanshi ShihanTokyo Renbukan Shihan*
Shimabukuro KosukeShihanYokohama City, Tsurumi District, Shimabukuro Dojo Director-
Shibanaka IwaoShihanEhime Prefecture-
Shimono KeijiShihanSelf Defense Force General Affairs Director-
Higa YoshitoHanshi ShihanOkinawa, Public Prosecutor General-
Higa YoshiakiShihanYokohama City, Tsurumi District-
Higashiona HiroshiHanshi ShihanKanagawa Prefecture, Omichikan Headquarters Director*
Higa SeitokuShihanRyukyu Public Prosecutors Office, Prosecuting Attorney

Other students awarded shihan and hanshi title license and high degree rank but not referenced in Karate-Do Tai Hokan.
NameTitlePosition / Location
Isao IchikawaHanshin ShihanFounder Karatedo Doshinkan-
Morita SadaoShihanYokohama City-
Suzuki HideakiShihanTokyo Metropolitan, Ota District-
Suzuki YoshitsuguShihanShizuoka Prefecture, Seishukan Director-
Sunabe KoichiShihanYokohama City, Tsurumi District, Sunabe Dojo Director-
Akitani SeijiShihanShudokan Chairman-
Murata YoshitaroShihanHokaido-
Takazawa MasanaoShihanOkaya City, Nagano Perfecture