Club History
Last updated
Last updated
We embrace our lineage and history, we believe it is important that students understand that the instructors of today could not have been there if not for the long line of instructors before them. Here we tell a very short version of the history behind Oubaitori Karate Club. It would take a book to describe the full history. Oubaitori Karate Club formed from within ToriKai Martial Arts Association and ran inside the association until irreconcilable differences lead to Oubaitori Karate Club’s departure in November 2023. ToriKai Martial Arts Association is run by Brian Whatford and Neil Flowers, having taken over Falcon Karate Club from Senseis Dave and George Ritchie, when Sensei Dave emigrated. Falcon Karate Club (FKC) was part of Tori Kai Karate Association*. Sensei George and Sensei Dave originally trained under Kofukan International*, run by Shihans Keiji Tomiyama and Naoki Omi, under Sensei Terry Murthwaite. Shihans Tomiyama and Omi were direct students of Soke Chojiro Tani, founder of Shukokai (teaching Tani-ha Shitoryu). Master Tani was a direct student of Kenwa Mabuni, founder of Shitoryu Karate, and Chojun Miyagi, founder of Goju-ryu Karate. Tani-ha Shitoryu (Shukokai) was therefore Shitoryu Karate, with influence from the hard-soft style that is Gojuryu. This means our Karate focuses on speed and fluidity of movement, and the light footed nature of Shitoryu Karate, whilst incorporating some aspects of Gojuryu. Following the Shukokai (“way for all”) lead – we prioritise effectiveness over uniformity. The rest of the history can be, with relative ease, traced back to the 1700s as to where our Karate came from. From the UK back to Japan, from Japan back to Okinawa, and depending on the source, back to various places in China before that. * Oubaitori Karate Club does not claim any affiliation to any of the above mentioned organisations or individuals. Any current day are detailed in the section. Naturally, some of this section has been passed down verbally, and we’re relying on the accuracy of what we have been told.