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U.S. Yoshukai Karate
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U.S. Yoshukai Karate is a style of Martial arts originating from Japan. It is one of two main branches that grew out of Yoshukai karate in the U.S. and currently operates many dojos, most of which are located around the Southeast United States. History 1960s The history of U.S. Yoshukai Karate began in the fall of 1969 when Karate master Soke Hiroyuki Koda arrived in the United States from Fukuoka, Japan. At that time Soke Koda was an instructor of the Yoshukan branch of the Chito-ryu style of Karate, under Tsuyoshi Chitose. His original purpose was to assist American Chito-Kai instructors in proper techniques in kata and weapons. He located in Florida to work within dojos established by Michael G. Foster, who had brought the Yoshukan branch of Chito-ryu to the United States. 1970s Shortly after his arrival, Koda met an American woman, Ms. Gwen Lisk, who was also a Chito-Kai Black Belt. In 1970 they were married in a small ceremony in Florida. In 1971 immediately after the birth of his first son, David Yuki, Koda had to return to Japan on business. In August 1971, while Koda was still in Japan, Mrs. Gwen Koda opened the first dojo under the Directorship of Hiroyuki Koda, in Lincoln, Illinois. In 1973, the Yoshukan branch of Chito-Kai became Yoshukai Karate, an independent karate style. During the winter of the same year, Koda moved his family to Birmingham, Alabama, where he became a journeyman ironworker. In 1974, Koda's second son, Steven Hiro, was born. At that time Koda named his small organization, which included schools in Alabama and Illinois, Mid-South Yoshukai. The Yoshukai Karate organization grew quickly as students began to reach Black Belt status and began opening schools throughout Alabama and extending into Georgia and Florida. Its growth was further accelerated when several instructors from other styles were so impressed with Koda's karate expertise and leadership abilities that they transferred their entire schools to Soke Koda's organization. By 1975 Soke Koda believed the organization had spread enough to be renamed U.S. Yoshukai Karate. 1980s In 1982, a job offer transferred the Koda family to Texas, where Soke Koda opened two more schools. In 1987, Soke Koda and his wife had saved enough money to devote their energies to karate on a full time basis. Since most of the U.S. Yoshukai Schools were in the Southeast, they set up the Honbu Dojo (Headquarters) in Montgomery, Alabama. The Honbu Dojo was relocated to 6001 Wares Ferry Road. 1990s In 1997, Soke Koda died after losing the fight against the deadliest form of cancer, pancreatic and liver cancer. According to his wishes the directorship of the U.S. Yoshukai Karate Association was passed on to his eldest son, David Yuki Koda and managerial duties remained with his wife. 21st Century In 2000, Gwen Koda, the manager for the U.S. Yoshukai Karate Association for 30 years, resigned her position, and passed those duties on to Soshu David Koda's wife, Adrienne Koda. The character and loyalty of the U.S. Yoshukai Karate Instructors, who placed their faith in Soke Koda's successor, form the backbone of the new U.S. Yoshukai Karate Association and share the dream instilled by its founder. As of January 2001 U.S. Yoshukai Karate is represented by dojos in Montgomery, Opp, Albertville, Hoover, Bessemer, Birmingham, Tuscaloosa, and Enterprise, Alabama; Joelton and Spring Hill, Tennessee; Tallahassee, Florida; Harrodsburg and Bowling Green, Kentucky; Bloomington, Illinois; and Los Angeles, California. Belt System The belt system in U.S. yoshukai runs from white belt to black belt, with each interval before black belt referred to as a "kyu". There are nine kyus in 3 different colored belt, and the level of each que is signified by black stripes that run the width of belt near the ends of it.
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