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Masayoshi Kori Hisataka
Hisataka, Masayoshi (Kori) (1907-1988) was born with the name Kudaka Seiki in Shuri (Naha city Okinawa) on April 22,1907. Hisataka’s great grandfather had changed the family name to Kudaka in honor of the Island which the family had been previously awarded for services rendered to Okinawa.
He begun his training in the family system of Kudaka ryu Kamite (Divine Hand) as well as Kudaka jima Shi shi ryu Bojutsu. Hisataka's first instructor outside the family was to be Anko Azato. He was taught Kobudo by the legendary Sanda Kanagusuku, Itosu Anko, Hanashiro Chomo,Yabu Kentsu and Motobu Choki.
He developed a strong and lasting friendship with both Miyagi Chojun as well as Mabuni Kenwa. A major influence in young Hisataka's life would also be Kyan Chotoku. With Kyan he traveled through Mainland Japan and Taipei, demonstrating, training, and fighting in challenge matches.
Upon returning to Mainland Japan, he undertook the study of Judo from the legendary Sanpo Toku, and eventually obtained the rank of Yondan in Kodokan Judo from him.
Sensei Minoru Morita
An international award-winning commercial artist and a college art professor, Sensei Morita was one of the earliest Shorinjiryu Kenkokan Karatedo students to train in Japan directly under its founder, Shinan Kori Hisataka and receive promotion to black belt levels while under his training. Sensei Morita was one of the black belts who demonstrated karate in the early 1960's as a part of the Japanese government's exhibition at the New York World's fair and was therefore part of the first exposure to karate for thousands of Americans, and others from around the world.
From the early 1960's on, he taught karate at various locations in the United States, including Maryland, Connecticut, New Jersey, and New York. He helped to establish the Shorinjiryu Kenyukai Karatedo Federation in 1973 and founded the Kenyukai Karate Club in 1974. Black belts that directly trained under him include Sensei Mason, Sensei Warner, and Sensei D'Avino.
Shihan Tamon Kashimoto
Shihan Tamon Kashimoto was born in Tokyo April 17, 1947. He began his study of the martial arts at age 12. He studied Shorin Ji Ryu with Master K. Hisakata, attaining his black belt at the age of 16. In 1967 he was sent to the Montreal world’s fair (Expo) to demonstrate karate. He decided to stay in the United States. He started his own karate school, Tokyo Karate, in 1972. The school has been in continuous operation since and now has 250 students registered, with 50 black belts.
Shihan Shigeru Ishino
Shihan Shigeru Ishino was born in Japan in 1947 and began his martial arts instruction with Shinan Masayoshi Kori Hisataka in 1954 at the hombu dojo in Tokyo Japan. He was promoted to 1st Degree Black Belt in 1959 and currently holds the rank of 7th Degree Black Belt.
He is a graduate of Nihon University in Tokyo Japan and was All-Japan Shorinjiryu Karate Champion (1967) and Outstanding Karate Player of Japan (1968-1969).
In 1969, Shihan Ishino came to North America to assist Masayuki Kukan Hisataka, the son of Shinan Masayoshi Kori Hisataka, with the dojo operations in Quebec, Canada. He made his home in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
He instructs at the Genbukan dojo today preserving the style and principles as taught to him by Shinan Kori Hisataka in a traditional Japanese dojo.
Shunji Watanabe
Shunji Watanabe born in Japan in 1938 and commenced training in Shorinjiryu Kenkokan Karate in 1955 under the tutelage of that systems founder, Kōri Hisataka.
In 1967, he move to North America to spread Shorinjiryu Kenkokan Karatedo. After demonstrating at World Expo 67 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, he settled in Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.A. and opened the Japan Karate Center where he continues to teach today.
In the mid-1970s he, along with Minoru Morita in the U.S.A. and Shigeru Ishino in Canada, founded the Shorinjiryu Kenyukai Karate Federation.
Masayuki Kukan Hisataka
Hanshi Dr. Masayuki Kukan Hisataka, Kensei, 10th Dan, was born 18th November, 1940, a descendent of Seiwa, the 56th mperor of Japan the first son of Kaiso Kori Hisataka (Kudaka in Okinawa), Kensei, 10th Dan, the founder of Shorinjiryu Kenkokan Karate-do.
He commenced training in Karatedo and Judo at 3, attaining black belt rankings in both by 13. At 17, he entered an open karate championship and won it by successively defeating 8 of Japan’s top competitors. He graduated from Nihon University holding a 5th Dan in Karatedo and a 4th Dan in Judo.
In 1963, he traveled to the United States to teach Karatedo and Judo. He was asked to represent Japanese Budo at the New York World’s Fair of 1964-65, together with Shihan Hisanobu Yamazaki, 4th Dan, and Shihan Naoyuki Okabe, 4th Dan. He then taught Karatedo and Judo in many universities. In 1967, he was again asked by the Japanese Government to demonstrate Karatedo and Judo at World Expo ’67 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, along with Shihan Shunji Watanabe, then a 5th Dan. Following the completion of the Expo ’67, he remained in Montreal, teaching.
In 1974, he returned to Japan to assume the position of Chief Instructor of Shorinjiryu Kenkokan Karate-do, following Shinan Masayoshi Hisataka’s, his father, retirement from full time teaching.