Kokusai Butokukai

Info

International Martial Arts Federation
Shorinji Ryu Karate Do | Okinawa Kobudo | Tai Chi
Founded by Hanshi Richard Kim (1917-2001) in 1976

Geschichte

What does Kokusai Butokukai mean?

Kokusai
Kokusai is the Japanese word for "international".

Butokukai
Butokukai is Japanese and means martial arts association. Bu (warrior, weapon), Toku (virtue, morals), Kai (association).

Where does the name "Butokukai" come from?

The name Butokukai dates back to the Dai Nippon Butokukai which was founded in 1895. Our grand master Hanshi Richard Kim became a member of the DNBK in 1939 (Kyoto, Japan). In 1945 the DNBK was banned by the allied forces. After the USA and Japan had signed the peace treaty the DNBK was revived as a private organization presided over by Ono Kumao. Being a close friend of Hanshi Ono Kumao, Hanshi Richard Kim was asked 1959 to found the DNBK outside Japan. Thus the Zen Bei Butoku Kai (Great American Martial Arts Association) was born in San Francisco the same year.

Growing international relations beyond the USA necessitated the foundation of the Butokukai International in 1976.

After 60 years grand master Richard Kim left the DNBK in 1999 due to association politics.

In 2006 Technical Directors Hanshi Jean Chalamon (Butokukai Europe) and Hanshi Rod Sanford (Zen Bei Butoku Kai) changed the name Butokukai International for Kokusai Butokukai. As a consequence, the emblem of the association was also changed to distinguish itself from the DNBK.

Who represents the Kokusai Butokukai?

Since 2006 the Kokusai Butokukai has been represented by the Butokukai Germany e.V. legally.

The technical directors take the sole charge of international technical representation as far as the purpose of the association is concerned:

Hanshi Jean Chalamon
Hanshi Rod Sanford

The coordination of international matters is the responsibility of the president of the association:

Kyoshi Louis Jemison