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The JINSENDO Philosophy

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Our Karate is a Nishiyama system of Traditional Karate based on the philosophy of "Jinsendo". This philosophy, developed by chief instructor Sensei Toru Shimoji, is best explained in an examination of the translation of the three Japanese words combined in the name.  If you separate the Japanese kanji characters that make up the word Jinsendo, its underlying meaning is brought to light. The first one “jin” (root pronunciation “hito”) is literally translated as person, or human race.  "Sen"", the second character implies line, path or projection. The last kanji “do” (root pronunciation “michi") means path, road or “the way of”. Putting them all together, “people line way”, is the literal translation.

However, all of the above can be further expressed as, “The way of actualizing human potential”.  Jinsendo is the projection of human spirit to continually evolve with others in a like-minded endeavor that adheres to three guiding principles:

  • Honor the principle of free will

  • Rise above confrontational energy

  • Seek cooperation through mutual engagement.

 

The Nishiyama System of Traditional Karate

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The late Hidetaka Nishiyama was one of original founders of Japan Karate Association (JKA), and established and ran theAmerican Amateur Karate Federation (AAKF) until his death in 2008. As a direct student of Gichin Funakoshi (the founder of modern-day karate), Master Nishiyama pioneered in movement analysis and development of techniques associated with JKA-style Karate, from performance as well as from pedagogical perspective. Eventually, he coined the term Traditional Karate, which he preferred over labels such as "Shotokan" or "JKA-style", as his method and approach to training ultimately applied to all styles of karate, and ultimately any movement art or sport. He founded the International Traditional Karate Federation (ITKF) to establish an international governing body of Traditional Karate competition. His lasting impact to the Karate world is deep and wide, still influencing Karate enthusiasts globally.

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