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The Seven Innermost Techniques of Toyama Kanken
Background and Training Methods

“Inner techniques begin with ordinary techniques.
Ordinary techniques end as inner techniques.
In the beginning there are no inner techniques, in the end there are inner techniques.
The key to whether these actually materialize is disciplined training.”

Toyama Kanken, Dai Shihan

During his training time with Itosu Sensei, Toyama Sensei learned much more than kata. In his books he has described that he accompanied Itosu Sensei for years like a shadow and was also introduced by him to the inner knowledge of some techniques. In his books Toyama Sensei described the following seven "secret techniques".

Fukushiki Kokyu Hō / Double Breathing Method
Shishi no Hō / The Technique of the Lion
Tora no Hō / The Technique of the Tiger
Aku Ryoku Hō / Methods of Grip Strength
Tangan Hō / Methods for Training the Eyes
Kuma no Te / Bear Claw
Sankaku Tobi / Triangle Jump

Toyama Sensei did not like the term "secret techniques". He used the expressions "innermost techniques" or “deepest techniques”. Toyama Sensei emphasized that nothing is secret and that anyone who practices seriously can learn and experience the inner techniques of karate.

The techniques include special breathing method, exercises to increase grip strength, strengthen the eye power and perception, various jump kick techniques, and the animal-inspired techniques of the lion, the tiger, and the bear. However, Toyama Sensei did not write about these techniques extensively, so very little was left for posterity.
The Seven Innermost Techniques of Toyama Kanken is the first book to provide an in-depth study and analysis of these techniques. In the first part, the background, training methods, and application possibilities are comprehensively described for all seven techniques. The second part contains a translation of Toyama Kanken’s original manuscript.
Following after the book Toyama Kanken - The Heritage of Shudokan, published in 2018, this book aims to make a further contribution towards honoring the life and teachings of karate pioneer, Toyama Kanken.

Language

GERMAN, ENGLISH

Format

A5, more than 200 pages, more than 100 pictures

Sales price

29 Euro + shipping

Planned publication: October 2022

In the book "Kyoku - The Seven Kata of the Rising Sun" I deal very intensively with the history of this group of kata. These seven kata were developed in the 1960s in the Shudokan Dojo by Ichikawa Isao Sensei, the founder of Karatedo Doshinkan. In my book I will cover the following topics:

Introduction
Short biography of Toyama Kanken, Dai Shihan
Short biography of Ichikawa Isao, Hanshi
The development history of the Kyoku Kata
The process of change of the Doshinkan Kata over the decades
The meaning of the Kyoku Kata
Technical analysis of the Kyoku Kata
Kamaete and Naotte - The beginning and the end of the Kata
Description of the sequences of all seven kata on the basis of pictures

Planned publication: September 2023

Together with the members of the Research Society we are working on a book about the 13 main kata taught in the Shudokan Dojo by Toyama Kanken and described by him in his book Karatedo Daihokan. These kata are:

Karatedo:

Pinan 1-5
Naifanchin 1-3
Passai Dai
Chinto
Chibana no Kushanku
Ohgi Koryu Gojushiho

Kobudo:

Tenryu no kon

Our goal is to present the general history of all kata and also to include personal information about these kata, which were handed down by Toyama Sensei and his students

The kata are described in the book with pictures. However, not the original photos are used, but photos of teachers from the ancestral line of Toyama Kanken. Pinan Sandan is for example presented by Onishi Eizo Sensei, Passai Dai by Tokuyama Yoshiki Sensei, Chibana no Kushanku by Ichikawa Isao Sensei, Chinto by Ishida Kenshin Sensei, etc. You will see, the book will become brilliant.

We plan to publish the book in English, German, Spanish and Japanese. YES! You have read correctly, Japanese!

If we really succeed, then as far as I know we will be the first Westerners to publish a book on the history of karate-do in Japanese. The membership fee will be used to cover the Japanese translation.

The book is the first collaborative project of the International Shudokan Research Society.

Until September 2022 I would like to work out kata for kata with the members. In March 2022 I will send out the draft for the Kata Passai Dai. It is intended to work out a Kata or a Kata group every 3 months.

All members of the Research Society will be mentioned in the book as supporters of the project. All members of the Research Society who are actively involved in the development process will be listed as co-authors.

The Projects

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