Yasuhiro Konishi

Yasuhiro Konishi was born 1893 in Takamatsu, Kagawa, Japan. And he began Martial Arts training when he was age 6, Muso Ryu Jujitsu.

Later when he was in western high school learned Takenouchi Ryu Jujitsu.

At age of 13 began studing Kendo. In 1915 commence studies at Keio University in Tokyo.

Konishi Senseis first exposure to "Te" (which later developed into Karate) was through a fellow classmate at Keio University, Tsuneshige Arakaki of Okinawa.

He open his own Martial Arts center in 1923. It was called Ryobu-Kan (The house of Martial Arts excellence)

Tai Sabaki Shodan, Nidan and Sandan also he created Katas to the world.

In 1927-28 Shito ryu founder Sensei Kenwa Mabuni was resided at
Konishi sensei's house.

In 1934 The Dai Nippon Butoku-Kai, The Japanese Governing Body awarded titles in Jujitsu and Kendo, but not for Karate. Through teaching Kendo and Jujitsu Sensei Konishi became a member of the Japanese Governing Body for Jujitsu and Kendo.

***After the hard work from Sensei Yasuhiro Konishi in 1935, the Japanese Governing Body the Dai Nippon Butoku-Kai recognized Karate as a member and first time in the Karate history awarded Kyoshi (Master Instructor) ranking to Konishi Sensei and then to Miyagi Sensei,and Ueshima Sannosuke Sensei(Founder of KushinRyu).

Around 1935, Konishi Sensei developed another Kata - Seiryu. During this period, Konishi Sensei , Mabuni Sensei, and Ohtsuka Sensei were training together almokst daily. At that time Konishi Sensei developed Seiryu Kata incorporated the essence of both Shitoryu and Ryobu Kan. As he worked to finalize the kata, he shared it with Ueshiba Sensei and Mabuni Sensei.

Sensei Yasuhiro Konishi believed that if you walk a morally correct path in this life, then you are naturally following the diving way. If you train in Karate in a natural way and master your body, you will expand your knowledge and experience, and establish a solid foundation for naturally living a morally correct life. And so his style, on the recommendation of founder of the Aikido as well as his teacher Master Morihei Ueshiba, came to be Shindo Jinen Ryu Karate-Jutsu (godly, natural style, complete empty-handed way).

The Dai Nippon Butoku-Kai also insisted that all budo have style names, and Konishi Sensei encouraged the prominent Karate instructors of that time to name their individual styles.

Because if his diligent efforts to advance Karate in Japan, as well as his high level of skill in Karate, Konishi Sensei was assigned in 1938 as the chairman of the screening committee of the Dai Nippon Botoku-Kai that reviewed all licensing applications in Karate Jutsu.

Then on all the Sensei registered their Karate styles with names. Gichin Funakoshi Sensei named Shotokan, Miyagi Sensei Goju Ryu, Mabuni Sensei Shito Ryu, Hironishi Ohtsuka Sensei Wado Ryu etc. Then on Karate gradually became popular sport to the world today.***

Soke Yasuhiro Konishi
showing Kata Shinpa

Yasuhiro Konishi Sensei was died in 1983. Then authority for the organisation was passed to his own son Takehiro Konishi. Takehiro Konishi changed his name to Yasuhiro Konishi after his father's death.

Yasuhiro (Takehiro) Konishi was born on 25th of May 1931, in Tokyo, Japan. He graduated from Keio University in March 1955. He oversees the operation of all the Japan Karate-Do Ryubu-Kai schools in Japan and continues to guide the policies and philosophy of Shindo Jinen Ryu. Presently he hold Black belt 10th Dan in both Karate as well as weapons. Its Overseas Chief Instructor is respectable Sensei Kiyoshi Yamazaki. Sensei Kiyoshi Yamazaki is also a Technical Chairman to the USA National Karate-Do Federation, Pan American Karate -Do Union as well as a technical comitee member of the World Karate-Do Federation

Very special thing in this Japan Karate-Do Ryobu-Kai and our founder Shihan Athula is, their present Grandmaster Takehiro Konishi and Shihan Athula Minithanthri both have birthday on the 25th of May.

Photo,from left to right: Shihan Athula, Kiyoshi Yamazaki (Chief Overseas Instructor)
Soke Yasuhiro (Takehiro) Konishi, Tokio Mao (who also studied under Funakoshi, Mabuni, and Motobu Sensei) and Sensei Jutta.
(Photo taken at the Konishi Cup 2001 in Tokyo, Japan)

return to the FOUNDER please click here: Return