Our Style, Our Logo
Our style, Shorin-Ryu Shorinkan, is among oldest martial arts styles in the world. Four major
branches of Shorinryu Karate are practiced in the world—Kobyashi-Ryu, Shobyashi-Ryu, Matsubyashi Ryu and Matsumura Saito. Our style follows Kobyashi Shorin-Ryu. The Karate Black Belt dan (rank) is conferred to us directly from Okinawa Japan.
Hanshi Shugoro Nakazato’s Shorin-Ryu Shorinkan patch is worn on the left chest of thousands of all Shorinkan practitioners in the world. The small Japanese strokes at the bottom of the patch read Shorin-Ryu, meaning Small Pine Style, the larger one just above reads Shorinkan, means Small Pine House. Shorin is Japanese pronunciation of the Chinese Shaolin, which means small forest. The tiny writing on the red and white Shuri gate or Shureimon reads Shu Rei No Kuni, meaning Land of Propriety. The gate on the patch represents the main gate leading to the Shuri castle or Okinawa. The Shureimon was a gift to Okinawa from China.
The round patch represents the full circle of martial arts training—from student to teacher to student. The Grand Masters wear the red belt to symbolise that they have completed the cycle—from red belt to red belt. In the earlier days, students started with Red Belts and not White Belts as is the custom nowadays.
Our Founder: Hanshi Ju Dan Shugoro Nakazato
The late Hanshi Ju Dan Shugoro Nakazato (August 14, 1920–August 24, 2016) was a Japanese martial artist. Some of Hanshi’s American students called him a "one punch artist" as he had developed his Karate sparring into "a fine fighting art". Hanshi was famous for his many demonstrations in Japan and across the world. Nakazato Hanshi is most famous for creating the open-hand form Gorin Kata. The Okinawa Prefecture designated him as an “intangible cultural asset holder” in 2000. On November 4, 2007, he was awarded the Order of the Rising Sun, 5th Class with Gold and Silver Rays— Asahi Soukou sho. Hanshi first started karate training in 1935 under Sensei Seiichi Iju (a former student of Sensei Shinpan Shiroma) at Minato ward, Sakai City, Osaka, staying with him until 1940. At the same time (i.e., 1936-1940), Nakazato Hanshi trained in the Kobudo weapons bo, sai, nunchaku, tonfa and nichokama, under Sensei Seiro Tonaki, a student of Sensei Sanda Chinen.
In 1942, Nakazato Hanshi joined the Japanese army as a teacher of bayonet and military discipline to new recruits. After the war, he returned to Okinawa to become a student of Sensei Chosin Chibana, whom he considered to be the “most eminent karate master of that time.” In 1951, Nakazato Hanshi helped Chibana Sensei open a dojo called Dai Ichi Dojo. After receiving his Shihan license from Chibana Sensei in 1955, Nakazato Hanshi opened his dojo at Aja, near Naha, calling it Nakazato Dojo. In 1975, Nakazato Hanshi started the karate association Shorin-ryu Shorinkan. Nakazato Hanshi died August 24, 2016, at the age of 96.
Hanshi Ju Dan Minoru Nakazato
In 2012, Nakazato Hanshi appointed his son as his personal successor to the ShorinKan system. Hanshi Ju Dan Minoru Nakazato, 10th Dan Black Belt, is the present chairman of the Okinawa Karate-Do Shorin-Ryu Shorin Kan Association and also the Instructor in the International Okinawa Kobudo Federation since the demise of Shugoro Nakazato Hanshi Judan in August 2016.
Minoru Hanshi has brought a youthful, vigorous method of training along with very fine details into Shorinkan. Minoru Hanshi travels the world to teach seminars and has been actively developing Karate in Okinawa.
Shihan Suresh Kenichira
Shihan Suresh Kenichira is the founder of the Okinawa Shorin Ryu Shorin Kan Karate-Do Federation of India. A 6th Degree Black Belt holder in Karate from Okinawa and a 3rd Dan Black Belt holder in Kobudo, Shihan Kenichira is also a 5th Degree Black belt holder from Karate Association of India.
Since taking affiliation under the Shorin Kan style, Shihan has been frequently travelling to Okinawa to fine-tune his skills. Shihan is an active member of many Karate associations and federation in India and South Asia (KAI, FOKSSA, Karnataka State Sports Karate Association, Bangalore District Karate Association, etc.). He also keeps in touch with his martial arts roots through the Karnataka Kalaripayattu Association. For Shihan Kenichira, learning is a lifelong process.
Shorinkan Bengal is offering district affiliations to all karate instructors interested in establishing new branches or clubs. 
