Koshiki Karatedo is a competition system which allows participants to understand the principles of a fighting match, combining safety with full power techniques and the true spirit of traditional Budo. Koshiki Karatedo practice develops mental strength, physical fitness and coordination, and martial prowess through efficient training of hand and foot techniques and body movement.

By using “Super Safe” protective equipment, we can train without fear of injury and still execute full power punching-tsuki-, kicking-keri- striking-uchi, and other hitting- ate, techniques. You could truly taste the techniques is essential to grasp the most practical and healthful aspects of traditional Budo.

Koshiki Karatedo is a fair match system which allows and encourages competition among different martial arts styles such as non-contact Karate, full-contact Karate, semi-contact Karate, and others including Kickboxing, Nippon Kempo, Shorinji Kempo, Kung Fu, Tae Kwon Do, and others.

Matches with actual striking and kicking techniques

True Karatedo is a systematic fighting method using bare hands and feet, consisting of basic ways of punching, blocking and kicking. Based on this principle of bare hands and feet, Koshiki Karatedo does not use gloves or foot protectors such as boxing gloves or foot shields. Instead, we strike with bare hands and feet and use “Super Safe” body and face protectors to protect the parts of the body and face that cannot be trained to withstand injury. In addition to being protected by the Super Safe protective equipment, contestants are protected by Koshiki Karatedo safety rules and official referees who intervene as necessary to help prevent injury. The direct contact allowed in Koshiki Karatedo is the most fundamental element of Karate, and is in fact the original meaning of Karatedo which originated as a true traditional fighting system rather than not only sport.

Super Safe Protective equipment which allows a variety of dynamic techniques

By wearing the Super Safe body and face protector, it is possible to controlled punch and kick directly with dynamic power and a variety of techniques. Many techniques prohibited in non-contact, full-contact and semi-contact Karate can be used in Koshiki Karatedo because of our use of Super Safe protective equipment. Koshiki Karatedo rules allow many dynamic kicking and hand techniques to the upper level (eg. sword hand, ridge hand, hammer fist, punch, spinning back kick, etc), middle level (eg. punch, hammer fist, roundhouse kick, knee strike, elbow hit, etc), and lower level (eg. Foot sweeps, controlled low kicks, leg reaping etc.). The possibility of using so many techniques in Koshiki Karatedo allows us to enjoy Karate more deeply.

An “accumulation of points” competition system

Koshiki Karatedo is an “accumulation-of-points” based competition system that awards points for offensive, combination and counter techniques executed by both contestants. Conventional non-contact Karate, for example, is a demerit mark system which stops punches and kicks without actual contact, then judges a match based on the technical execution of the first successful attack. Actual contact results in a loss of points by the offending contestant. Non-contact Karate does not award points for mutual attacking at the same time, combination techniques or counter techniques, which are critical elements of true combat.

Under Koshik Karatedo rules, however, points are awarded to both contestants if strong techniques are successfully executed simultaneously, and counter techniques are awarded the same points as initial attacks. Since the non-contact system only awards points for the first attack and does not score counter techniques, taller competitors with longer arms and legs have an advantage because they can easily score the first point. Under Koshiki Karatedo rules, however, contestants can use combination techniques and counter techniques positively and effectively, to more closely resemble true combat and reduce the advantage taller competitors have in non-contact Karate. Training and practice to improve technical skill and fitness become even more important in a system that allows combinations and counter techniques.

The Bushido spirit and victory through “Ippon”

Although Koshiki Karatedo is a points-based system, a competitor can immediately achieve victory through the execution of an “Ippon”-full point technique. If a contestant scores an “Ippon”, the match is immediately declared over and the contestant is awarded victory. An “Ippon” technique is a technique or combination judged by the referees to be perfectly and powerfully executed, which without the safety equipment would likely have ended the match with the incapacitation of the opponent. Competitors therefore cultivate Bushido spirit by developing their techniques to the highest level, with the goal of achieving a victory through “Ippon”.-full point technique. This rule ensures that the true principles of karatedo as a martial art are an essential part of the competition system of Koshiki Karatedo.

Fair and transparent refereeing and scoring

Koshiki Karatedo matches can be easily and fairly judged because the attacking techniques can be clearly seen and heard. Contestants, referees, and audiences can recognize the results of matches not only through their eyes, but also through their ears. A cleanly executed technique making contact with the Super Safe protective equipment makes an easily determinable sound which can be heard by the referees and audience.

Openness to different styles

Any style of martial arts can safely compete under fair conditions using Koshiki Karatedo rules. Participants from many styles, such as non-contact Karate, full and semi-contact Karate, Kung Fu, Kempo, Tae Kwon Do, and others can compete with each other. Koshiki Karatedo is a truly martial competition system allowing all styles to test their techniques in a friendly, competitive match atmosphere.

The founder of Shorinjiryu Kenkokan Karatedo, Kaiso, Masayoshi Kori Hisataka, Kensei 10 th dan, engaged in many martial arts matches in Japan, Taiwan and China in the early Showa era (1920 〜 ) to find the truth of fighting. However, matches between skilled martial artists were extremely dangerous because of their highly trained punches and kicking. In those days when hand to hand combat was essential on the battlefield, such skilled techniques were as deadly as swords. To enable the safe development and practice of technique, Kaiso Masayoshi Kori Hisataka developed safety equipment for Karate by studying and adapting the safety protectors used in Kendo. In the early 1960s, Masayuki Kukan Hisataka, Hanshi 9th dan, started to consider a new style of fighting match with fewer prohibited techniques.

Hanshi Masayuki kukan Hisataka traveled widely to study and teach martial arts. Based on his experiences and research in and outside Japan, he sought to add the manners of Occidental knighthood spirit to the Bushido soul of Japan , and studied modern sports and Olympic Games regulations to combine them with a Japanese approach to martial competitions. Hanshi Hisakata examined the match rules and equipment of Japanese Budo (Judo, Kendo, Bogu-Karatedo, Sumo) and Occidental combative sports (Boxing, Fencing, Wrestling, Baseball, American Football, and Ice Hockey), and in 1979 developed the revolutionary “Super Safe” safety protector. Hanshi Hisataka developed the Koshiki Karatedo competition rules and “addition-of-points” system based on his extensive studies and the use of the “Super Safe” protective equipment.

The 1st Tokyo International Goodwill Karatedo Tournament was held based on

Koshiki Karatedo rules in 1980, and the 24 nd Championship were held this year. As of 2005, training Dojos, refereeing seminars, and Koshiki Karatedo competitions have been held in Venezuela, Australia, New Zealand the United States, Russia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Canada, the Netherlands, Algeria, Mali, South Africa, Spain, Hong Kong, Indonesia, ,India Germany, Switzerland, ,France, England, Greece and Portugal without any serious injury, proving the safety, popularity and effectiveness of Koshiki Karatedo.