| THE ORIGINS OF
KANSUIRYU KARATE
Two men, Yukio Mizutani and Kanji Inoki, founded Kansuiryu Karate in the Mie prefecture of southern Japan.
As a young man Yukio Mizutani traveled to Okinawa and studied the Shorinryu style of karate under Shoshin Nagamine. Upon returning to Japan Mizu Sensei began teaching karate and soon earned a reputation as a tough instructor who expected total and unquestioning commitment from his students. Training under Mizu Sensei was severe to the point of being brutal and the drop out rate amongst students was high.
Kanji ‘Antonio' Inoki, a professional wrestler and karate exponent, earned his reputation fighting opponents from Asia, Pakistan and the United States. Today Inoki remains as much a household name in Japan as is Muhammed Ali in the west (in fact the two once fought, the result being a lacklustre draw).
Inoki’s penchant for delivering off the cuff challenges soon bought him to the attention of Mizutani, who immediately proposed a bout - with the winner to be decided on the basis of whoever had a pulse afterwards! As it happened the fight never took place. The two men found they had a lot in common and became firm friends.
In 1979 Mizutani and Inoki decided to jointly found a new style of karate, which they named ‘Kansuiryu’. The name is an amalgam of both surnames; ‘kan’ from Kanji Inoki and sui being a play on words with the dual meaning of ‘water’ (mizu, the first component of the surname Mizutani also means water) or alternatively ‘essence’ or ‘elegance’.
While retaining the traditional elements of kata and weapons training, particularly for higher grades, Kansuiryu also offers vigorous competition for those who display aptitude and interest. Training reflects the full-contact nature of the tournament rules with practitioners expected to achieve a high level of fitness and technique. However, this does not mean Kansuiryu Karate is suitable only for aspiring champions – women, men or children, six years old to sixty; all that is required is enthusiasm and a willingness to challenge yourself.
Today in Japan more than seven thousand students study Kansuiryu Karate and theKansuiryu Full Contact Karate Championships, held during October each year, is one of the largest full contact tournaments in the country.
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