Date founded | 1977 |
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Country of origin | Australia |
Founder | Jim Griffin, Max Estens, Des Paroz, Lesley Griffin |
Current head | Jim Griffin, Max Estens (Joint Chief Instructors) |
Arts taught | Karate, Okinawan Kobudo |
Ancestor arts | Okinawan Martial Arts, Judo |
Ancestor schools | Shōrinjiryū Kenkōkan Karate, Shorinjiryu Kenyukai Watanabe-Ha Karate |
Official website | http://www.shorinjiryu.com.au |
Shorinjiryu Koshinkai Karatedo (少林寺流古新会唐手道) is a school of karate based on the Shōrinjiryū Kenkōkan Karatedo lineage of Kōri Hisataka, as passed on by two of the leading students of the founder, Masayuki Hisataka of Shorinjiryu Kenkokan and Shunji Watanabe of Shorinjiryu Kenyukai Watanabe-Ha. Shorinjiryu Koshinkai Karatedo was jointly founded by Jim Griffin, Max Estens, Lesley Griffin and Des Paroz in Australia. Shorinjiryu Koshinkai Karatedo is the school of karate taught by the Australian Shorinjiryu Karatedo Association, the original Australian school of Shōrinjiryū Kenkōkan Karate, founded in 1977.
Shorinjiryu Koshinkai Karatedo has is the school of karate practiced by the members of the Australian Shorinjiryu Karatedo Association Inc.
Australian Shorinjiryu Karatedo has a history dating back to 1977, when it was founded by Laurence Vanniekirk (aka Lori Vann). Vanniekirk had immigrated to Brisbane, Australia with his family from South Africa in 1970. His previous background was in judo and the Shitō-ryū karate, having set up the South African branch of Tani Ha Shito-Ryu Shuko-Kai. After having sustained a shoulder injury in judo, Vanniekirk took up karate in 1959, initially studying from books, before visiting Japan in 1964. During his time in Japan, he was graded to 3rd Dan by Chōjirō Tani, founder of Shukokai.
After immigrating to Australia, Vanniekirk founded the Australian branch of the same organisation. He subsequently established the Australian branch of an offshoot of Shukokai, Renbukan. After leaving the Renbukan, Laurence Vanniekirk and a group of his students trained independently. Vanniekirk was given a copy of the book Scientific Karatedo by Masayuki Hisataka, and after reading it, he made contact with the author and subsequently visited Japan to train in Shōrinjiryū Kenkōkan Karate with both Kōri Hisataka and Masayuki Hisataka. On returning to Australia in 1977, Laurence Vanniekirk established the Australian branch of Shorinjiryu Kenkokan Karatedo, and in so doing set up the Australian Shorinjiryu Karatedo Association.