＊初代宗家：泉川寛喜 About 1st Soke : Kanki Izumikawa

初代宗家泉川寛喜は、幼少の頃より松村宗棍の高弟・祖父寛教より空手の指導を受け、その後高校時代に東恩納寛量の高弟許田重発より剛柔流の基礎を学ぶ。卒業後、東恩納寛量の高弟比嘉世幸の門に入り剛柔流を本格的に修行する。昭和12年(1937年)に武備誌を写本し、剛柔流を認許され昭和14年(1939年)に神奈川県川崎市に空手道剛柔流泉武会総本部を設立し、本格的に空手の普及にあたる。昭和17年(1942年)に大日本武徳会より錬士、昭和32年(1957年)に範士の称号を受ける。昭和42年(1967年)59歳で逝去する。この間、剛柔流の普及発展に心血を注ぎ、国内および海外に多くの優秀なる門下生を輩出した。また、掌底による組手を研究し、独自の接近攻防の技法を創り上げ子息と一部の弟子に伝える。その技法は、相手の起こりを捉え、柔の技法で入り極めに勁力を使う。剛で入ると力と力の衝突を生むため、それを避けるために柔の技法を使うのである。初代亡き後、長男寛文が二代目を継ぎ、組織の継承と発展を目指して頑張ったが、志半ばで昭和57年(1982年)、39歳の若さで惜しまれつつ亡くなる。因みに二代目は、若干20歳で日本空手道連合会の全日本大会型の部で優勝し、3年連続優勝の偉業を成し遂げている。二代目亡き後、次男勝也が三代目として古伝剛柔流の教えと伝統を守り伝えています。三代目は、初代宗家の高弟吉丸慶雪氏に佐川派の大東流を学び、奥伝である小手・体の合気を伝授される。また、叔父の泉川寛得より琉球古武道の型と技法を学んでいる。

 

●1st Soke Kanki Izumikawa was born as third son Kanpo Izumikawa in Makishi, Nahashi, Okinawa, Japan.

He started to learn fundamentals of Karate from his elder brother at the age of 8 years and moreover, he received his training from his grandfather, Kankyo Izumikawa who was one of the best students of Sokon Matsumura, a famous master of Shurite (he called Father of Shurite).

At the age of 15 years, he became a student of Juhatsu Kyoda who was one the best students of Kanryo Higaonna and began to learn Gojuryu. Also, he learned Okinawa Kobudo (traditional weapon of Okinawa Martial Art) from his cousin Kantoku Izumikawa since he was a little child.

At the end of Taisho era, the friend of his elder brother had a Karate Seminar at his birthplace and he learned Karate from the instructors from different styles of Karate.

At the age of 20, he started to receive the training of Goju Ryu from Seko Higa. In 1936, he migrated to Tenian・Saipan・Palau Islands on the South Sea and taught Karate to local tribes as the assistant master of Seko Higa. At that time, there were many leading Karate-master from Okinawa Island in Palau and he was one of them who played an active part in teaching Karate.

In 1937, he manuscripted the “Bubishi” and received an approval to become a formal successor of Goju Ryu Karate from master Seko Higa. In 1938, he migrated to the mainland of Japan, Kawasaki city, Kanagawa pref., as the first instructor of Goju Ryu Karate who lived in main island japan and came from Okinawa, and started to contribute for the recognition of Goju Ryu in Japan. In April 13 1938, he opened his dojo, “Goju Ryu Karate Do Kenkyu Kai” in Kawasaki and began to teach Karate. Next year, 1939, he renamed his dojo, “Goju Ryu Karate Do Kenkyu-Kai, Senbukan” and began in earnest to teach as 1st Soke master of Senbukan.

After the end of the war, with the expansion of the organization, he again renamed his dojo as “Goju Ryu Karate Do Senbukan” and afterwards, when his first son, 2nd Soke Hirofumi Izumikawa became the successor, the naming of “Senbukan” changed to “Senbukai” to this day.

In 1942, he received the “Renshi” from Nihon Butoku Kai(Japan traditional Martial Art Association) and received the title of the Master of “Hanshi(10th dan)” in 1957.

In 1957, he participated the foundation/establishment of “Nihon Karate-do Rengokai(Association)” and in 1967, he received the title of the Master of “Hanshi” from this organization.

Back in October 14 1941, he performed “Suparinpei” as the master of Goju Ryu at the “Okinawa Seito Karate Do Sogo Enbu Taikai(means All Okinawa Legitimate Karate Exisibitions)” that was held at the grand hall of Rinpo Kan in Tsurumi, Yokohama, Japan.

After the war, he also taught Goju Ryu Karate to the American solders in the U.S. military base which was located at Haneda, Tokyo(near Kawasaki)  and it led to the chance for the Karate popularization in foreign countries(especially in US). In 1950, he was interviewed by US Warner Patty News, NBC TV, Reuters Communications and so on, and this was the first time that Japanese Karate was introduced in the international news in foreign countries.

 In the 1960s( From July, 1964 to September ), Kanki Izumikawa visited twice the United States with the purpose of the guide in Hawaii Senbukan.

In the 2nd visit, Hawaii Senbukan hosted Karate exhibition. It was misunderstood when with full force Karate to break boards or other things in the time was Okinawa Karate.

Therefore, it was anxious for a plan, and it made break boards by Siroobi and it told the people in Hawaii traditional Okinawa Karate.

The Karate exhibition became roughly adopted as the newspaper and TV in Hawaii and also getting to receive letters of thank from the State of Hawaii governor. It is the visit of the eyes the visited twice.

At his dojo, he taught the techniques which are able to face against big American solders because he was a very small man. With his small body, his special skill was “Tenshin” (quick and smooth footwork) and in his training at dojo, he always tried to walk with his heels up and toes down like the cats walking with the tips of toes and it was said that his movement was faster than cats.

He also created Shotei Kumite(infight techniques) that was developed in over 50 years old and created the technique of the unique approaching offense and defense Kumite style and taught them to his two sons.

To be more specific about this technique, it is to catch opponent’s first movement quickly by entering with soft power technique and uses one inch punch.

Because, if you use with hard power, it causes a crash between your power and opponent’s power. Therefore, in order to avoid this, you must use the technique of soft method. That is to say, by doing so, there is a technical characteristic in avoiding not to make opponent’s first power reactions.

In November 1st 1967, regretfully, Kanki Izumikawa died at the age of 59 years old.

28 years in mainland, while keeping Okinawan traditional Goju Ryu, he put his effort deeply into searching the advancement of Goju Ryu style and reached an high-level of Karate-do and created/developed his own unique techniques.

After his death, his first son, Hirofumi Izumikawa succeeded to 2nd Soke of Senbukai, but, he died at the young age of 39 years old in 1982. Incidentally, he has the records of continuation victory at All Nihon Karate-do Senshu Ken Taikai, Kata Tournament organized/sponsored by Nihon Karate-do Rengokai from years 1963 thru 1968.

After the death of 2nd Soke, Katsuya Izumikawa of second son, succeeded to 3rd Soke of Senbukai and is still adhering/conveying Goju Ryu traditional style that was inhered from his father and brother.

The 3rd Soke learned the Daitoryu Aikijujutsu from master Keisetsu Yoshimaru, a best student of the 1st Soke, and was taught the Koteno-Aiki and Taino-Aiki, which is the secret techniques. He also learned the Katas and techniques of the Ryukyu-Kobudo from his uncle Kantoku Izumikawa