Team Member

Soke Shigeru Kimura (1941-1995) began his karate training at 16 under Sensei Chojiro Tani, the founder of Shukokai Karate. He gained recognition by winning the All Japan Kumite Championship at the age of 21, repeating the achievement the following year.  After his early success, he focused on developing Shukokai’s unique techniques, emphasising biomechanics, power generation, and body mechanics.

In 1965, Soke Kimura left Japan to spread Shukokai Karate globally, starting in Africa and then Europe before settling in the United States in 1970. He became known for his relentless pursuit of understanding and applying body dynamics to create maximum impact with minimum effort. This dedication led to the creation of Shukokai’s distinct double-hip movement, which set it apart from other styles.

Soke Kimura’s teachings have been passed down through his senior students, including Shihans Chris Thompson, Bill Bressaw, Eddie Daniels, and Lionel Marinus, who have continued to promote his legacy through Kimura Shukokai International (KSI). Even after his untimely passing in 1995, Kimura’s influence on the art remains profound, inspiring practitioners around the world to seek mastery in technique, power, and control.