What Was Akamine Sensei Thinking?

Seiichi Akamine Sensei’s Intentions in Creating Ken Shin Kan Goju Ryu Karate-Do

Akamine Sensei organized karate schools and taught very many great martial artists in Japan and South America with the hopes of promoting a vessel for personal growth and one which would transplant the seeds of honor, love and Goodwill deep into the western social fiber. Of those taught directly by Sensei Akamine only a small group remain; many have passed away or stopped practicing all together but it is thanks to the surge of attention placed on Akamine's Sensei’s teachings during the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s that we find ourselves here today practicing much like Akamine Sensei himself did during his time; Searching for the illusive and ever changing goal of self perfection armed only with our strong spirits and noble hearts “Ken Shin”.

In the world of Ken Shin Kan today there are few persons that knew Akamine Sensei personally and these very fortunate and dedicated people have guided us for many years as they guard Akamine’s teachings and carefully hand them down student by student; sometimes with extra special care when someone demonstrates the potential of become a guardian of the Ken Shin Kan like sensei before them. Some of these Sensei’s “guardians” now find themselves in the winter of their lives and this posses some interesting and challenging question to those of us who still find abundant energy in our bodies; this also places a substantial responsibility on our shoulders.

The teachings of Ken Shin Kan Karate-Do have been entrusted to many persons in the past and thus they have been interpreted by many; like most things in life, we usually find what we search for, some find exercise, others find a sport, others find a way of life. When we take a careful look at documentation on the Koryu that Akamine Sensei taught and promoted we find a great deal of information delineating associations, tracing genealogy and or promoting a particular branch of Ken Shin Kan; Very little has been written regarding the direction of our school and how we will have Akamine Sensei’s teachings considered in the years to come. Though competition is a necessary part of martial arts, we should be weary to consider it to be an integral part of martial arts; it seems many of us have unremembered the art of collaboration as a tool for stimulating growth in students. Our overwhelming predisposition to compete is the catalyst to the proverbial “sport Karate” training which, if allowed, will consume valuable Dojo time and leave the essential Karate Akamine Sensei loved to be practiced sporadically and with an obligatory tone. Intrigue, enthusiasm, tenacity; these are words that can be used to describe the beginnings of constructive karate training. We must be careful to provide a proper environment with training proportioned for and focused on essential karate practice.

All of the persons that train, have trained or will train in Ken Shin Kan GoJu Ryu Karate should consider themselves an important part of the school and the style since it takes all persons involved to make the school what it is, but this is especially important for the youth of the school since it is they who will carry the torch for the ones that have come before them. Our vision for Ken Shin Kan Ken Shin Kan Karate Do is a state of mind, an ideal which leads us to challenge ourselves and provide each other a place to learn about who we are, a place where we gather to help and support one and other. In order to successfully cultivate “Strong Spirits” our focus must remain in the essence of the art, with love and compassion towards one and other as we walk side by side in the way of the empty hand. When we find ourselves in the winter of our lives I hope we can say with confidence that we provided an authentic example of Ken Shin.


Cristobal Alfredo Gidi
5th Dan
Ken Shin Kan Goju Ryu Karate-Do USA