SHU : can be translated to mean training

KO : can be translated to mean : Different people which gathers together ; to be together, meeting

KAI : can be translated to mean : Association, To train in the same place, under the same teachings.

The Shito-Ryu Shukokai was firstly known as Tani-Ha Shito Ryu Shukokai and it is on of the most famous and dynamic karate schools to be developed after the 1948. The Japanese roots of Shukokai were centred in the universities of Osaka and Kyoto and their students defined the school as a competitive style, fast and powerful. The Shukokai born from Chojiro Tani’s mind. Master Tani studied Goju Ryu for roughly 10 years until he met Master Kenwa Mabuni, the famous founder of Shito Ryu. Master Tani became an deeply studied this fast and fluid style and when Master Mabuni died the “inheritance diploma” of the school passed to M.Tani. He was fascinated by the science and the mechanics of the body and movements, and after many experimentations and brilliant studies he reshaped the kicks and punches methods of Shito Ry to maximize and make benefits form the pliometric contraction of the muscles. The hip movement was emphasized and the famous double hip movement, typical of Shukokai to perform the strikes, developed, giving to the style its explosive power. Then were introduced paddings for the impacts to help the apprentices of Shukokai to develop their strength.
M.Tani mixed successfully the Shito Ryu dynamics and speed with the power and strength of Goju Ryu in order not to lose any quality or strength point of neither of the two disciplines in this new Karate school. “Shu-ko-kai” is approximately translated in “club which trains together”/”way for all clubs”.
Although its history such as university competition style is famous, nevertheless the real Shukokai ideal is much more traditional. In fact the fame regarding the competitions is only a small part of Shukokai. For example, the Shito Ryu Shukokai has the vastest and richest variety of kata – they are 49. Kata can be compared to a living book of attack and defence. Transmitted to the students from their masters through different generations, this method continues to teach and form karatekas. 

Learning a kata, the pupils follow the steps of the greatest masters. Every position, attitude, movement and manoeuvres typical of a style are expressed in a kata. Every hidden technique can be found in kata – contractions, evasions, strikes, punches, kicks, sweeps, blockings and projections.