Born Kudaka Seiki in Shuri (Naha city Okinawa) on April 22,1907. Young Kudaka began his martial arts training at an early age, as was common among those of Noble bloodline. His Great grandfather, having changed the family name to Kudaka in honor of the Island which the family had been previously awarded for services rendered to Okinawa. Having begun his training in the family system of Kudaka ryu Kamite (Divine Hand), as well as Kudaka jima Shi shi ryu Bojutsu, his first instructor outside the family was to be Anko Azato, from whom the young Kudaka would learn a variation of the Kata Niseishi (Nijushiho), based on Master Azato's personal experiences.

Upon the untimely death of his father at a young age, and perhaps due to his being from a well respected family, Hisataka (Kudaka in the Okinawan dialect) was taught Kobudo by the legendary Sanda Kanagusuku as a favor to his family. Hisataka had the benefit of receiving Martial instruction from some of the truly great Karateka of the day such as Itosu Anko, Hanashiro Chomo, Yabu Kentsu as well as Motobu Choki.

A friend of Nagamine Shoshin since childhood, Hisataka would later also develop a strong and lasting friendship with both Miyagi Chojun as well as Mabuni Kenwa. A major influence in young Hisataka's life would be Kyan Chotoku, Histaka would come to be regarded as Kyan's young ward. Hisataka was to spend a lot of time with Kyan as they traveled through Mainland Japan and Taipei, demonstrating, training and fighting in challenge matches (with the young Kudaka often acting as Kyan's second).

In 1930 while in Taipei, Master Kyan was challenged in the presence of Hisataka, as well as Ryosei Kuwae, by a rather prominent Judo instructor by the name of Ishida Shinzo (Rokudan in Kodokan Judo). Kyan, stripped down to his undergarments in accepting the Judoka's challenge. According to Hisataka, as the Judoka moved in Kyan foiled his attempt to seize him by dropping back and rather painfully seizing the cheek of Ishida, twisting his head and breaking his balance. Ishida then chose to submit rather than sustain the blow of the hammer fist which was held beneath his ear (indicating the target which would have been struck). Master Kyan thus defeated the Judoka without causing him serious injury, with Ishida asking for and receiving instruction from Kyan personally for the remainder of his stay.

Hisataka himself upon returning to Mainland Japan, undertook the study of Judo from the legendary Sanpo Toku eventually obtaining the rank of Yondan in Kodokan Judo from him.

While many of his peers were establishing their schools Hisataka was still traveling and training. His martial skill was to influence several other prominent martial artists such as; Mochizuki Minoru and Doshin So.

Hisataka was an early pioneer of full contact sparring while using protective body armor and established his school of Shorinjiryu Kenkokan Karatedo on mainland Japan in 1945.
His Karate is characterized by light and evasive footwork with an emphasis on mobility and body shifting. Hisataka further innovated by retaining the vertical fist punch (originally taught by Kyan) and powerfully combining it with a full body Torque when striking.

Upon his death on August 14,1988, the system fragmented with his son, Hisataka Masayuki retaining the Kenkokan name while Hisataka's top students such as; Watanabe Shunji, Ishino Shigeru, Morita Minoru, Kashimoto Tamon, Monjiyama Fujio, Yamazaki Hisanobu and Ishigami Yashuhiro carrying on their teacher's values in their own ways.

Written by Tom Ross
Shorinjiryu Kenzenkai Karatedo

NAHA
Naha is the capital city of Okinawa Prefecture in Japan. The modern city was founded on May 20, 1921. However, it had been one of the most important and populous sites in the Ryukyu Islands as the capital of the Ryukyu Kingdom, from the early 15th century until its abolishment in 1879 (from other view, 1872). Naha is a coastal city located on the southern part of Okinawa Island, the largest of the Ryukyu Islands. Its coast is on the East China Sea. Naha is the political, economical and educational center of Okinawa Prefecture. In the feudal period, it was also the commercial center of the Ryukyu Kingdom.

Today Naha has developed as a city around Shuri Castle, the palace of the Ryukyu Kingdom. In the period of the Ryukyu kingdom, there were five districts in the area of present-day Naha. After the replacement of the Ryukyu Kingdom with Naha Han in 1872, Naha became the capital city of Naha Han. Naha Han was abolished in 1879 and the former Ryukyu Kingdom was once merged into Kagoshima prefecture. With the later establishment of Okinawa Prefecture, Naha became its capital city. Naha city was founded in 1921. Later Shuri was merged into Naha.

During the battle of Okinawa in World War II, Naha suffered extensive damage from attacks by US forces. The entire center of the city had to be rebuilt.

MARTIAL ARTS
Naha-Te, "Naha-hand", is a type of martial art developed in Naha. Together with the martial arts styles of Tomari and Shuri it formed the basis for Okinawa-te, which in turn is the origin of today's karate-do.

SIGHTS
Shuri Castle, the former palace of the Ryukyu Dynasty, is one of the finest gusuku (Okinawan castle) and most important historical sites in Naha. The palace was almost completely destroyed in 1945 by an attack by the US Marines, Army and Navy. Today Shuri Castle has been reconstructed.