World Genseiryu Karatedo Federation

World Genseiryu Karatedo Federation (WGKF), was established on 14 November 2003 in Oviedo, Spain.

The foundation

The English version of the agreement that was signed, with which the WGKF came into being

The Japanese version of the agreement that was signed, with which the WGKF came into being

The establishment of the WGKF was done primarily on the request of Nobuaki Konno, who called a meeting held in Oviedo, Spain on 14 November 2003. Instructors from a number of countries such as Spain, the Netherlands, Denmark, Finland and Japan attended. In conclusion of the meeting an agreement was signed. This agreement was signed by the following people:

• Yasunori Kanai, Japan.
• Nobuaki Konno, The Netherlands.
• Rodolfo S. Alonso, Spain.
• Seigo Fujita.
• Akio Shuto.
• Jan Laitiainen, Finland.
• Jackie Moos, Denmark.
• David Roovers, The Netherlands.
• Hideo Fujimaru, on behalf of Taido, as an observer.
• Tetsuo Narikawa, (not present, agreed from Japan), founder of Seidokai.

In this agreement it is written, among other things, that Seiken Shukumine's book Shin Karate-do Kyohan is used as a guideline, which the WKGF considers to be the original Genseiryu. Especially the basic katas Ten-i, Chi-i and Jin-i no kata are considered essential by the WGKF.

Thus the World Genseiryu Karatedo Federation was born.

President

The first elected president of the WGKF is Yasunori Kanai as depicted in the agreement.

Head Quarters

The World Genseiryu Karatedo Federation has its head office in Ito, Shizuoka Prefecture (Japan). The head quarters (Honbu) of the Nippon Karate-do Budo Kyokai is also situated in that same office.

Reasons for the establishment of WGKF

The only documented reason for the establishment of the WGKF is the fact that all the people mentioned on the agreement of 14th November 2003, was never admitted as members of the Genseiryu Karate-do International Federation. The director (as written according to the above mentioned agreement) of WGKF, Nobuaki Konno, was caught in 1996 making fake certificates and selling them to students, followers, instructors and dojos in countries such as Finland, Denmark and Holland. When this information was brought to Kunihiko Tosa's attention on 6th May 1996, Nobuaki Konno was permanently rejected from any further relations to Kunihiko Tosa and the GKIF. Nobuaki Konno and the other people mentioned on the agreement was never admitted as members of the GKIF, and none of them were ever awarded any grading whatsoever by the GKIF.

Background

The reason for calling the meeting of 2003 in Oviedo, Spain can be found mainly in the past of the people involved. Especially among the people called to attend this meeting from Denmark, Holland, Spain and Finland.

There were many reasons for the establishment of the WGKF. Before the WGKF was founded, there were only dojos and private organizations that claimed to train Genseiryu. No official federation or organization had ever been formed in Europe. Each instructor taught their own curriculum and held their own gradins without having obtained the skills to actually teach or grade the students. But it was mainly from the 1980s onward that a number of instructors around the world, mainly from Europe, contacted Kunihiko Tosa. Many had a friendly contact with Kunihiko Tosa, but only a few were able to qualify for membership in the organization. For others, membership was denied for a number of reasons. Some of the reasons for denying membership included lack of learning the true aspects and deeper meaning of Karate-do, total focus only on being handed higher ranks instead of actual learning, total lack of skills, and so on.

Sample of fake certificate sold and handed out by Nobuaki Konno and his followers in Denmark, Holland, Sweden, Finland etc.

The director general of the WGKF, Nobuaki Konno, was portrayed in a picture with Kunihiko Tosa in an article of a Dutch magazine (ref: "Karate, Osterse Vechtsporten", 3e jaargaang, juni juli '92, Nr. 28). In this particular article, Nobuaki Konno falsely claims to have been awarded the rank of 6th dan by Kunihiko Tosa. Further, Nobuaki Konno sold fake and unauthorized certificates to his followers in Holland, Spain, Sweden, Denmark, Finland etc. with the names of Kunihiko Tosa and Seiken Shukumine depicted on them. This was done without the knowledge of either. These certificates was also handed out to students after examinations held by Nobuaki Konno and/or his followers in the above mentioned countries. The certificates were handed out without the permission or knowledge of neither Seiken Shukumine nor Kunihiko Tosa.

In May 1996 Kunihiko Tosa visited Denmark as a guest of honor during the first ever Open European Genseiryu Karate-do Championships and Budo Galla held in Copenhagen. On the first day, May 6th (Monday), it was brought to Kunihiko Tosa's attention, that these misconducts were taking place behind his back. The fake certificates were presented to Kunihiko Tosa, and Nobuaki Konno could not explain himself. The relations of Kunihiko Tosa including those of the Genseiryu Karate-do International Federation and Nobuaki Konno was ended permanently that same day. During the continued visit Kunihiko Tosa was approached a number of times by different groups and individuals requesting Kunihiko Tosa to appoint them as representative of Genseiryu in Denmark. The last meeting, which was held in the hotel just the night before Kunihiko Tosa's departure to Japan, was attended by Kunihiko Tosa, Ahcene Bendjazia, Jackie Moos, Jimmy Jørgensen, Jan Madsen, Jan Christoffersen, Fereidun Dariagard and an interpreter. It was Kunihiko Tosa's understanding, that he was facing an assembly of individuals, who selfishly fought each other for the appointment as representative of Genseiryu in Denmark. As there could be no unity in such an assembly, no representative was appointed.

Since the 1980's many students from all over the world, mainly from Europe, has tried to establish a contact for various reasons with Kunihiko Tosa of the Genseiryu Karate-do International Federation. In general, everyone was welcomed by Kunihiko Tosa, but because of too many incidents concerning unauthorized examinations held in Europe (Denmark, Holland, Finland, Sweden etc.), the handing out of false (fake) certificates with the names of Seiken Shukumine and Kunihiko Tosa among others, the relationship no matter the nature of it was ended permanently one by one. The last one to be cut off was Ahcene Bendjazia who falsely put a publicly viewable claim on his homepage. He claimed to have been awarded the rank of 6th dan by Kunihiko Tosa. Ahcene Bendjazia was given numerous chances to explain himself as well as to remedy the situation. Ahcene Bendjazia did not abide to any of these requests put forward by Kunihiko Tosa and the Genseiryu Karate-do International Federation. Thus Ahcene Bendjazia was permanently excluded in December 2001.

In the years after Nobuaki Konno's permanent exit, there was a void in Europe, as no one could claim rightfully to be part of Genseiryu. But is was common practice at that time, to see homepages still writing that they were part of Genseiryu, appointed representatives etc. Even false claims of high ranks awarded by Kunihiko Tosa existed for a few more years. The rejected people needed to show a connection with Japan in order to profile themselves as legitimate. During the next few years, this practice died out as the same people simply replaced Kunihiko Tosa's name with that of Seiken Shukumine.

Changing the stories to fit the new situation

Nobuaki Konno was now officially a man without any relations whatsoever to the world and organizations of Genseiryu. The exploitation of Kunihiko Tosa's name was no longer possible, as Nobuaki Konno was officially and permanently cut off publicly and face to face with everyone of Genseiryu in Europe witnessing these events. Nobuaki Konno instead turned to Seiken Shukumine for support. This was declined unless Nobuaki Konno would agree to follow Seiken Shukumine in Taido. Introduction seminars in Taido was held for Nobuaki Konno and some of his followers in order to consider the founder's proposal for joining Taido. Nobuaki Konno declined the offer and without support continued on his own in Holland. From time to time meetings were held, but Nobuaki Konno never succeeded in obtaining support from Seiken Shukumine in regard to Genseiryu. Despite of this, Nobuaki Konno, now proclaimed that he was a direct student of Shukumine, thus reversing his former story about relations and ranks. In the years before 1996, prior to the relations between Konno and Tosa/GKIF being cut off permanently, Konno falsely claimed to have been awarded the rank of 6th dan by Kunihiko Tosa (GKIF). After being cut off, Konno changed the story in the way that he in fact had been awarded 6th dan by Seiken Shukumine. Unfortunately many people, especially in Holland, took to this change of stories and Konno could continue exploiting the name of Seiken Shukumine in the exact same way he had done with the name of Kunihiko Tosa up until 1996. These stories were all fabricated by Konno to promote himself as something he was not.

Visiting Seiken Shukumine, taking pictures

In the following years (1997-2001), Nobuaki Konno, visited the founder of Genseiryu, Seiken Shukumine, a number of times as did a few of Nobuaki Konno's followers. The main goal of these visits was to gain support from Seiken Shukumine, but as Shukumine left the world of karate in 1962, he rejected the requests, unless the concerned parties could reach an agreement on joining Shukumine in Taido. During these visits, and during the introductory seminars on Taido, a lot of pictures was taken. These pictures have later been shown and claimed as "evidence" of Shukumine's involvement with Genseiryu even after 1962 and as "evidence" for Shukumine supporting Nobuaki Konno. Especially people in Holland, Denmark and Finland are using these pictures to promote Nobuaki Konno's story of Seiken Shukumine's "involvement" and "support" of Nobuaki Konno and later the WGKF. In this context it is important to consider, that Shukumine died in 2001, and that the WGKF was established two years later on November 14th, 2003.

Seiken Shukumine's involvement

Japanese version of Shukumine's letter

English version of Shukumine's letter

Another important point, which this young organization claims, is Seiken Shukumine's involvement with karate after 1962. According to them, Seiken Shukumine was mainly concerned with Taido, which meant that he could no longer take care of many matters concerning Genseiryu, apart from sporadic lessons and exams, which he occasionally took for a few instructors.

The WGKF even published a letter written by Seiken Shukumine himself on 31 March 2001. It is striking that the Japanese version does not contain a signature and the English version does.

Another point is the time, which elapsed between this published letter and when Shukumine died. According to a local newspaper, Shukumine died of a heart attack, as a result of a "years-long illness". He died on 26 November 2001. This means that Seiken Shukumine wrote this letter eight months before his death, even though he had been ill for years.

To make it clear that Seiken Shukumine was still the head of Genseiryu, members of the WGKF sold and distributed diplomas bearing Seiken Shukumine's name. By doing so, members were misled into believing that Seiken Shukumine was still involved with the Genseiryu, even though he certainly was not.

An example of such a diploma can be found above.

Final request for membership

On November 26th 2001, the president of GKIF-Europe/Denmark, Peter Lee, was awaiting departure for Japan in Amsterdam Airport, while Nobuaki Konno approached him in order to request the delivery of a personal, sealed letter to the president of the Genseiryu Karate-do International Federation, Kunihiko Tosa. Peter Lee took the letter and agreed to hand it over to Kunihiko Tosa upon arrival in Japan. As Peter Lee arrived in Japan on November 27th (local Japanese time) the letter was handed over to Kunihiko Tosa, who later called a meeting informing Peter Lee about the contents of the letter. According to Kunihiko Tosa, the letter was written in Japanese and signed by Nobuaki Konno requesting once again to be allowed membership into the GKIF. Kunihiko Tosa informed Peter Lee, that there could be no accommodating this request in view of past events. As Nobuaki Konno's final request for membership of the GKIF was declined following the death of Seiken Shukumine, any and all possibilities to be part of Genseiryu was no longer available to Konno. In 2003 Nobuaki Konno as a last resort thus took the initiative for establishing his own organization called the World Genseiryu Karate-do Federation.

Speculation on reason for final request

Many have speculated as to why Nobuaki Konno would write that final letter of request for membership at that time. In this regard it is important to notice, that even though Seiken Shukumine officially died on November 26th 2001 about 6 AM, that was still 8 hours ahead of the time in Europe. Thus the time of Seiken Shukumine's death happened on November 25th 2001 at around 10 PM Central European Time. When you consider this, it is not hard to imagine that Nobuaki Konno was already aware of Seiken Shukumine's death, then wrote a letter and sent it as quick as possible to Japan. The fastest way was to hand it personally to Peter Lee who at that time was in Holland to conduct a seminar. Also noticeable is it, that Nobuaki Konno was not the only one to send such a letter. Letters was sent to Kunihiko Tosa also from Spain, seeking out Kunihiko Tosa and the GKIF for future support and membership. None of these requests were accommodated due to the fact of the past events as mentioned above.

Curriculum

Before the founding of the WGKF, there were only dojos and private organizations that claimed to train Genseiryu. Each trained its own curriculum. After the establishment of the WGKF, some instructors still chose to include some kata in their curriculum, even though they are not mentioned in Shin Karate-do Kyohan. For example, Heian kata is also trained in Spain, while in Finland, for example, this is not the case. It can be said that other styles are allowed to be trained within the WGKF, except for variations of what is written in the book.

Curriculum Denmark

Kata

• Gensei Shodan
• Ten-i
• Chi-i
• Jin-i
• Naifanchi
• Sansai
• Koshokun (dai)
• Koshokun (sho)
• Chinto
• Wankan
• Shukumine no Bassai
• Shukumine no Bassai (sho)

Shitei Kata

• Jion
• Bassai (dai)
• Empi
• Kanku (dai)
• Kanku (sho)
• Gojushiho (dai)
• Gojushiho (sho)
• Nijushiho
• Sochin
• Unsu

Curriculum Finland

Kata

• Ten-i
• Chi-i
• Jin-i
• Sansai
• Naifanchi
• Bassai
• Kushanku

Curriculum Netherlands

Shiho

• Shiho Tsuki
• Shiho Tsuki-geri
• Shiho Tsuki-geri Godan-uke
• Shiho Nuki
• Shiho Empi
• Shiho Kuzushi
• Shiho Yaburi

Kata

• Gensei Shodan
• Ten-i-no Kata
• Chi-i-no Kata
• Jin-i-no Kata
• Naifanchi
• Wankan
• Sansai
• Koshokun (sho)
• Koshokun (dai)
• Bassai (sho)
• Bassai (dai)
• Tai-i-no Kata
• To-i-no Kata

Curriculum Spain

Kata

• Tai Sabaki
• 5 Heian
• Ten-i
• Chi-i
• Jin-i
• Ko-ryu Naifanchi
• Wankan
• Kushanku (sho)
• Rohai
• Seienchin
• Ananku
• Wanshu
• Jitte
• Seisan
• Shukumine no Bassai (sho)
• Chinto
• Shukumine no Bassai (dai)
• Sansai
• Kushanku (dai)