So-Shihan Hoshu Ikeda, was the founder of the Joshinmon Shorin-Ryu Style.
The Style was established in 1969 in Tokyo, Japan. It combines two mayor styles: Shorin-Ryu (Kyan Chotoku) and Shorinji-Ryu (Isamu Tamatsu)

Joshinmon Shorin Ryu was named based on Grand Master Hoshu Ikeda’s philosophy which says, “You cannot teach karate as a means for harming another man”.

Grand Master Hoshu Ikeda was born in China to Japanese parents. When he was twelve years old, the family returned to Japan, where Mr. Ikeda began his study of Shorin Ryu Karate. His training led him to Okinawa where he learned Matsumura Shorin Ryu (Tomari-te). He studied Okinawan Shorin Ryu and Shorinji Ryu and his lineage can be traced to Shorinji Ryu Karate-Do founder Soke Isamu Tamotsu (1919-2000), President of Renshinkan Karate in Kagoshima, Japan and to the Okinawan Master Chotoku Kyan, one of the greatest and father of most of the existing karate styles.

Grand Master Ikeda went on to establish the Joshinmon Federation in 1969. It is now an international organization with many branches. He wrote various books on karate, which have become best sellers. They are among the most comprehensive books written on the history and origin of karate. The books also illustrate kata and technique, but it is the research into and explanation of all aspects of karate, which have made these books so popular. In addition, he has published teaching and training karate videos. “There is so much more to karate living than mere punching and kicking.”

Perhaps it is this attitude toward teaching that has endeared Grand Master Ikeda to the karate’s female population. It is estimated that he has the largest female following in karate. During the 14th Annual Karate Championships, Grand Master Ikeda was represented by over 600 contestants. In and of itself, this is not a great number, until you consider that all of the contestants were women participating in a women only tournament. In a land where women are not yet encouraged to exhibit talent in many ways, Grand Master Ikeda’s all-women tournaments provide an excellent outlet for women, offering sparring, kata, self-defense demonstrations and performing with weapons (Kobudo).

To Grand Master Ikeda all aspects are important, “You cannot practice kata without basics, basics without sparring and so on. It’s like the sun and the moon. Both are needed just as you have the front of your body and the back of your body.”

Zenryo Shimabukuro.
Shorin-Ryu Seibukan

Isamu Tamatsu Shorinji-Ryu Renshinkan

Kyan Chotoku with Nakazato in a group
Shorin-Ryu