Masaru Shintani, Kudan
Shintani Sensei
was born in 1927, and studied karate for over 55 years. He was first exposed to
Shorin Ryu Karate by a man named Kitagawa while living in a Japanese-Canadian
internment camp in British Columbia during the Second World War. In the
mid-1950's, while competing in and eventually winning the championship in large
All Japan Karate Federation tournaments in Tokyo, Shintani Sensei met and began
to train under Otsuka Sensei. Around th time of 1956 Kitagawa Sensei died, and
Shintani Sensei began to study Wado. He had attained the level of Rokudan in
Kitagawa's Shorin Ryu Karate Style and this influence was carried forth and
mixed with the Wado that he would later begin to study.
During the 1970's, Otsuka Sensei placed Shintani Sensei in sole charge of the
teaching of Wado Kai in Canada. He was given the rank of Hachidan in 1979 by
Otsuka Sensei. The Shintani Karate Federation of Wado Kai, centered in his home
in Hamilton, Ontartio, is presently one of the largest martial arts
organizations in North America.
The SWKKF has approximately 14,000 students in his organization and has graded
over 1200 black belts.
Shintani Sensei also held ranks in Judo (3rd degree), Aikido (1st degree), and
Kendo (1st degree).
Shintani Sensei died May 7, 2000.
The Shintani Wado Kai Karate Federation is not affiliated with any of the other
3 main Wado karate groups: JKF-Wado Kai, WIKF, or Wado Ryu Renmei.
Note: Our school is not affiliated with Shintani Sensei or his
organization, but because of his accomplishments and contributions, we felt he
should be included respectfully in our listing. As for his rank of Kudan, I
credit A. Ross Keele, Nidan, and a member of the Shintani Wado Kai Karate
Federation for the following information explaining this:
"The archive information I have suggests that Otsuka Sensei met Shintani Sensei
in about 1956 after Master Shintani had already attained rokudan in Shorin
style karate. There are over 100 letters in Master Shintani's possession which
were written to him and his mother from Otsuka Sensei. From what I understand,
in about 1968 Otsuka Sensei conferred upon Shintani Sensei the title of Supreme
Instructor, and appointed him head of all Wado Karate-do in North America.
Otsuka Sensei graded Shintani Sensei to hachidan, in 1979, and also offered
Shintani Sensei a kudan certificate for future use."
A. Ross Keele, Nidan
Shintani Wado Kai Karate Federation