About Jyoshinmon New ZealandWho We Are
Jyoshinmon Shorin-Ryu has been active in New Zealand since 1971 and since that time it has expanded with three DOJOS throughout Auckland.
Our club has produced winning competitors in national tournaments and international championships where they have represented New Zealand.
Soke Hoshu Ikeda began his journey through the martial arts studying Shorinji-Ryu under Master Tamotsu Isamu. With his obvious talent, ability and ambitions, it was inevitable that Soke Ikeda would have to start his own organisation sooner or later. This happened in 1969, when Soke Hoshu Ikeda formed Jyoshinmon Shorin-Ryu Karate-Do. Several of his close friends joined him when he founded the organisation. Soke Ikeda bases Jyoshinmon on the teachings of Kyan Chotoku.
Over the years, Soke Ikeda has built Jyoshinmon into a very large organisation with dojo's located in almost every corner of the world. And yet, he has managed to retain the feeling that all Jyoshinmon practitioners are part of a single family. He has spent a large part of his life not just practising karate, but studying the origins, and various other styles of karate as well as human physiology through Seitai, a traditional Japanese healing massage. He has made many visits to Okinawa, China, and anywhere that karate is practised. Throughout his years, Soke Hoshu Ikeda has kept notes each day detailing how he feels and thoughts he has on Jyoshinmon. A selection of these notes are known as the Jyoshinmon Kunpu.
Ryuso Hoshu Ikeda formally transitioned leadership of International Jyoshinmon Shorin-Ryu Karate-Do in 2012 to his daughter, Ai Ikeda. Following tradition, upon his passing she took his name Soke Hoshu Ikeda. In a male dominated art & sport, as well as the male dominated society in Japan, this is a very rare occurrence and shows just how special Soke Hoshu (Ai) Ikeda is.
She has followed her father through the martial arts and alternates her time between teaching and studying. This includes regular visits to Okinawa for both Karate and Seitai.