Tōon-ryu

 

 

Tōon-ryū (東恩流 Tō'on-ryū) is a style of Okinawan Karate founded by Juhatsu Kyoda.
Juhatsu Kyoda (許田 重発 Kyoda Juhatsu, December 5, 1887–August 31, 1968) entered the dojo of Higaonna Kanryō in 1902 and continued studying with him until Kanryō's death in 1915. One month after Kyoda started, Miyagi Chōjun (co-founder of Gōjū-ryū) entered the dojo. In 1908, Kenwa Mabuni (founder of Shitō-ryū) also joined the dojo of Higaonna Kanryō.
In 1934 Kyoda received his Kyoshi license from the Dai Nippon Butoku Kai.[1]

The Tōon-ryū kata and training drills consist of: Ten-I-Happo, Tsuki-Uke (Shiho-Uke), Kiso I & II, Sanchin, Sesan, Sanseru, Pechurin, Jion, & Nepai. Apparently Kyoda knew two versions of Seisan: one from Higaonna Kanryō and one from Higaonna Kanryu, but only passed on the Kanyu version. He learned Jion from Kentsū Yabu. By far Higaonna Kanryō had the most profound impact on him as Kyoda devoted well over a decade of his life to learning Kanryō’s karate. He ultimately named his style after him: Tō-on-ryū (literally ‘Higaon[na] style’).

Kyoda's tradition was carried on by Iraha Choko, Kyoda Juko (3rd son), and Kanzaki Shigekazu. The current Sōke of Tōon-ryū today is Kanzaki Shigekazu, and the chief instructor is Ikeda Shigenori.

 

//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Victor – Toon Ryu is extremely rare today. The only instructor in North America, has been Mario McKenna in Vancouber BC, Canada. But he had gone to ground of late, slipping into the shadows. Toon is likely what the original Hiagonna training was before Miyagi Chojun changed that training to his Goju Ryu. Of course he added kata, etc.

I have private videos of most of this stuff. But it has little relation to our system. Once Mario visited me and worked out with me and my son, showing one of his kicks on Victor-Michael,  my son.   it is very similar to the kicks in SunNusu kata.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Tōon-ryu

 

Tōon-ryū (東恩流 Tō'on-ryū) is a style of Okinawan Karate founded by Juhatsu Kyoda.

 

Juhatsu Kyoda (許田 重発 Kyoda Juhatsu, December 5, 1887–August 31, 1968) entered the dojo of Higaonna Kanryō in 1902 and continued studying with him until Kanryō's death in 1915. One month after Kyoda started, Miyagi Chōjun (co-founder of Gōjū-ryū) entered the dojo. In 1908, Kenwa Mabuni (founder of Shitō-ryū) also joined the dojo of Higaonna Kanryō.

 

In 1934 Kyoda received his Kyoshi license from the Dai Nippon Butoku Kai.[1]

The Tōon-ryū kata and training drills consist of: Ten-I-Happo, Tsuki-Uke (Shiho-Uke), Kiso I & II, Sanchin, Sesan, Sanseru, Pechurin, Jion, & Nepai. Apparently Kyoda knew two versions of Seisan: one from Higaonna Kanryō and one from Higaonna Kanryu, but only passed on the Kanyu version. He learned Jion from Kentsū Yabu.

 

 

By far Higaonna Kanryō had the most profound impact on him as Kyoda devoted well over a decade of his life to learning Kanryō’s karate. He ultimately named his style after him: Tō-on-ryū (literally ‘Higaon[na] style’).

 

Kyoda's tradition was carried on by Iraha Choko, Kyoda Juko (3rd son), and Kanzaki Shigekazu. The current Sōke of Tōon-ryū today is Kanzaki Shigekazu, and the chief instructor is Ikeda Shigenori.

 

 

My friend Mario McKenna is the only instructor outside of Japan teaching this system. He lives in Vancouver, British Columbia. He has also translated many important karate books from Japanese to English. The system has a unique style of kicking in their Sesan kata, akin to the kicks Shimabuku Tatsuo used in the older style of Sunsu (SunNuSu) kata. He was able to spend a day with me once. It was a very interesting system.