Okinawa Karate Association U.K.
and the Essex Group of Clubs called the
Shi Gakkou Shuudan Est. 1986

Association Profile




The Okinawa Karate Association U.K. is affiliated to the Okinawa Karate-Do Association, in Okinawa Japan. The Okinawan parent Association was formed 1989, by many of the high ranking black belts of the Uechi-Ryu Karate Association of Okinawa.

For some years the name of Uechi-Ryu was still used to describe the style, however on November 16th 1996, the Board of Directors of the Okinawa Karate-Do Association created a new name for the style calling it it Shohei-Ryu. The name is made from two Chinese characters, sho and hei. Sho means to shine brightly and hei means fairness, equality and peace.

The Okinawa Karate-Do Association have also added new kata, bunkai and kumites to the system.

The headquarters of the Okinawa Karate-Do Association is in Chatan-Cho, Okinawa, Japan.

On the 1st January 2010, the Okinawa Karate Association U.K., Okikukai for short, was formed by Paul Natzyl, Renshi 6th Dan, after receiving the title of Shihan (Master) Instructor from the parent Association. Paul Natzyl's Essex based group of clubs known as the Shi Gakkou Shuudan (Four School Group) formed the basis for the new Association U.K.. which were to be joined shortly afterwards, by Derek Charlton's club in Bromley, Kent.

Click here for link to parent Association's website