Kengokan is the name of a dojo of karate that is based on the Shorinjiryu Kenkokan Karate system developed by Shinan Kori Hisataka (1907-1988). The Kengokan Dojo is an official branch dojo of Shorinjiryu Kenyukai Watanabe Ha Karate Australia.

Kengokan is a special Dojo name conceived by the dojo instructor, Renshi Des Paroz , in consultation with his former teacher, Hanshi Masayuki Kukan Hisataka.The name came about during a discussion between Hisataka Hanshi and Renshi Des on 13 June 1992, during the time he was living in Tokyo, Japan.

The name was originally Kengokai, but after joining with the Shorinjiryu Kenyukai Watanabe Ha organisation, the last of the three characters in the name was changed to “kan”. The three characters are “Ken”, “Go” and “Kan”.

Ken is the Japanese word for fist

Go means strength or magnificence, and also means Australia

Kan means building, and represents the physical location of the dojo (the original suffix of “kai” meant group or association. The Kengokan Dojo is a location within the Kenyukai organisation).

Thus Kengokan can mean the Dojo of the Magnificent Fist, or the Dojo of the Australian Fist. Double meanings, like this, are common in naming martial arts schools in Japan.

Kengokan.com is primarily a website for the members of the Kengokan Dojo of Shorinjiryu Kenyukai Watanabe Ha Karate Australia. It contains training notes and information, and also features information and research regarding the Shorinjiryu Karate system based on the teachings of Shinan Kori Hisataka . Please enjoy the material, and understand that any errors or omissions are unintentional. Any clarification or question would be greatly appreciated.