Kengokan is the name of a dojo (school) 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 Koshinkai Karatedo Australia.
Kengokan is a special dojo name conceived by the dojo instructor, Shihan Des Paroz , in consultation with his then teacher, So Shihan Masayuki Kukan Hisataka (Hanshi 9th Dan) during a discussion in June 1992, when Shihan Paroz was living in Tokyo, Japan.
The name was originally Kengokai, but was changed to “Kengokan” for consistency in naming of dojos within the Shorinjiryu Koshinkai Karatedo Australia organisation. 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 Shorinjiryu Koshinkai 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 a dojo.
Kengokan.com is primarily a website for the members of the Kengokan Dojo of Shorinjiryu Koshinkai Karatedo 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.
Kengokan Karate Dojo Canberra 