World Kanreikai Karate was formed in July of 2004 by founders Shihan Manny Matias 7thDan Chief Instructor; Headquarters USA, Sensei Robert Underhill President; Headquarters USA, and Sensei Denis Cordiero; Director of Montreal Canada.
In the mid 70's after an extensive search, Shihan Manny Matias selected Soshu Shigeru Oyama as his master. He gave up his schools, black belt, and title as a Sensei from another style to train under the great Soshu Shigeru Oyama who was Saiko Shihan in the Kyokushin organization. After extensive training, he reopened his Dojo. When Soshu Shigeru Oyama separated from Kyokushin and formed World Kanreikai Karate, he loyally followed him until he stepped down as Director of the organization in 2004.
A short time after the formation of World Kanreikai Kanreikai, Shihan Shlomi Levy and his 5 schools in Israel along with the newly regrouped "New York" dojo, Shihan Jose Cotton, Sensei David Sheeger, Sensei Maria Van Dessel, and Sensei Michelle Gay banded together to strengthen the organization.
These are the pioneers who shared the vision of World Kanreikai Karate at its outset. Together they and many others have developed an organization that promotes Tournaments and events focusing on Traditional Contact Karate, by continuing the teachings of the great masters Mas Oyama and Soshu Shigeru Oyama.
MISSION
The Members of World Kanreikai Karate have banded together to establish and maintain the following objectives
- Continue the teachings of the great Masters, Mas Oyama, and Soshu Shiguro Oyama
- Maintain a world standard of ranking that is uniform for all of its members.
- Establish Tournament judging standards that will promote the art of Contact Karate.
- Make available materials, ideas, and resources to better enable its member dojos to thrive.
- Heighten world interest in the martial arts.
