Seigokan History
Seigo Tada (1922-1997), born in Kyoto, Japan. As early as 1937, he learned Chinese martial arts (Chinese Kenpo) from Sensei Ching Lou in Shanghai. He entered Ritsumeikan University in Kyoto and its Karate club. Then and after graduation, he studied the essence of Goju-Ryu Karate-do from Sensei Chojun Miyagi. In 1943 he was nominated as a coach of the Ritsumeikan University Karate Club. After graduation, he established the Nihon Seigokan Karate-doshikai (SAJKA), Nihon Goju-Ryu Karate-doshikai and Nihon Seigokai in Kyoto. He had been leading 120 Seigokan domestic dojos and branches, as well as University clubs and overseas dojos, as president and chief instructor.
At that time, Seigokan was the largest Goju-Ryu organization from all Japan.
In 1964, Master Seigo Tada joined as one of the promoters and executives in establishing and organizing the All Japan Karate-Do Federation, Kansai District Karate-do Federation, Kinki District Karate-do Federation and each prefectural karate-do federation, and pursued the union of each federation. He established competition rules and developed the original protector in 1952 for the purpose of modernizing Karate-do as a sport.
In 1981, he won the Hyogo Prefecture Athletic Award of Merit.
- Member of the Instruction Committee in the Japan Karate-do Federation (JKF)
- Member of Deliberation Directory of Japan Karate-do Federation (JKF).
- Chief of Directors of Kansai District Karate-do Federation.
- Chief of Directors of Kinki District Karate-do Federation.
- Chief of Directors, VP and Acting President in Hyogo Prefectural Karate-do Federation
Regarding his overseas activities, he established Seigokan branches in Hong Kong and Macau in 1967, first, for proper understanding and promotion of Karatedo in overseas area as well as for participation in the Olympic Games. Since then, he had visited England, USA, Brazil, Australia, Italy, Portugal, Finland, Germany, Singapore, Philippines, and other countries for leading and education of instructors.
Upon his death in 1997, Master Seigo Tada was succeeded by his wife, Mrs. Michiko Okamoto (Seigo Tada II), and subsequently by their son (Seigo Tada III) as president of the Seigokan organization. The contact information for the Seigokan headquarters is as follows:
Kancho Seigo Tada III, The President
Seigokan All Japan Karate-do Association
722 Bessho, Bessho-cho
Himeji-city, Hyogo-ken 671-0221 Japan
Tel and Fax: +81 792 520026
Philippines Seigokan History
Vicmar Denna Biography
1983 - Since 7 years old, Vicmar Denna dreamed to be someday a Karate instructor. When he was in college, joined different karate-do styles such as, Law Enforcer Karate Club, Shorin-Ryu, and other Martial Arts styles.
1998 - In March, went to Japan and a filipino fellow introduced him to the Seigokan Karatedo, in Chusetsu Gifu Dojo under Ohno Sensei. Studied then Goju-Ryu in fullest hability that he can, until attain the 2nd Kyu rank.
2003 - Went back to Philippines and there he practiced the Seigokan Goju-Ryu style with some of their friends.
2006 - When in May, Murata Shihan, Sensei Uenishi and their group went to Philippines, fortunately he met them with the help of Ohno Shihan, and there they practiced with and promised him to help for the establishment of Seigokan in Philippines.
2006 - By July, he got a car accident and his left arm bone was fractured. He thought it was the end of his karate. They stopped training for almost a year, but with the help of God, he pursue and continue his karate skill after a year.
2007 - He called his group and told them to continue the training. Thus his left arm wasn´t good enough to perform, still he tried. He have 3 members whose really dedicated on their martial arts skills, so he let them trained and lived with him as his family for 1 year. Finally, Mr. Nilo Vargas, a filipino and a very good friend who introduced him the Seigokan in Japan, went back home to Philippines. Then he encouraged him to join in teaching Seigokan for free, and fortunately he agreed.
2008 - When in March, Murata Shihan, Ohno Shihan and Uenishi Sensei went back to Philippines, he took his Shodan examination and succesfully launched the first Seigokan Goju-ryu Karatedo in the Philippines.
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