Investigations into the history of karate

This year, a biography of Tōyama Kanken (1888–1966) was published in both German and English. On 236 pages, it deals with the life and work of the karate master who opened his first dōjō, the Shūdōkan, in Tōkyō in 1930. Tōyama Kanken was a student of Itosu Ankō and Higaonna Kanryō, and also learned from other greats of karate. During his lifetime, he taught countless students and published three books. Despite this, he is not as well known in the wider karate world as his companions Funakoshi Gichin or Mabuni Kenwa. Christian Bellina is now set to change this with his work.

With Toyama Kanken: The Heritage of Shudokan, Christian Bellina presents an excellently researched work that provides a wealth of information about the man Tōyama Kanken. A major quality feature of the book is that it not only repeats what is already known, but also provides new insights. That is what makes a good work! Above all, the numerous interviews with Tōyama’s students (some of whom are well-known), who continue his tradition, provide important insights into the development of karate in Japan and ensure great added value. If you want to find out more about Tôōyama and his contributions to karate, this is the book for you.