KODENKAN YUDANSHAKAI
Kodenkan Yudanshakai, a non-profit organization dedicated to the teaching of the martial arts and the perpetuation of the Esoteric Principles of Professor Henry Seishiro Okazaki. Founded by Dai Shihan Joseph Holck in January 1967, the Kodenkan Yudanshakai, translated as “School of the Ancient Tradition Black Belt Society”. The organization is headquartered in Tucson, Arizona and has member schools in Arizona, Califonia, Maryland, and Washington, teaching various core and affiliate martial arts.
History of the Kodenkan Yudanshkai
In 1964 Joseph Holck came to Tucson, AZ on request from his brother Roy Holck to continue the Jujitsu school he had founded in 1962, the Kodenkan of Tucson. Running the school as his own, the school flourished and grew into an organization. On January 1st, 1967 Joseph Kolck and his family founded the Kodenkan Yudanshakai, using the name "Kodenkan" only after getting permission from the Okazaki family. The respectful use of the name shows it's ties to the original Kodenkan Dojo in Hawaii where Joseph Holck first learned Jujitsu. It has grown to have well over 100 black belts promoting the concepts of Professor Okazaki throughout the United States.
In 1994, Joseph Holck Dai Shihan retired from active teaching and appointed his son, Vinson Holck to oversee the running of the organization. In 2012, the Kodenkan Yudanshakai promoted Vinson Holck to the rank of 10th Dan, and invested him with the title of Dai Shihan.
In March of 2013, the Kodenkan Yudanshakai was incorporated as a 501.3.c non-profit, governed by a Board of Directors. The Boards primary function is to support the dojos and Instructors of the organization in their mission to perpetuate the esoteric principles of Professor Okazaki and the traditions of the Kodenkan Yudanshakai.
In June of 2017 the Kodenkan Yudanshakai celebrated 50 years of training the martial art.
Affiliate organizations
The Kodenkan Yudanshakai holds affiliate relationships with the following martial arts organizations.
- American Judo and Jujitsu Federation
- American Jujitsu Institute
- Jujitsu America
- Shoshin Ryu Yudanshakai