Sato Ha Shito Ryu International Federation
Sato Ha Shito Ryu Kokusai Rengo
Dhammika-Ha is an official member of the Sato Ha Shito Ryu International Federation, which was founded in Canada in 2017 by Soke Akira Sato.
Satokai , a branch of Shito-Ryu, was founded in 2017 by Grand Master Soke Akira Sato as Sato-Ha Shito-Ryu Kokusai Rengo at the Hombu Dojo in Vancouver, Canada. Through Sensei Suzuki Seiko’s Suzuki-Ha Shito-Ryu Nihon Karatedo Seiko-Kai, the organisation is directly linked to the Zen Nippon Karate-Dō Itosu-Kai of Sensei Ryusho Sakagami, a direct student of Kenwa Mabuni.
Satokai continues the original Shito-Ryu by combining Shuri-te and Naha-te in an authentic, clearly structured teaching system. Today, the Sato-Ha Shito-Ryu International Federation has a network of dojos in over 25 countries, including Japan, Argentina, China, the Philippines, Australia, Germany, Portugal, South Africa, Mozambique, Switzerland and India.
Headquarters
Sato Kai has its headquarters in Vancouver, British Columbia.
Peretz Centre
6184 Ash Street
Vancouver, B.C.
V5Z 3G9
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Soke Akira Sato
Soke Akira Sato is a Japanese karate master (9th dan) who began his karate training in 1962 under Grand Master Sensei Suzuki Seiko, a direct student of Sensei Ryusho Sakagami, and learned the intricacies of Shito-Ryu under him.
After Sakagami’s death in 1993, Suzuki founded the Suzuki-Ha Shito-Ryu Nihon Karatedo Seiko-Kai organisation and continued to promote the teachings of Sakagami and Mabuni. Soke Akira Sato trained under Grand Master Seiko for eight years before moving to Canada in 1970 to study English. He continued his training in Canada and, with the support of local students, founded his first dojo within a year – a life-changing decision that would anchor him permanently in Canada. Over the next twelve months, he decided to stay in Canada, where he established the Canadian branch of Suzuki’s association.
After decades as an official (including technical advisor and director) for various karate associations such as Karate British Columbia and Karate Canada, he founded his own association in 2017: Sato Ha Shito Ryu International Federation (Sato Ha Shito Ryu Kokusai Rengo). He has more than 60 years of karate experience.
