The Yoshukan International Karate association has historical roots that go back over 1,000 years. Martial arts teaching has been passed down from generation to generation for centuries. Complete systems were often taught only to family members and instruction was kept secret and guarded as a precious heirloom.
In recent years, instruction became more public, beginning with the introduction of martial arts training into the Okinawa and Japanese school systems in the late 1800's in fact, the art of karate was first introduced to Japan in 1922, the USA in 1946, and Canada in 1958.

Kancho Earl Robertson, Founder & Director of Yoshukan Karate Association, has over 30 years of teaching experience and has studied in Japan under Soke Tsuyoshi Chitose (7th Grand Master of Chito Ryu Karate-do), Kyoshi Shane Higashi (Canadian Chief Instructor for the Chito Ryu system), Sensei Mike Litwinczuk, the original RCMP self-defence instructor, Kancho Mike Foster (Founder of the Yoshukai International Karate Association, Kyoshi Devorah Dometrich and Hanshi Masaru Inomoto (Founder of Rengo-kai)
Kancho Robertson holds a 6th Dan (Degree) Black Belt and Shihan (Master Instructor) in Yoshukai International Karate under Hanshi Mike Foster, a 6th Dan and Renshi Licence (Senior Expert Teacher) in Jikkishin Ryu under Hanshi Masaru Inomoto, 5th Dan from the National Karate Association under Hanshi Masami Tsuruoka, 4th Dan, Shidoin (Senior Instructor) in Chito Ryu karate under Soke Tsuyoshi Chitose and holds ranks in Kodokan Judo and Muso Shinden Ryu Iaido (Art of the Sword). Kancho was also 1st Vice President of Karate Association of Ontario (KO). Vice-Chair of Karate Ontario Technical Committee.

The art we practice has been taught and modified thought it's history by practitioner in: India; China; Okinawa; Japan; and now North America. A chronology of our systems' Lineage is:

A chronology of the Karate art's path through history is:
INDIA Circa 500 BC:
Kalari Payat practiced by monks
CHINA Circa 420 AD:
Indian monk, Bodhidarma brings Kalari Payat to Hunan Province, China and trains monks at Shaolin temple in Zen and martial arts.
OKINAWA 1372:
Trade between China and Okinawa includes exchanging colonies of Chinese and Okinawa families to live in each other's countries. Martial arts secrets are shared between inhabitants.
OKINAWA 1609:
Japanese invasion of Okinawa by Satsuma Clan results in the banning of weapons and flourishment of Okinawa-Te (forerunner to Yoshukai karate)
JAPAN 1917:
Gichen Funakoshi demonstrates karate in Japan at the Butokuden and returns in 1922 to live and teach.
JAPAN 1922:
Tsuyoshi Chitose, student of Masters: Aragaki-Ou; Kanryo Higanno; and Chotoku Kyan moves to Tokyo as a medical student and teaches at Gichen Funakoshi's Yotsuya dojo.
JAPAN 1946:
Tsuyoshi Chitose, moves to Kumamoto and in 1948 becomes Kyushu director for All Japan Ken-po Karate-do Fukyu-kai. Other directors include Gichen Funakoshi (Shotokan) and Kenwa Mabuni (Shito Ryu)
JAPAN 1952:
Tsuyoshi Chitose names his group the All Japan Chito Kai and the style as Chito Ryu Karate-do

 

Dr. Tsuyoshi Chitose (1898 - 1984) Founder of Chito Ryu Karate

SHOWA

Ware ware Karate-do o shugyo surumonowa,
Tsuneni bushido seishin o wasurezu,
Wa to nin o motte nashi,
Soshite tsutomereba kanarazu tasu.

We who study Karate-Do
Should never forget the spirit of the warrior's way,
Through Peace, Perseverance and Hard Work,
We will not fail to reach our goal.

Tsuyoshi Chitose

Dr. Tsuyoshi Chitose, also known as as Chinen Gua in Okinawa, was the founder of Chito Ryu Karate. Born in Kumochi, Naha City, Okinawa-ken (prefecture), on October 18th, 1898 Dr. Chitose created Chito Ryu after spending years studying both Shorin-Ryu and Shorei-Ryu. He became the Supreme Instructor, 10th dan, of Chito-Kai of the All Japan Karate Doh Federation.

Chito Ryu developed from two disciplines, Shuri no Te (now known as Shorin-Ryu) and Naha no Te (now known as Shorei-Ryu). O-Sensei created Chito Ryu by combining the merits of each with his medical knowledge to come up with a more healthy alternative.

O-Sensei was introduced into the secrets of Naha no Te by the respected fifth master Mr. Aragaki Ou at the age of seven. At that time Mr. Gichin Funakoshi a pioneer of Karate-do on the mainland was also in Naha as a student.

At Shuri city O-Sensei studied under such masters as: Mr. Choyu Motobu, Mr. Chotoku Kiyan, Mr. Haragusuku Chiyomu, Mr. Kanryo Higaonna (who also taught Mr. Chojun Miyagusuku, the founder of Goju-Ryu and Mr. Kenwa Mabuni, the founder of Shito-Ryu).

In 1922 O-Sensei went to Tokyo to study medicine, while there he assisted in the opening of Mr. Funakoshi's SHOTO-KAI YOTSUYA dojo. He instructed in kumite and the kata of SEISAN and BASSAI.

After World War II, in March 1946, O-Sensei opened a karate dojo called Yoseikan in Naka Machi, Kikuchi-gun, Kumamoto-ken.

In 1958 O-Sensei attained the the rank of Juudan from ZEN OKINAWA KARATE KOBUDO RENGO KAI (The all Okinawa Karate and Weaponry association).

In 1975 he moved his dojo which was known as the SOHONBU (General headquarters) to Tsuboi, Kumamoto City, where it presently exists.