Kōri Hisataka

Masayoshi Kori Hisataka died in Tokyo, Japan on August 14, 1988. His legacy continues on today through the practitioners of Shorinjiryu Kenkokan Karate (headed by his son Masayuki Hisataka) and the various derivative schools based on Shorinjiryu Kenkokan Karatedo. Other than Masayuki Hisataka, two of Masayoshi Kori Hisataka's direct students are teaching to this day, including Shunji Watanabe (Shorinjiryu Kenyukai Watanabe Ha) and Shigeru Ishino (Ishino Shorinjiryu Genbukan Karate).

Born in Shuri (Naha City in Okinawa), he was a descendant of Seiwa, the 56th Emperor of Japan. He studied karate, kobudo and jujutsu, most notably karate from Chotoku Kyan and weapons from kobudo pioneer (and former Prefectural police superintendent), Sanda Kanagusuku. He also learned the Kudaka family art of weapons known as Shishiryu, and the family art of Okinawa-te from his father (Seisei Kudaka), an uncle and his grandfather. Hisataka completed a period of service in the Japanese military.

After World War II, he returned to Japan to find that the Japanese people were demoralized by the war so he placed a greater emphasis on spiritual development of the individual through karate training. He founded the first Shorinjiryu Kenkokan Karate dojo in Oshima Park, Hamada village, in Kumamoto prefecture, Kyūshū in 1945. He later relocated the dojo to Shimo-Kitagawa in Tokyo's Setagaya Ward. In 1955, he opened his Shorinjiryu Kenkokan Karate headquarters in the Waseda area of Shinjuku Ward, Tokyo.

In August 1930, he toured Taiwan with Chotoku Kyan and Ryosei Kuwae demonstrating karate at the Taipei Butokuden and participating in a number of challenge matches. Upon returning to Japan he studied judo at the Kodokan with Sanpo Toku and achieved 4th dan within a year of training. He studied kendo and competed at Police Department competitions.

Masayoshi Kori Hisataka (久高 政祺 幸利, Hisataka Masayoshi Kōri, Seiki Kudaka in Okinawan; April 22, 1907 – August 14, 1988) was the founder of Shorinjiryu Kenkokan Karate.