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Yoshinao Nanbu was born in 1942 and comes from a long line of Japanese warriors. Most of his ancestors were Samurai and his great grandfather was a Ninja. His father was a Master of Judo, In 1963 Mr Nanbu won the all Japan University Karate Renmei and that year he was also awarded the the gold medal for the best fighter in Japan by Mr Ohma. He went onto win two more times.

An Okinawan called Mr Kenwa Mabuni moved to Japan to teach his style which was called Shito-Ryu which was developed from the styles of Sanchin and Ni-Huan-chi. Mr Tani was one of his students. Mr Tani later developed Shukokai. Yoshinao Nanbu was a student of Mr Tani in and in 1964 was sent to Europe to introduce the style of Shukokai.

By 1969/70 Mr Nanbu wanted more than just good fighters he wanted his students to be good knowledgeable all round Budo-ka. He developed a style that would be dynamic and fast, using the minimum of movement while escaping with a moving block and counter. He called the style Sankukai and received the approval of leading Japanese Karate-ka and the Shimane University which then changed to his style.

Myself D.Alan Carruthers and Sid Wise had trained with Mr Nanbu and many other Japanese instructors in Shukokai and when Mr Nanbu developed Sankukai we and two others in the south of England changed to Sankukai to stay with him, becoming the founder members of Sankukai in England. The style rapidly spread and Association International Karate Sankukai GB (A.I.K.S GB) was founded. I became the Treasurer and Sid the Vice-Chair.

Mr Nanbu visited our llkeston and Beeston Dojo,s many times and continued his development of the style. Heiwa replaced Pinan Kata and Tenshin (turn aside) blocks and combinations, plus Kaiton spinning punches and kicks and Randori kata were introduced. With the introduction of many throwing techniques and the rapid escape moves the style became very popular.