截空道

Setku-do was established in February, 1994 by Head Master Nobuhiro Hirahara based on his 28 years of experience in Budo and martial arts. Setku-do combines a variety of styles to create a complete form of practical martial arts grounded in the spirit of Japanese Budo.

Setku-do combines striking techniques from Karate, boxing, kickboxing, Capoeira and Shorinji Kempo, throwing techniques from Judo, take down techniques from Sabaki-s-tyle arts, and ground techniques from Judo and Jujutsu. It contains elements of striking, throwing and ground moves and aspires to encompass all the elements of the fighting arts to form a complete modern form of mixed martial art Budo.

Above all, Setku-do takes pride in the spirit of Japanese Budo and places emphasis on fostering manners and humility, in addition to developing physical strength and technique. The goal is to develop martial artists of strong character who possess strength of mind, body, and technique. In recent years many groups have focused on the competitive aspects of martial arts and training has tended to focus only on the development of physical strength and technique while ignoring the development of manners and character. As a result, at tournaments sponsored by such groups, one attention is, unfortunately, often drawn to the lack of manners and proper protocol, violent actions by fighters and poor attitudes.

Fighters who jeer and humiliate their opponents appeal to the audience in a negative manner. People who witness such events must feel that the line between martial arts and violence is growing thin and in turn, this leads martial arts to be considered barbaric competition and not an activity that normal people would involve themselves in.

Setku-do aims to carry on the precious legacy of Japanese Budou history and culture while being active in modern martial arts and to become a borderless Budo, accessible to all people.

Head Master Hirahara martial arts education began at the age of five when his father enrolled him in the YMCA Athletics School. In elementary school, he trained in Kendo from the first grade and from second to sixth grade trained in Goju-ryu Baishokai Karate. In 1981, he placed in the Top 5 at the Goju-ryu All Japan Championship Tournament and then decided to pursue the path of true Karate.

In junior high school, he was the vice-captain of the Judo team and acquired a list of acheivements that included placing second at the Yawata Mayor's Cup Judo Tournament and placing in the Top 4 at the Kyoto-Yamashiro Regional Tournament. In addition to training in Judo at school, he trained at the Tsukahara Boxing Gym in Kyoto to develop his punching skills.

Head Master Hirahara attended the Kyoto Shorinji Special High School and received specialized training in Kongozen Shorinji Kempo. At the age of eighteen, he joined the Kyokushinkai International Karate Association and trained in Oyama Masutatsu Karate. Choosing to dedicate all his time to Karate, he also joined the New International Karate Ashihara Kaikan. While holding a position as a Kyokushinkai Karate assistant instructor, he joined the Oyama International Karate Organization and toured in the US as a Japanese national team member, practicing together with US champions. After that, he also trained in Japan with Willie Williams, Seidokaikan, Satake and other top fighters.

At the age of 18, Mr. Hirahara suffered an injury to his left knee while training with another All Japan Tournament class member. He became unable to walk and gave up practice for a time. He was told that surgery would be necessary to remove knee cartilage, but learned that if he chose to undergo the surgery he would never be able to practice Karate again. He rejected the surgery, choosing to work on rehabilitation instead. After that, the condition got progressively worse and he was no longer able to participate in competition.

In October 1990, Head Master Hirahara was expelled from Kyokushinkai Karate for dual registration after a feature article in the Karate magazine Full Contact Karate・revealed his involvement with another Karate organization. Following that experience he resolved to pursue his own ideals and founded Setku-do. With an open perspective and unencumbered by conventions, Setku-do strives to assimilate the strengths of various martial arts and arrange them into a style that can compete effectively with any other genre of martial arts. Setku-do now has fighters competing in Shootfighting, Glove Karate, Kickboxing, Combat Wrestling and other fighting styles.

Kongozen Shorinji Kempo 3rd degree black belt (3 years)

Goju-ryu Baishokai 1st degree black belt (5 years)
5th place All Japan Tournament (1980)

Tsukahara Boxing Gym lifetime member (1 year training)

New International Karate-do Federation Ashihara Kaikan 1st degree black belt (2.5 years)

Oyama International Karate Organization Oyama Karate 1st degree black belt (4.5 years)
Travelled to US in August 1990 as a Japanese national team member served as Kyoto area overseer

International Karate Federation Kyokushin Kaikan 1st degree black belt

Injured left knee while training for the All Japan Tournament and retired from competition. Became an assistant instructor

Japan Karate-do Yuki Kaikan 3rd degree black belt. Now active as an advisor

Japan Karate-do Federation Hosu-kai 3rd degree black belt

Training together at the dojos of other members who travelled to the US on the Oyama Karate Japan national team

Fighting Arts Dojo Chokushin-kai 3rd degree black belt
Administrative cooperation as the Head Master of the Head School.

Seikendo 4th degree black belt

Garras De Ouro Capoeira Master certification

Also active in an advisory capacity for tournaments in the Kansai area. Officially sanctioned Shootfighting referee. Presently appearing in numerous newspapers and martial arts publications. Active in Japan and abroad.