Shinan Wayne Donivan was born on July 27th, 1949 in Chapleau, Ontario. His family re-located to Ville St-Laurent, Quebec in 1960 when his father’s employer transferred him to Montreal.
Shinan began his practice in Shorinjiryu Kenkokan Karatedo at Seidokwan Academy of Karatedo and Judo on November 7th, 1967. Hanshi Masayuki Hisataka had been teaching there since September and Shinan Donivan was one of his first students. In June 1969, Shinan Donivan became the first Canadian to receive a 1st degree black belt (Shodan) in Shorinjiryu Kenkokan. In 1971, he was promoted to the rank of Nidan, second degree black belt and by July 1974, he had attained his Sandan (third degree black belt) in the Kenkokan School. Shinan Donivan also attended McGill University and earned a B.Ed. in Physical Education. Having studied various fighting techniques and martial arts such as boxing, wrestling, aikido, kendo, kenjitsu, iaido and ju-jutsu, Shinan Donivan has incorporated all these forms in the Kentokukan school of Shorinjiryu.
Between the years 1971 to 1974, Shinan Donivan won the title of North American Champion four times in Shorinjiryu Kenkokan as well as a Triple Crown winner in 1972 (first place kata, kumite, and shiai). In the past, Shinan Donivan has traveled to various parts of the world, from Jamaica to Japan giving clinics for Shorinjiryu Kenkokan and Koshiki.
In 1974, Hanshi Hisataka was asked by his father (Kaiso Masayoshi Hisataka, founder of the Kenkokan school) to return to Tokyo, Japan to teach at the Kenkokan Hombu Dojo. By the summer of 1976, Shinan Donivan had received his fourth degree black belt (the official teaching degree) and was asked by Hanshi Hisataka to assume the additional responsibility of the being the Chief Instructor of Kenkokan in North America as well as continuing his role of Sensei at both Seidokwan and McGill dojo.
In 1977, Shinan Wayne Donivan traveled to Japan to train and live with the Hisataka family for three months. Kaiso Masayoshi Hisataka, who had previously retired from teaching three years earlier, made an exception for Shinan and his five students. By the end of his three months of intense training in Japan, Shinan Donivan was presented his 5th degree black belt by Kaiso Masayoshi Hisataka at the Kenkokan Hombu Dojo.
Shinan Donivan assisted Hanshi Hisataka in his research that lead to the development of the Koshiki fighting rules in the late 70’s and also served as the technical director of Koshiki for Canada and Quebec. In addition, Shinan Donivan was also the director of the Competition Rules Committee of the World Koshiki Karate Federation and the Canada Koshiki Karate Federation, as well as the first instructor to introduce the regular practice of Koshiki in Canada. In 1985, at the Australian International Koshiki Tournament, Shinan Donivan was selected as the Chief Referee and was presented his sixth degree black belt. He has conducted many seminars on Koshiki fighting in Quebec and many of his students have been known national and international success since 1980.
On January 8th, 1994, Shinan Donivan’s decided to leave the Kenkokan School after 26 years with the Hisataka family. This resulted in the birth of Shorinjiryu Kentokukan Karatedo. He has chosen to emphasize aspects of karatedo, which he feels better to serve the individual student. The name “Kentokukan”, which was given to Shinan Donivan by Hanshi Hisataka for his dojo located at Dawson College has become the Hombu Dojo (or headquarters) of Shorinjiryu Kentokukan Karatedo. Kentokukan is an evolving, ever-growing school and karatedo style; it spans across Canada, into the United States and Japan. A relatively young style, Shorinjiryu Kentokukan Karatedo has made its mark nationally and internationally through participation in competitions and seminars throughout Canada, the United States, Europe and Japan.
