Palo Alto Seiwakai is a branch of Seiwakai International and is also an officially registered branch dojo of the All Japan Karatedo Federation Gojukai (JKF Gojukai.) It is a traditional Gojuryu school operated by Des Tuck Sensei, a California attorney who is a Japan-graded 7th degree black belt (6th degree JKF Gojukai) and who has trained in the Gojuryu style since 1970. He has been awarded the honor of Kyoshi by Seiwakai International.
Tuck Sensei is Vice President of Gojuryu Seiwakai USA, whose hombu dojo is operated in Santa Monica, CA by Vassie Naidoo Sensei, President of Gojuryu Seiwakai USA. Tuck Sensei and Naidoo Sensei co-founded Gojuryu Seiwakai USA in 1992. The founder of Seiwakai International was the late Shuji Tasaki Sensei, who was, for many years, chief instructor in the Tokyo dojo of the late Gogen Yamaguchi (The Cat) until he formed Seiwakai in 1972.
Tuck Sensei is the longest-training active student of the late Leo Lipinski Sensei (1946-2018) and travels annually to Japan for advanced training. Lipinski Sensei was the only non-Japanese ever awarded 8th Dan by the JKF Gojukai. Seiwakai USA holds annual international seminars conducted by Seiichi Fujiwara, Sensei, 8th Dan, the current head of Seiwakai International. Seiwakai International also conducts many international seminars on a regular basis in Japan, Europe, Africa, North America, Australia and Mexico. It is the largest member group of the All Japan Karatedo Gojukai.
