The dream of U.S. Yoshukai Karate began to become a reality in the fall of 1969 when, Karate master Soke Hiroyuki Koda arrived in the United States from Fukuoka, Japan. At that time Soke Koda was an instructor of the Yoshukan branch of the Chito-Kai style of Karate, under Master Tsuoshi Chitose. His original purpose was to assist American Chito-Kai instructors in proper techniques in kata and weapons.

Shortly after his arrival, Soke Koda met an American woman, Ms. Gwen Lisk, who was also a Chito-Kai Black Belt. The two quickly fell in love and in 1970 they were married in a small ceremony in Florida. In 1971 immediately after the birth of his first son, David Yuki, Soke Koda had to return to Japan on business. In August 1971, while Soke Koda was still in Japan, Mrs. Gwen Koda opened the first dojo under the Directorship of Soke Koda, in Lincoln, Illinois, and U.S. Yoshukai Karate was born.

In 1973, the Yoshukan branch of Chito-Kai became Yoshukai Karate, an independent karate style. During the winter of the same year, Soke Koda moved his family to Birmingham, Alabama, where he became a journeyman ironworker. In 1974, Soke Koda's second son, Steven Hiro, was born. At that time Soke Koda named his small organization, which included schools in Alabama and Illinois, Mid-South Yoshukai. The Yoshukai Karate Organization grew quickly as students began to reach Black Belt status and began opening schools throughout Alabama and extending into Georgia and Florida. Its growth was further accelerated when several instructors from other styles were so impressed with Soke Koda's Karate expertise and leadership abilities that they transferred their entire schools to Soke Koda's organization. By 1975 Soke Koda believed the organization had spread enough to be renamed U.S. Yoshukai Karate.

In 1982, a job offer transferred the Koda family to Texas, where Soke Koda opened two more schools. In 1987, Soke Koda and his wife had saved enough money to devote their energies to Karate on a full time basis. Since most of the U.S. Yoshukai Schools were in the Southeast, they set up the Honbu Dojo (Headquarters) in Montgomery, Alabama. The Honbu Dojo was relocated to 6001 Wares Ferry Road.

In 1997, Soke Koda passed away after losing the fight against the deadliest form of cancer, pancreatic and liver cancer. According to his wishes the directorship of the U.S. Yoshukai Karate Association was passed on to his eldest son, David Yuki Koda and managerial duties remained with his wife. In 2000, Mrs. Gwen Koda, the manager for the U.S. Yoshukai Karate Association for 30 years, resigned her position, and passed those duties on to Soshu David Koda's wife, Mrs. Adrienne Koda. The Character and loyalty of the U.S. Yoshukai Karate Instructors, who placed their faith in Soke Koda's successor, form the backbone of the new U.S. Yoshukai Karate Association and share the dream instilled by its founder. As of January 2001 U.S. Yoshukai Karate is represented by dojos in Montgomery, Opp, Albertville, Hoover, Bessemer, Birmingham, and Enterprise, Alabama; Joelton and Spring Hill, Tennessee; Tallahassee, Florida; Harrodsburg and Bowling Green, Kentucky; Bloomington, Illinois; and Los Angeles, California.

The content of this page was used with the permission from the Director of U.S. Yoshukai Karate, Soshu David Koda.