In a significant moment for the Indian martial arts community, Grandmaster Hanshi Shaswat Kumar has been honoured with the title “Pioneer of Modern Combat Karate” by the EMPIKAI Martial Arts Association Headquarters, Serbia.
The recognition was conferred by World Grandmaster Miroslav Charlie Pavlović, Founder of the EMPIKAI Martial Arts Association Headquarters and a 10th Dan Black Belt. The official certificate was issued on 21 July 2026.
According to information received by Dogra Times from Grandmaster Hanshi Shaswat Kumar and the official documents shared with the publication, the honour recognises his contribution to the development and international expansion of Senkoukai Karate, an independent full-contact karate system founded in India.
According to the EMPIKAI Martial Arts Association, the recognition was presented in appreciation of the growing international popularity of Senkoukai Karate, the independent karate style founded by Grandmaster Hanshi Shaswat Kumar, along with its modern self-defence-oriented training methodology developed to meet present-day challenges. The organization also states that Senkoukai Karate has established branches in nearly 50 countries.
The Serbian martial arts body further stated that Shaswat Kumar studied numerous traditional karate systems before developing an independent combat-oriented karate style by integrating classical techniques with modern combat principles.
According to the organization, Senkoukai Karate is recognised for its practical self-defence applications, full-contact training, speed-based attacks, and realistic combat approach. In recognition of this contribution, the title “Pioneer of Modern Combat Karate” was officially conferred upon him.
Within the martial arts world, Gichin Funakoshi is widely regarded as the “Father of Modern Karate,” while Mas Oyama is recognised as the “Father of Full-Contact Karate.” In a similar spirit, the EMPIKAI Martial Arts Association honoured Grandmaster Hanshi Shaswat Kumar with the title “Pioneer of Modern Combat Karate.”
According to the organization, Senkoukai Karate is an independent Indian karate style with its own syllabus, grading system, katas, and kumite rules. It states that the style does not follow the technical regulations of any other karate organization, federation, or council.
According to information shared with Dogra Times, Senkoukai Karate has also received recognition as an independent karate style from the International Bujutsu Karate Association Headquarters, Japan.
The recognition has been described as the first time an Indian martial artist has received this particular honour, marking what supporters consider an important milestone for Indian martial arts on the global stage.
The honour is being viewed as a significant achievement not only for Grandmaster Hanshi Shaswat Kumar but also for India’s growing presence within the international martial arts community.
Who Is Grandmaster Hanshi Shaswat Kumar?
Grandmaster Hanshi Shaswat Kumar was born in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. In 2007, following the transfer of his father, a government employee, the family relocated to Hyderabad, where he continued his martial arts journey.
Having started karate training at a very young age, he went on to participate in several recognised karate championships and developed a reputation as a dedicated and disciplined martial artist.
Before establishing his own karate system, he was associated with the Kyokushin Karate International Association Headquarters, USA, where he served as the India Country Chief.
In 2024, he founded Senkoukai Karate, an independent full-contact karate style designed with a strong emphasis on practical self-defence for real-life situations.
According to information shared by his organization, Senkoukai Karate combines principles from Shotokan Karate, Kyokushin Karate, and Combat Martial Arts. The system also incorporates ground fighting, joint locks, pressure-point techniques, street survival concepts, and combat movements inspired by animals. Its training methodology focuses on speed, power, efficiency, and practical application.
Grandmaster Hanshi Shaswat Kumar believes that effective self-defence should enable an individual to neutralise an attacker with one or two decisive techniques whenever possible. One of the unique aspects of Senkoukai Karate is training practitioners to use everyday objects as improvised defensive tools during emergency situations.
A Different Vision for Karate
According to Grandmaster Hanshi Shaswat Kumar, the objective behind founding Senkoukai Karate was not simply to establish another martial arts organization but to create an original Indian karate system with its own philosophy, identity, and technical framework.
He says the system was developed with a focus on realistic self-defence while promoting discipline, physical fitness, confidence, and character development, particularly among children and women.
Rather than following an existing karate style, he chose to develop an independent Indian system that could contribute something unique to the global martial arts community.
Supporters of Senkoukai Karate believe that this vision has helped the organization expand internationally, with training centres now operating in several countries. They credit this growth to years of dedicated work, continuous development, and international recognition received from various martial arts organizations.
Milestones Shared by Grandmaster Hanshi Shaswat Kumar’s Organization
According to information and documents shared with Dogra Times, Grandmaster Hanshi Shaswat Kumar has achieved several notable milestones during his martial arts career, including:
- Receiving a 10th Dan Black Belt from the All Japan Martial Arts Organization Headquarters, Japan, awarded by Soke Yoshimoto Tanaka on 16 January 2024.
- Founding Senkoukai Karate, described by the organization as India’s first independent karate style, recognised by the International Bujutsu Karate Association Headquarters, Japan.
- Becoming the first Indian martial artist to receive the Japanese martial arts titles of Soke, Hanshi, Grandmaster, and Supreme Grandmaster.
- Receiving the World Supreme Grandmaster – Crown of Martial Excellence from Japan.
- Completing 108 full-contact fights in the 100-Man Kumite, recognised by Grandmaster Ryogo Ito of Japan.
- Receiving the title “Global Living Karate Legend.”
- Winning more than 20 international martial arts awards within a single year.
- Receiving International Hall of Fame Awards for ten consecutive years.
- Setting multiple world records, including 150 backfist punches in 10 seconds, averaging 15 punches per second.
- Being honoured with the title “Pioneer of Modern Combat Karate” by the EMPIKAI Martial Arts Association Headquarters, Serbia.
- Being appointed World Martial Arts Ambassador by a Japanese martial arts organization.
For Grandmaster Hanshi Shaswat Kumar and his supporters, the latest recognition from Serbia represents another milestone in the ongoing effort to establish an Indian-developed karate system on the global stage. Through Senkoukai Karate, he continues to promote an approach that combines traditional martial arts values with modern self-defence principles, while contributing to India’s growing presence in the international martial arts community.
