About Okinawa Shorinryu Karatedo
Shorin-Ryu is one of the two original Karate styles formally systematized in Okinawa and is one of the main four styles of karate taught on Okinawa today. Shorin ryu or Shuri Te (Suidi in Okinawan) is believed to have had the most influence on the development of all modern Karate systems. Shorin Ryu comes from mainly Shuri Te, meaning hand of Shuri which is 1 of 3 branches of te that eventually merged into various styles. The other versions of Te or Ti were Naha Te and Tomari Te. Several branches have influence not only from Shuri Te but also Tomari Te. While Shuri and Tomari merged into Shorin Ryu, Naha te influenced the creation and became known Goju Ryu, Uechi Ryu and Ryuei Ryu. Tomari-Te techniques and methods are primarily seen in Okinawa Kempo. Each of these styles mentioned has their own unique movements that the educated individual would be able to recognize and almost name the exact school the student came from. Shuri, Naha and Tomari are all villages on the island of Okinawa and the versions of Te became known as Okinawa Te . Today Naha is also known as Naha City the capital of Okinawa Prefecture of Japan. Karate was originally known on Okinawa as Tode (toe day) meaning China hand. In the early 1900’s the Okinawan’s knew their Japanese counterparts would not accept their creation Karate as tode and they knew that they had to make Tode more Japanese for it to be accepted. So they changed the first kanji in Tode to mean kara renaming tode as karate meaning empty hand. Today karate is most commonly referred to as Karate-Do.
Following its emergence in Okinawa, Okinawa Shorin-Ryu broke into three main branches being: Shobayashi-Ryu (small forest school) first taught by Chotoku Kyan (1870 – 1945); Kobayashi-Ryu (young forest school) first taught by Choshin Chibana (1885 – 1969); and Matsubayashi-Ryu (pine forest school) first taught by Shoshin Nagamine (1907 - 1997). All three names refer to the original Shaolin Temple in China and all three are considered forms of Shorin-Ryu or 'Shaolin School'. Before examining these three splinter groups, it is necessary to trace the origins of previous masters, Soken “Bushi” Matsumura and Yasutsune “Anko” Itosu, who trained many of the men who became founders of Shorin-ryu.
Soken Matsumura's father had been a political leader in Okinawa and had befriended Kanga 'Tode' Sakugawa (1733 – 1815) often referred to as the Father of Okinawan Karate and founding father or Shuri-te. As the elder Matsumura was on his death bed, he asked Sakugawa to raise his three year old son. So, at a young age, Sokon Matsumura (1796 – 1893) joined residence and began to train with Sakugawa. Like his teacher before him, Matsumura developed a love for martial arts knowledge. Because of this love, his teacher gave him the nickname "bushi" which means warrior. Matsumura also trained with Kusanku and, like his teacher, traveled to China for further study. Because of his skill, he was appointed to the position of head bodyguard for the Okinawan royal family through three generations of kings. He was the first to organize his knowledge into a formal system which he called Shuri-te. He contributed three main kata- Seisan, Passai (Dai), and Naihanchi Shodan. He also trained many of the men who became the masters and founders of the current styles of Shorin-ryu.
Yasutsune "Anko" Itosu trained under two teachers - Sokon Matsumura and Tomari-te's Kosaku Matsumora. Sokon Matsumura encouraged Itosu to spread the teaching of Shuri-te which, at the time, was not received well by his peers for much of te's teachers restricted who they would teach or kept it a family affair.
He started by introducing the teaching into the Okinawan public school system, but found that the traditional katas were to difficult for the younger students. So, he developed the 5 Pi nan (peaceful mind) katas which are still taught today. He was given the nickname "Anko" or "iron horse" because of his ability root himself so solidly during kata. He also is credited with introducing the Rohai and Chinto katas.
Choshin Chibana, founder of the Shorin-ryu splinter Kobayashi-ryu, began his training under Yasutsune Itosu. With the growth and development of te, he wanted to differentiate his from other systems and so named it Kobayashi-Ryu.
Chibana was an instructor for the Shuri police department and became the first president of the Okinawan Karate-do Renmei. He was also first president of the Shorin-ryu Karate-do Kyokai and received the 4th Order of Merit from the Emperor for his contribution to martial arts.
Chotoku Kyan was introduced to martial arts as a young boy in a bid to improve his ill health. His early training was under Sokon Matsumura and later with Yasutsune Itosu. He also trained with Tomari-te's Kokan Oyadomari. Renowned for his sped and ability with the bo, Kyan was never defeated in a challenge, even though he was small in stature. He named his system of Shorin-ryu Shobayashi-ryu.
Shoshin Nagamine also began his martial arts training to improve his health. He was a student or three prominent sensei named Ankichi Arakaki, Chotoku Kyan and Choki Motobu. Nagamine founded Matybayashi-ryu in 1947, laming the system in honour of 5okon Matsumura and Kosaku Vfatsumora. In a decorated life iedicated to martial arts, Nagamine ichieved a 10th degree black belt in karate, a 3rd degree in Kendo and a 1st degree in Judo. He was also on he board of the Zen Okinawan Carate-do Renmei.
A minor form of Shorin-ryu named Matsumura Orthodox or Matsumura Seito was founded by Hohan Soken. Before Matsumura died, he passed the leadership of his system to his nephew, Nabe Matsumura. At an early age, Soken began to train with Nabe Matsumura, his uncle, and became his only student. After many years of training, Soken carried on the traditions taught by his uncle. Unlike Itosu, Soken was very selective in his students as he wanted to keep the teachings true to tradition.
Shorin-ryu is a natural flow, avoid of unbalanced stances or natural breathing patterns. It has unique patterns of coiling and of relaxing power, allowing easier concentration of force and the attainment of speedy actions. To best develop the skills involved in the art of the single, deadly blow, training is targeted at tightly bound bales of straw. Nor is the art limited to passive modes of defense: the ability to release an effective counterattack in defense is a crucial element, summarized as "Offense is an effective form of Defense."
The system tends to use more upright stances than the Japanese styles, giving the Okinawan stylist more mobility. The Okinawan stylist does not emphasize constant forward pressure when engaging in a confrontation, nor does he use indirect countering like the Chinese stylist. Instead he maintains enough flexibility to use both approaches.
Our karate is firmly planted in the Shuri Te tradition with influence from Tomari Te influenced Shorin Ryu schools. However our background reflects the Kobayashi Shorin Ryu branch more than any. dent reach their full potential and achieve their goals.
choshin chibana
Chosin Chibana was born in Shuri on June 5, 1886, into a modest family. As a boy, he worked in the fields to help with his families livlihood. He attended Okinawa Prefectual Grammer School. In 1898, Chibana successfully met the requirements necessary to enter Okinawa Prefectural Daiich Middle School, but left school in mid-course in 1900 to become a student of the widely known authority of Karate, Ankoh Itotsu. Chibana devoted his total life to the study of Karate under Itotsu Sensei for 13 years.
During this time, Chibana was a classmate to men like himself, who were to leave their mark on Karate across the world. Students studying under Itotsu Sensei with Chibana were Kenwa Mabuni, Choki Oshiro, and Masashige Shiromo, to just name a few. In 1920, Chibana Sensei opened two dojos, one in Shuri and one in Naha. Shortly before this time, Karate had been introduced to mainland Japan by several of Chibana's classmates, Kenwa Mabuni and Gichin Funakoshi. During this surge of interest in Karate, many Karatemen sought ways of making what they knew more appealing, but Chibana Sensei maintained that it would take him a lifetime to understand thoroughly what he had been taught by Itotsu Sensei. He devoted his life to this principle. He could often be heard sayging, "Karate is teaching Kata (form) we have taken from forefathers without changing it at all." When the many changes were taking place in Karate with the naming of different systems by Ryu names, Chibana Sensei named his system Shorin-Ryu to denote tht he was teaching exactly as he had been taught by Itotsu Sensei. While training his students, he also coached students at three universities in mainland Japan; Takushoku University, Tyo University and Nihon University, through explanation of military exercise before the Pacific War.
After the war and Okinawa had recovered from the destitution, Chibana Sensei started to teach again to those students who had no been killed in the war. Many of his top students served and died for the Japanese Imperial Army. Having devoted his total life to teaching Karate and never having another vocation, in 1956 at the age of 71, he organized the Okinawa Karate Federation and took offfice as its first president. This was a big step for Chibana Sensei because the Okinawa Karate Federation was made up of main Ryus that had developed in Okinawa. This was the beginning of the end of the quarreling between school and system as to whose system was the best. In 1957, because of his efforts to unite Karate on and system as to whose system was the best. In 1957, because of his efforts to unite Karate on and system as to whose system was the best. In 1957, because of his efforts to unite Karate on Okinawa and his total dedication to Karate, he was given the degree of "Hanshi no Sogo" (Doctorial Master) by theDai Nippon Butokukai. This was the highest rank ever given to any Karate insructor and no one has received this rank since. In 1960, he was awarded a special athletic prize by the Okinawa Times.
In 1961, he seceded from the presidency of the Okinawa Karate Federation to devote more time to his disciples. At this time, he organized the Okinawa Shorin-Ryu Karate Association made up of his disciples. From this time, although 76 years old, he devoted all his energies to his followers. In February 1969, at the age of 84, Chibana Sensei passed away after a short illness, leaving behind him a life completely devoted to Karate and the almost impossible feat of having trained five of his disciples, Chozo Nakama, Katsuya Miyshira, Kensei Kinjo, Yuchoku Higa, and Shugoro Nakazato, to the stage of Kyudan (9th Degree) Karate Master.