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-History
of Okinawan Kobayashi Shorin Ryu Karatedo-
Okinawa,
Japan birthplace of modern day karatedo and kobudo. The following is a compilation of different sources of information
about the evolvement of Kobayashi Shorin Ryu and Okinawan Kobudo. Historians believe that the art of Okinawa Te, first
originated independently of any other combat system. it is also believed that this system on unarmed combat can be traced
back over 1000 years. Because the islanders were of not of wealthy status, weapons were scares. Also the islands own un-unification
gave rise to many aggressive warlords, each battling for supremacy of the island. As a result these circumstances rendered
a strong incentive for the evolvement of unarmed combat.
By
the mid 1340's, Okinawa entered into a trade relationship with China. This trade and political friendship allowed the Okinawan
people to observe the different aspects of China, and were thus exposed to Chinese boxing systems. Furthermore, by the late
1300's, in a tributary relationship, 36 Chinese families and businessmen settled on Okinawa. These families brought with them
a variety of skills, including Chinese martial arts.
Through
the 1400's, the island experienced much turmoil. At first the island was unified by King Sho Hashi in 1429. At this time the
Okinawan's were still able to posses weapons. However in 1470, King Sho Hashi destroyed the former dynasty and made due with
his own. Soon all arms were banned on the island, in fear that the reign might be over thrown. As a result, the emphasis on
the fighting arts further progressed. The main villages of Okinawa are credited with the main styles that emerged from Okinawa
Te. From the village of Shuri, came Shuri Te. From the village of Naha, came Naha Te. Finally from the village of Tomari,
came Tomari Te.
Beside
empty hand combat, the Okinawan's also began the practice of Kobudo (weapons). Because of King Sho Hashi's ban on the traditional
weapons (such as the samurai sword), the Okinawan's began using their everyday farming implements as weapons. From this practice
the most commonly thought of weapons became known as the: Bo (six foot staff), the Eku (six foot oar), the Kama (grass or
cain sickle), the Tonfa (utility handle), and the Nunchaku (horse bit, and even rice flail). However because the Okinawan's
never restrained the practice of survival, it is conceivable that these particular weapons might not have been the only weapons
practiced. In fact the Zen Okinawan Kobudo Renmei (Matayoshi Kobudo), makes use of the Kuwa (Japanese Hoe), the Timbei
and Rochin (Shield and dagger), as well as the Nunti (Japanese like spear).
These
styles of unarmed and armed combat were practiced in secrecy for years. Differences between Te styles suggest the different
influences of various Chinese styles. Shuri-Te seem to utilize the external system of Shaolin boxing. While Naha-Te incorporates
the use of internal Taoist techniques. Tomari-Te appears to be a mix of both internal and external fighting systems.
These variances alone, are responsible for the evolvement the different systems into the distinct martial art styles they
are today.
In
1609, Okinawa was seized by the Japanese Satsuma Samurai clan, for refusing to recognize Japan's newest Shogun, Tokugawa Ieyasu.
As a result, the Shogunate banned the Okinawa people from carrying weapons. This only further fueled the importance of further
developing the martial arts as a means of survival.
Although
at this time the Japanese had banned all trade relationships with other countries. The Japanese still, however, allowed Okinawa
to trade with China.
As
a result, around the mid to late 1700's a Chinese diplomat named, Kusanku, moved to Okinawa for 6 years. During his stay he
began teaching the Chinese system of Ch'uan-Fa. As these influences became introduced into the different local martial arts,
they gradually became known as Tode (or Chinese Hand). By the 1800's these styles were again re-named. Shuri and Tomari-Te
formed the basis for Okinawan Sho Rin Ryu, while Naha-Te formed Goju Ryu and Uechi Ryu.
Although
Kusanku is often believed to be a culmination of different Chinese officers, he is often referred to as one person. As is
recorded, Tode Sakugawa began studying under Kusanku-sensei. The teachings of Kusanku enabled Sakugawa to combine the
essence of both Te and Chinese Boxing principles. These principles form the basis of modern day Shorin Ryu.
The
following is a record of the lineage of Shorin Ryu Karatedo. Each master featured was the direct instructor of the next.
Listed art the names of the kata's each instructor was either known for or even intruduced into the system.
HISTORY and LINEAGE of
SHIDO-KAN SHORIN-RYU KARATE-DO
Sokon "Bushi" Matsumura
Yasutsune "Anko" Itosu
Chosin Chibana
Katsuya Miyahira
LINEAGE
CHART
There is a commonly believed theory that a Buddhist monk from India, Bodhidharma
(called Ta Mo in Chinese and Daruma, Daishu, Dharma, or Daruma Tasshi in Japanese), traveled to China circa 525 A.D.
It is thought that Bodhidharma arrived at the Northern Shaolin Monastery located in Honan Province. While there, he
began teaching his form of Buddhism. Seeing that the physical condition of his students was not up to the challenge
placed on them by the harsh mental discipline that he imposed on them, he developed a series of exercises known as the Shih
Pa Lo Han Sho, which he supposedly originated by watching animals in combat. It is believed that this is the foundation
of the Chinese fistic arts known as Chuan Fa. It is thought that in subsequent years, Chinese traders and merchants
who were experts in Chuan Fa went to Okinawa where their fighting techniques were mixed with the local combat methods called
Tode. This formed the basis for karate.
In 1609 A.D. the Satsuma clan of Japan's southernmost island, Kyushu, conquered
Okinawa. At that time, the Japanese samurai ruled supreme and the Okinawans were forbidden to carry weapons. They
found it necessary to develop an alternative means of self-defense. In secret, they began to refine the technique we
now call karate, or the way of the empty hand, until their unarmed bodies were as deadly as the swords that were taken from
them.
Where and how karate was taught was a mystery to most Okinawans, for to be
introduced to the discipline was to be marked as one of the most poised and trusted human beings and was an honor as high
as any that could be bestowed. They also originated methods of defense using farm implements that became known as te-gua,
kobujutsu or kobudo. As time went on, the cities of Shuri, Naha and Tomari became the centers of karate development.
In the more settled times that followed, karate, although remaining secret and known only through word of mouth on the island
of Okinawa, became a course of exercise valued for its health and character building.
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Originally, the karate of Okinawa was simply referred to as "Te" (pronounced 'tay')
meaning hand. It is stated that all styles that were practiced on the island of Okinawa came under this term and that
it was not until 1830 that the name Shorin-ryu was first used. Around that date an Okinawan official, Sokon "Bushi"
Matsumura (1809-1899), while working as a bodyguard and court instructor for the King of Okinawa, was sent to China by the
king to study the Chinese methods of fighting. It is said that Matsumura mastered a form of Shaolin Temple Boxing (called
Shorin-ji-ryu in Japanese) and then returned to Okinawa to teach this art. He taught the art in Shuri, the capitol of
Okinawa, and referred to it as "Shorinryugokoku-an-karate-jutsu." Because of his mastery of his art, the King of Okinawa
appointed him as the first Chief Martial Arts Instructor of Okinawa.
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Okinawan Karate-do owes a tremendous debt to a man named Yasutsune "Anko" Itosu, a
Matsumura disciple. Itosu is considered the Father of Okinawan Karate and is the first person responsible for publicly
teaching the art, and for its spread to the Japanese mainland where it eventually played an essential role in the militaristic
indoctrination program.
Around 1903, Itosu taught the art of Shuri-te (or karate, as practiced in the city
of Shuri) at the Central Okinawan Middle School located in Shuri. In 1905 he became teacher at the Prefectural Dai Ichi
College and the Prefectural Teachers' Training College. Because of this, Shuri-te (now called Shorin-ryu) grew in popularity
and Itosu saw a need to develop some new teaching methods for the many new beginners. It was during this period that
he developed the Naihanchi and Pinan series of kata that Shorin-ryu presently uses.
Although Itosu is regarded as the father of Okinawan Karate, it was his student,
Chosin Chibana, who systematized Itosu's style of karate-jutsu and officially changed its name in 1926, from Shuri-te-do-karate-jutsu
to Okinawan Shorin-ryu Karate-jutsu.
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Chosin Chibana was born June 5, 1885, at Tottori-cho in Shuri-shi, Okinawa. He
began training with Itosu in 1900, after dropping out of the Okinawa Kenritsu Dai-Ichi Chu-gakko (high school). He was
15 years old. He studied with Itosu until Itosu's death on August 30, 1915, at the age of 85. Five years after
Itosu's death Chibana began teaching on his own. His first dojo was located at Tottoribori. As his reputation
spread he was able to open a second dojo in Kumo-cho, Naha City, then several others.
Chibana remained on the island of Okinawa during World War II and narrowly escaped
death when Shuri was destroyed by the Americans in 1945. After the war, he once again began teaching Shorin-ryu in Giho-cho
which is a section of the city of Shuri. From February, 1954, until December, 1958, he was the Chief Karate-do Instructor
for the Shuri City Police Department. May 5, 1956, on the formation of the Okinawa Karate-do Federation (of which he
was a founding member), he was elected its first president. Two years later, he formed and was president of the Okinawa
Shorin-ryu Karate-do Association.
Chibana's reputation as a karate master continued to spread, not only on Okinawa
but also in mainland Japan. By 1957, he had received the title of "Hanshi" (high master) from the Dai Nippon Butokukai
(The Greater Japan Martial Virtues Association) and in 1960, he received the Physical Culture Distinguished Services Award
from the Okinawa Times newspaper for his overall accomplishments in the study and practice of traditional Okinawan Karate-do.
On April 29, 1968, in recognition for his devotion to the study and practice of traditional Okinawan Karate-do, Chibana brought
further honor to Okinawan Karate-do by being awarded the Kunyonto (4th) Order of the Sacred Treasure from Japan's Emperor
Hirohito.
"Chosin Chibana
would not take on any prospective student of bad character."
In 1964, Chibana was diagnosed with terminal cancer. However, due to his dedication
to the art of Shorin-ryu, he continued to teach even though his body began to weaken as the cancer spread. By 1966,
he was admitted to Tokyo's Cancer Research Center (Tokyo Gan Center) for radiation treatment, as an attempt to arrest the
spread of the cancer. After some improvement, Chibana resumed his teaching with his grandson, Akira Nakazato.
By the end of 1968, his condition became worse and he returned to Ohama Hospital. Despite the doctors' efforts to save
his life, he died at 6:40 a.m. on February 26, 1969, at the age of 83.
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Grand Master Chosin Chibana appointed Katsuya Miyahira to succeed him. Miyahira
was born on August 16, 1918, in Nishihara, Okinawa. In 1933, at the age of 15, he began studying under the great Chibana
and by 1948 had received a "Shihan" (Master Instructor) certificate from him. During the Second World War he taught
self-defense in Manchuria. After the war he returned to Okinawa and taught karate in his garden at Keneku village in
Nishihara. He later moved to Tsuboya in Naha and opened a dojo at Goeku, while teaching karate twice a week at the University
of the Ryukyus in Shuri, where he taught many American servicemen. In 1956 he built a wooden dojo called the Shido-kan,
behind his house in Tsuboya. In 1958 he was honored by the Dai Nippon Butokukai with the award of the title, "Karate-do
Kyoshi" (Full Teacher of Karate-do). He was promoted to 8th Dan in 1962 and received his 9th Dan and "Hanshi" (high
master) title from Grand Master Chibana in 1967.
He became the 10th Dan and assumed the role of president of the Okinawa Shorin-ryu
Karate-do Association after the Death of Chibana in 1969. Grand Master Miyahira has since received numerous awards.
Two of the most recent are the Martial Arts Distinguished Service Award presented by Shigeyoshi, president of Japan Martial
Arts Conference Committee in 1990, the highest honor of its kind in the world of Japanese martial arts; and the Heisei 7th
Fiscal Year Person of Distinguished Service to Naha Municipal Government Award presented in 1995 by Kosei Oyadomari, mayor
of the city of Naha, Okinawa.
His major contributions have been the introduction of obligatory analytical exercises
(bunkai) for each of the kata and the deepening of the philosophical study of karate-do. Miyahira Hanshi stresses the
ideas of reason, justice, solidarity and cooperation.
History of Okinawan Karate to view the Video please click the link on the bottom.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQliIyrOMO4
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