Shorin Ryu Karatedo
Shorin Ryu Karatedo
the primary martial art we study is shorin ryu karatedo
Karatedo originated in China during the 5th century A.D. with an Indian man’s visit to the Shaolin Monastery. The visitor, known as Bodhidarma (Chinese) or Dharuma (Japanese), taught the Shaolin monks a combination of ch’an meditation (Zen in Japanese), breathing, and fighting techniques. This fighting system was further developed by the monks and called Shaolin Temple Boxing. A clear connection between this ancient form and our own style, Shobayashi Shorin Ryu, is revealed through a simple linguistic analysis. Shaolin and Shorin are actually phonetic interpretations of the characters which mean “small forest”. The Japanese pronunciation for the same characters is sho bayashi. Thus, Shorin Ryu karate is directly related to Shaolin Temple Boxing.
from china to okinawa
It took a long time, however, for this practice to expand from its place of origin. The Chinese first demonstrated their martial art in Okinawa during the 14th century, when the two countries were involved in heavy trade, but it was not until the 18th century that the art really began to spread. It was at this time that Kusanku, the Chinese military official, came to Okinawa. He allegedly gave a demonstration in 1761, which included punching, jumping, kicking, and blocking techniques and subsequently began teaching chuan fa (fist way) during his visits to Okinawa. Kusanku therefore played a major role in the expansion of this martial art.
Important Figures in the Evolution
Other important figures in the evolution of karatedo are Peichin Takahara and Tode Sakugawa. An Okinawan renowned in the indigenous art of tode, Monk Takahara was the first to explain the meaning of the word “do” as it applied to karate. He cited three aspects of do: igo, the way or spiritual aspect; ho, the self-defense application; and katsu, the life- giving or practice and understanding of the physical techniques. Tode Sakugawa, who had studied with both Takahara and Kusanku, combined the teachings of the two instructors to form a blend of chuan fa and tode called karatedo (Chinese hand way). The name of our system has thus evolved.
Some of the more prominent students of Bushi Matsumura, who is considered one of the original karate masters of Okinawa, include Yatsutsune “Ankoh” Itoso (1830-1915), Chotoku Kyan (1870-1944), and Choki Motobu (1871-1944). Little is known about Motobu, except that he was famous for numerous fights and brawls and was the first karate practitioner to defeat a Western boxer. He also instructed some of the most renowned martial artists, although he did not propagate a school of his own. Itosu, known for his great strength and agility, introduced karatedo into the public school system. Here he broke down the complicated Kusanku kata into five shorter forms called Pinan.
Shobayashi Shorin Ryu
Itosu’s contemporary, Kanryo Higashionna (1845-1915), influenced Shorin Ryu in yet another way. After spending twenty years in China, Higashionna returned to Okinawa and began teaching a soft or internal style of martial art called Naha-te or Higashionna-ha. This system taught kicking techniques. Named Goju (hard, soft) Ryu by Higashionna’s student Chojun Miyagi, this system became the other primary influence of Okinawan karate styles. Two of the Goju kata – Sanchin and Seiunchin – have been incorporated into Shobayashi Shorin Ryu by Shimabukuro Eizo O’Sensei (1925-2017).
Although Shimabukuro O’Sensei studied under Myagi before taking up Shorin Ryu, it was Chotoku Kyan who had the greatest impact upon him. Kyan studied under both Itosu and Matsumura and taught, among others, Choshon Chibana, Shoshin Nagamine, Tatsuo Shimabukuro, and Eizo Shimabukuro. Chibana (1887-1969) headed Kobayshi Ryu, Nagamine (1907-1997) headed Matsubayashi Ryu, and Tatsuo Shimabukuro founded his own system called Isshin Ryu. Kobayashi Ryu is essentially the same as Shobayashi, while Matsubayashi Ryu is slightly different and Isshin Ryu uses the same kata as Shobayashi Ryu with some changes in technique. Yet despite these variations, the people who headed the three styles all share a common bond. Instructed by the master Kyan, they are each a reflection of their sensei’s greatness (Shimabukuro O’Sensei often said that the usage of the descriptions of Matsubayashi, Kobayashi and Shobayashi are used in the United States and not in Okinawa).
Perhaps the clearest evidence of Kyan’s immeasurable skill is exemplified by our own grand master Shimabukuro Eizo O’Sensei. As Kyan Sensei’s top student, Shimabukuro O’Sensei was left in charge of the Shobayashi Shorin Ryu system at the time of Kyan’s death.
Eizo Shimabukuro Hanshi
Shimabukuro O’Sensei, born in the village of Gushikawa on April 19, 1925, was left in charge of the Shobayashi Shorin Ryu system at the time of Kyan’s death. Having received the tenth dan red belt at the age of thirty-four in 1959, Shimabukuro O’Sensei holds the distinction of being the youngest person to ever achieve such an honor. His 10th dan was awarded by Kanken Toyama Sensei and his certificate is No. 25. Toyama Sensei also made him the Chairman of the Okinawan branch of the All Japan Karatedo League. The Japanese government gave Toyama Sensei the title of “Master Instructor” and the authority to award 10th dans in any system of Okinawan or Japanese karatedo. Shimabukuro O’Sensei was the head of the Okinawan Shorin Ryu Karatedo International Association (OSKIA) League (In 1994, Shimabukuro O’Sensei changed the association name on his certificates to indicate “OSKIA” instead of the All Japan Karatedo League.). O’Sensei was honored with a Judan (10th Dan) certificate from the Rengokai Association on Okinawa.
Shimabukuro O’Sensei studied Kobujustu (ancient weaponry) under Shinken Taira and incorporated it into our karate system. Shimabukuro Sensei noted that his major instructors were Chotokan Kyan Sensei (1937), Chojun Miyagi Sensei (1938), Choki Motobu Sensei (1943), Zenryo Shimabukuro Sensei (1955) and his brother Tatsuo Shimabukkuro Sensei.
First Dojo in Okinawa
In May of 1948, Shimabukuro O’Sensei opened his first dojo. Grand Master Shimabukuro estimated that he has personally trained as many as 35,000 troops including the Army and Air Force. For all he has contributed to karatedo, he continued to aid in its growth and development by sharing his knowledge with other followers of the art. Eizo Shimabukuro O’Sensei has taught hundreds of students, recording each one’s name in a book that he took on all his tours. Thus, our history is recorded and the spirit of karate-do lives on.
from okinawa to the united states
The Shorin Ryu Karate-we study came to the United States by Herbert Wong Kyoshi (1940-2018). Herbert Wong Kyoshi began studying with O’Sensei in the early 1960’s. At that time, he had already earned his Nidan from Walter Todd Shibucho in Kanken Toyama’s Shudokan Karatedo and had been competing nationally and internationally (he also had backgrounds in kung fu, judo, and aikido, as well). Kanken Toyama had written a letter of introduction to Choshin Chibana for Wong Kyoshi to study with him in Okinawa; however, because of the slowness of international mail by boat at the time, he had personally selected O’Sensei Shimabukuro’s dojo instead based upon his observation of the way he taught and the quality of students practicing with him.
Wong Kyoshi also noted that O’Sensei had his 10th Dan and Shibucho issued by Kanken Toyama. O’Sensei’s Shibucho Certificate in Okinawa for the All Japan Karate-Do International League from Kanken Toyama was #25, dated 1959, and the Shibucho Certificate to Mr. Walter Todd for the United States All Japan Karate-Do International League from Kanken Toyama was #26, dated 1960.
Prior to Wong Kyoshi leaving Okinawa in 1965, O’Sensei had asked that he help systematize his training system. Wong Kyoshi is primarily responsible for much of the way we teach O’Sensei’s curriculum today.
lineage of shorin ryu and smoger sensei
Gary Hu Sensei and Karl Scott III Sensei of Ann Arbor, Michigan, were introduced to Shorin Ryu karatedo through Herbert Wong Kyoshi, 8th dan under Shimabukuro O’Sensei. Hu Sensei, Scott Sensei and Christensen Sensei have been primarily responsible for passing down Shorin Ryu karatedo to Smoger Sensei and our Club.
