History

Karate is a martial art that originated in Okinawa, and its origins are said to have originated from the ancient Ryukyu martial art of “Te” (meaning hands). The art of Te was developed uniquely in the Ryukyus through interactions with other countries, and its techniques and characteristics differ depending on where it developed in the Ryukyus. The martial art mainly practiced by the Shuri “samurai” clans, including the Royal Family of the Ryukyu Kingdom, is called Shuri-te, and refers to a lineage that has been inherited and developed mainly in the Shuri Castle towns. One school that directly descends from that lineage is the current Okinawa Shorin-ryu. Master Matsumura Sokon (1809-1899), who served as a Martial Arts Instructor and a Special Attendant to the Kings of the Ryukyus, served as the Master of Martial Arts under three kings of the late Ryukyu Kingdom (the 17th King Sho Ko, the 18th King Sho Iku and the 19th King Sho Tai). He also taught many of his disciples who also served the kingdom. His civic name was known throughout the Ryukyus as “Bushi Matsumura,” and his name is deeply engraved in the history of the Ryukyus. One of Master Matsumura’s top students, Anko Itosu, is also called the “Master of Shuri-te,” and in 1901 he introduced karate to be incorporated into the school physical education curriculum. He worked hard to popularize karate. Furthermore, Master Itosu created the Pin’An Katas as a simplified method for learning the katas, and taught techniques and training methods. He also made great achievements. In 1933, Choshin Chibana (1885-1969), a senior disciple of Master Itosu, established his own lineage as Shorin-ryu, with the aim of preserving the techniques and teachings passed down from his predecessor and further contributing to the development of future generations of karate practitioners in a more systematic manner. In 1948, the Okinawa Shorin-ryu Karate Association was established. Shugoro Nakazato and Katsuya Miyahira inherited Okinawa Shorin-ryu as direct students of Master Choshin Chibana. Kenyu Chinen studied under Master Nakazato and Master Miyahira, and has inherited the Okinawa Shorin-ryu, which is descended from Shuri-te. The fundamental kata of Okinawa Shorin-ryu is Naihanchi, and it is also one of the most important training kata.