Okinawan history

Karate has its origins in the small island of Okinawa which is now part of Japan. In its history Okinawa was occupied by the Chinese and later by the Japanese. Both invading forces would not allow the people of Okinawa to carry arms and so the Okinawans, secretly, learned to fight with the open / empty hand; or in Okinawan, KARATE.

Many of the karate techniques were brought to Okinawa by various Chinese military attaches who had a strong knowledge of the Chinese KEMPO fighting style. It is also possible that fighting styles from Siam (Thailand) and India had an influence. Okinawa had its own fighting style called TE which was the basis of karate practised today.

Many Karate masters have developed their own styles; some lasting only as long as the master, while others, like Shorin-Ryu, have survived and are practiced worldwide.

Sokon MATSUMURA (1797 – 1889) is believed to be the founder of Shorin-Ryu. Sokon Matsumura was given the title BUSHI, by the Okinawan king, which means “warrior”. His fighting skills were legendary and he served as the King’s bodyguard for many years. He also spent much time in China studying the shaolin style of Chinese boxing and weaponry. Matsumura is credited as the originator of the Passai, Naihanchi and Kusanku kata’s. Legend has it that he was never defeated in a fight.

Sokon “Bushi” Matsumura’s Shorin-Ryu style was continued by his student Yasutsune ANKOH ITOSU (1832 – 1916) until 1915. Itosu simplified the Naihanchi kata and developed the Pinan kata, which were taken from more advanced kata. The Pinan kata were more suitable to introduce to Okinawan schools as part of the physical education curriculum.

Chosin CHIBANA (1885 – 1969) succeeded Itosu as Grandmaster of Shorin-Ryu and taught Itosu’s karate without alteration. He is said to have officially named the style Shorin-Ryu Kobayashi, adopting the Chinese characters that literally mean “small wood/forest”. He remained Grandmaster until 1969 when the current Grandmaster, Shugoro Nakazato, took over.

Shugoro NAKAZATO (1920 – 2016) was one of the most influential karate Grandmasters in Okinawa in his day. Nakazato added the Kihon and Fukyu kata to the syllabus and was a skilled kobudo practioner who taught bo, sai, tonfa, kama and nunchaku kata. In 1980 he was promoted to the rank of 10th degree Black Belt. Hanshi JuDan NAKAZATO sensei travelled widely to promote the traditional Okinawan Shorin-Ryu ShorinKan Karate (Kobayashi-ryu) system.

Minoro NAKAZATO – (   to present ) Hanshi JuDan Minoru Nakazato, 10th Dan Black Belt is the chairman of the Okinawa Karate-Do Shorin-Ryu Shorin Kan Association and also the Instructor in the International Okinawa Kobudo Federation.  He is the son of Hanshi JuDan Shugoro Nakazato.  Minoru Nakazato Hanshi has brought a youthful, vigorous method of training along with very fine details into Shorinkan since his appointment. Nakazato Hanshi travels the world to teach seminars and those students lucky enough to travel to Okinawa train directly with him at the headquarters dojo located in Aja, Nahashi.