was an Okinawan karate

Karate

is a martial art developed in the Ryukyu Islands in what is now Okinawa, Japan. It was developed from indigenous fighting methods called and Chinese kenpō. Karate is a striking art using punching, kicking, knee and elbow strikes, and open-handed techniques such as knife-hands. Grappling, locks,...

 master. He studied Tomari-te under Karyu Uku (aka Giko Uku) and Kishin Teruya. He also studied Jigen-ryu. Among Matsumora's students, who went on to influence new generations through students of their own, were Choki Motobu and Chotoku Kyan.

Teaching Kyan

Matsumora is credited as the master who taught Chotoku Kyan the kata Chinto (his own version, not to be confused with Sokon Matsumura

Sokon Matsumura

was one of the original karate masters of Okinawa. His life is reported variously as or or or -Early history:...

's version of the same kata). Another student of Matsumora, Maeda Pechin

Pechin

The is an Okinawan term for the warrior class of the former Ryūkyū Kingdom , the class equivalent of the Japanese Samurai...

, is credited with teaching Kyan the kata Wanshu.

Fame

Kosaku Matsumora became famous at the age of 20 when he stole a sword out of the hands of an angry Satsuma overlord using only a "wet towel" as a weapon. Matsumora quickly the moist Japanese towel which he had recently been in a habit of carrying concealed inside his garment. Matsumora hit the astonished samurai with the wet towel and grabbed the sword. In the process, Matsumora lost a thumb. He threw the thumb and he sword in the nearby Asato River.
The official story comes from Nagamine. This event was so insulting to the hated Japanese overlords that Matsumora became an Okinawan folk hero overnight.

Additional information

• Akari-ki Karate: Kasaku Matsumora

See also

Pechin

Pechin

The is an Okinawan term for the warrior class of the former Ryūkyū Kingdom , the class equivalent of the Japanese Samurai...

/Peichin