Mabuni Kenei
Encyclopedia
is a Japan
ese martial arts expert
, holder of the 10th Dan
.
, the founder of the Shitō-ryū and one of the most important karate
experts in the history of the martial arts, he was in touch with karate and some of its greatest masters such as Miyagi Chojun, Funakoshi Gichin, or Motobu Chōki
from childhood. Besides his karate practice he also studied several other martial arts such as aikidō
, kendō
, Okinawan kobudō
, jujutsu
, jûdô
, and ninjutsu
. At the age of 34 he became the head of Shitō-ryū. Even today, in his old age, Kenei holds seminars in different parts of the world where he teaches authentic traditional karatedô.
In particular Mabuni Kenei emphasizes the importance of the spiritual contents and values of karatedō. Without generally refusing sport-oriented karate he supports a clear distinction between traditional karatedō and sport karate.
Among his achievements is the completion of the kata
Shimpā that his father had created but not completed. This kata was inspired by the Uechi-ryū. He is the author of several books about the Shitō-ryū techniques and of one book about the historical roots and the spiritual basics of karate as budō art.
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese martial arts expert
Martial arts
Martial arts are extensive systems of codified practices and traditions of combat, practiced for a variety of reasons, including self-defense, competition, physical health and fitness, as well as mental and spiritual development....
, holder of the 10th Dan
Dan (rank)
The ranking system is a Japanese mark of level, which is used in modern fine arts and martial arts. Originally invented in a Go school in the Edo period, this system was applied to martial arts by Kanō Jigorō, the founder of judo and later introduced to other East Asia countries.In the modern...
.
Personal history
Kenei Mabuni was born in Shuri, Okinawa. As the son of Kenwa MabuniKenwa Mabuni
was one of the first karateka to teach karate on mainland Japan and is creditied as developing the style known as Shitō-ryū .-Achievements:# Funakoshi Gichin learned kata from Kenwa Mabuni: In order to expand his knowledge he sent his son Gigō to study kata in Mabuni's dōjō in Osaka.# Kenwa Mabuni,...
, the founder of the Shitō-ryū and one of the most important 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,...
experts in the history of the martial arts, he was in touch with karate and some of its greatest masters such as Miyagi Chojun, Funakoshi Gichin, or Motobu Chōki
Motobu Choki
The Okinawan karateka , younger brother of karateka Motobu Chōyū, was born in Akahira Village in Shuri, Okinawa, then capital of the Ryūkyū Kingdom....
from childhood. Besides his karate practice he also studied several other martial arts such as aikidō
Aikido
is a Japanese martial art developed by Morihei Ueshiba as a synthesis of his martial studies, philosophy, and religious beliefs. Aikido is often translated as "the Way of unifying life energy" or as "the Way of harmonious spirit." Ueshiba's goal was to create an art that practitioners could use to...
, kendō
Kendo
, meaning "Way of The Sword", is a modern Japanese martial art of sword-fighting based on traditional Japanese swordsmanship, or kenjutsu.Kendo is a physically and mentally challenging activity that combines strong martial arts values with sport-like physical elements.-Practitioners:Practitioners...
, Okinawan kobudō
Okinawan kobudo
Okinawan kobudō is a Japanese term that can be translated as "old martial way of Okinawa"...
, jujutsu
Jujutsu
Jujutsu , also known as jujitsu, ju-jitsu, or Japanese jiu-jitsu, is a Japanese martial art and a method of close combat for defeating an armed and armored opponent in which one uses no weapon, or only a short weapon....
, jûdô
Judo
is a modern martial art and combat sport created in Japan in 1882 by Jigoro Kano. Its most prominent feature is its competitive element, where the object is to either throw or takedown one's opponent to the ground, immobilize or otherwise subdue one's opponent with a grappling maneuver, or force an...
, and ninjutsu
Ninjutsu
or may be:*the arts associated with espionage and assassination in feudal Japan, see Ninja*modern schools of martial arts claiming to be based in these traditions, see Modern Schools of Ninjutsu*fictional depictions, see Ninja in popular culture...
. At the age of 34 he became the head of Shitō-ryū. Even today, in his old age, Kenei holds seminars in different parts of the world where he teaches authentic traditional karatedô.
In particular Mabuni Kenei emphasizes the importance of the spiritual contents and values of karatedō. Without generally refusing sport-oriented karate he supports a clear distinction between traditional karatedō and sport karate.
Among his achievements is the completion of the kata
Karate kata
Kata is a Japanese word describing detailed patterns of movements practiced either solo or in pairs....
Shimpā that his father had created but not completed. This kata was inspired by the Uechi-ryū. He is the author of several books about the Shitō-ryū techniques and of one book about the historical roots and the spiritual basics of karate as budō art.
Sources
- Gabrielle & Roland Habersetzer, Encyclopédie des arts martiaux de l'Extrême-Orient, Ed. Amphora, Paris, 2004.
External links
- http://www.shitokai.co.uk/kenei.html/ British Karate-Do Shito-Kai
- http://www.shitoryu.org/ Canadian & International Shito-Ryu Karate Resource Center