Shobayashi-ryu
Encyclopedia
Shōbayashi Shōrin-ryu
Shōbayashi Shōrin-ryu ( is a style of Okinawan Shorin-ryu
karate
founded by Chotoku Kyan and passed to Eizo Shimabukuro. Eizo Shimabukuro dropped the Chatan Yara no Kusanku and the Oyadamari no Passai he learned from Chotoku Kyan and he added Kusanku Sho and Dai and Passai Sho and Dai of Yasutsune Itosu lineage. It is said that Eizo Shimabukuro learned these Itosu kata as well as Pinan Shodan to Godan and Naihanchin Shodan to Sandan from Choshin Chibana. However, in his book "Okinawa Karatedo Old Grandmaster Stories" Eizo Shimabukuro says that Chibana was too old to teach and so Chibana referred Shimabukuro to his senior student, Nakazato, for instruction. Eizo Shimabuku also added two kata from his time in Goju-ryu with Chojun Miyagi. These kata being Seiunchin and Sanchin (Eizo Shimabukuro used to call his version of Sanchin, Sanchu).
Kanga Sakukawa
blended Kusanku's chuan fa with indigenous Okinawan martial arts to form the first martial art style called karate. His student Sokon Matsumura
blended Sakukawa's style with Shaolin kung fu
to form Suri-te karate.
Matsumura was Anko Itosu's
primary instructor, and both Matsumura and Itosu instructed Chotoku Kyan and Choki Motobu. Several of Kyan's students would go on to lead their own branches of karate. These are: Shoshin Nagamine
(Matsubayashi-ryu
), Tatsuo Shimabukuro
(Isshin-ryu
), Eizo Shimabukuro, Joen Nakazato (Shorinji-ryu), and Zenryo Shimabukuro (Chubu Shorin-ryu).
Eizo Shimabukuro studied under Chojun Miyagi
before taking up Suri-te under Chotoku Kyan. Although Kyan then became his primary instructor, Shimabukuro also studied under Choki Motobu and weapons under Taira Shinken
. When Kyan died in 1945, Shimabukuro was left in charge of the Shobayashi-ryu system. In 1959 at the Kodokan in Japan, Kanken Tōyama
promoted Eizo Shimabukuro to 10th Dan. At the age of 34, Shimabukuro was the youngest person ever to receive such an honor.
Shimabukuro was also the instructor of Matt Larsen
(who later founded the US Army Combatives School) and American kickboxer Joe Lewis
and Bill Wallace.
Shimabukuro currently lives in Okinawa and actively teaches classes on the island. He also tours around the United States upon request, visiting dojo
s within his organization and performing demonstrations on proper form and technique.
Shōbayashi Shōrin-ryu ( is a style of Okinawan Shorin-ryu
Shorin-Ryu
is one of the major modern Okinawan martial arts. It was founded by Choshin Chibana in 1933. Shōrin-ryū combines elements of the traditional Okinawan fighting styles of Shuri-te.-History:Chosin Chibana was a top student of the great master of shuri-te, Anko Itosu...
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,...
founded by Chotoku Kyan and passed to Eizo Shimabukuro. Eizo Shimabukuro dropped the Chatan Yara no Kusanku and the Oyadamari no Passai he learned from Chotoku Kyan and he added Kusanku Sho and Dai and Passai Sho and Dai of Yasutsune Itosu lineage. It is said that Eizo Shimabukuro learned these Itosu kata as well as Pinan Shodan to Godan and Naihanchin Shodan to Sandan from Choshin Chibana. However, in his book "Okinawa Karatedo Old Grandmaster Stories" Eizo Shimabukuro says that Chibana was too old to teach and so Chibana referred Shimabukuro to his senior student, Nakazato, for instruction. Eizo Shimabuku also added two kata from his time in Goju-ryu with Chojun Miyagi. These kata being Seiunchin and Sanchin (Eizo Shimabukuro used to call his version of Sanchin, Sanchu).
History
Although Chinese martial arts began spreading to Okinawa in the 14th century, it was not prominent until the 18th century, when Kusanku, a Chinese military official, visited Okinawa and gave a demonstration. In subsequent visits, he started teaching "chuan fa" (meaning "fist way") to Okinawans.Kanga Sakukawa
Kanga Sakukawa
, also Sakugawa Satunushi and Tode Sakugawa, was an Okinawan martial arts master and major contributor to the development of Te, the precursor to modern karate.-Karate-do:...
blended Kusanku's chuan fa with indigenous Okinawan martial arts to form the first martial art style called karate. His student Sokon Matsumura
Sokon Matsumura
was one of the original karate masters of Okinawa. His life is reported variously as or or or -Early history:...
blended Sakukawa's style with Shaolin kung fu
Shaolin kung fu
Shaolin Kung Fu refers to a collection of Chinese martial arts that claim affiliation with the Shaolin Monastery.Of the multitude styles of kung fu and wushu, only some are actually related to Shaolin...
to form Suri-te karate.
Matsumura was Anko Itosu's
Anko Itosu
is considered by many the father of modern karate, although this title is also often given to Gichin Funakoshi because the latter spread karate throughout Japan.- Biography :...
primary instructor, and both Matsumura and Itosu instructed Chotoku Kyan and Choki Motobu. Several of Kyan's students would go on to lead their own branches of karate. These are: Shoshin Nagamine
Shoshin Nagamine
was a Japanese author, soldier, police officer and karate master.-Early Life and Karate-do:Nagamine was born in Tomari, in Naha City, Okinawa. He was a small and sickly child, and he contracted a gastroenteric disorder in 1926, his second year of high school. He began a self-imposed diet and took...
(Matsubayashi-ryu
Matsubayashi-ryu
Matsubayashi-ryū , is a style of Okinawan karate that was founded in 1947 by Shōshin Nagamine . Its curriculum includes 18 kata, 7 two-man yakusoku kumite routines, and kobudō practice...
), Tatsuo Shimabukuro
Shimabuku Tatsuo
Tatsuo Shimabuku was the founder of Isshin-ryū karate.-Family:Tatsuo Shimabuku was born in Kyan [Chan] village, Okinawa, on September 19, 1908. He was the first of ten children born into a farming family. By the age of 12, he had a strong desire to study martial arts...
(Isshin-ryu
Isshin-ryu
is a style of Okinawan karate founded by Tatsuo Shimabuku and named by him on 15 January 1956. Isshin-Ryū karate is largely a synthesis of Shorin-ryū karate, Gojū-ryū karate, and kobudō. The name means, literally, "one heart method"...
), Eizo Shimabukuro, Joen Nakazato (Shorinji-ryu), and Zenryo Shimabukuro (Chubu Shorin-ryu).
Eizo Shimabukuro studied under Chojun Miyagi
Chojun Miyagi
was an Okinawan martial artist who founded the Goju-ryu school of karate.-Early life and training:Miyagi was born in Higashimachi, Naha, Okinawa on April 25, 1888, the adopted son of a wealthy businessman. He began his study in Karate-do at the age of nine . He first learned martial arts from Ryuko...
before taking up Suri-te under Chotoku Kyan. Although Kyan then became his primary instructor, Shimabukuro also studied under Choki Motobu and weapons under Taira Shinken
Shinken Taira
was a Japanese martial artist, born as in 1897 on Kume island in the Ryūkyū archipelago.- Early life :He was the second son in a family of three boys and one girl. He was given up for adoption as a child . In his early life he took on his mother's maiden name of Taira. Taira worked in the sulfur...
. When Kyan died in 1945, Shimabukuro was left in charge of the Shobayashi-ryu system. In 1959 at the Kodokan in Japan, Kanken Tōyama
Kanken Toyama
Kanken Tōyama was a Japanese schoolteacher and karate master, who developed the foundation for the Shūdōkan karate style....
promoted Eizo Shimabukuro to 10th Dan. At the age of 34, Shimabukuro was the youngest person ever to receive such an honor.
Shimabukuro was also the instructor of Matt Larsen
Matt Larsen
Matt Larsen is a United States Army Ranger and Combatives instructor known as "The Father of Modern Combatives" for creating the United States Army's modern combatives doctrine and establishing the U.S. Army Combatives School...
(who later founded the US Army Combatives School) and American kickboxer Joe Lewis
Joe Lewis (martial arts)
Joe Lewis is an American kickboxer, point karate fighter, and actor. As a fighter, Lewis gained fame for his matches in the 1960s and 1970s. He has twice been voted the greatest fighter in karate history, and has attained the titles of "United States Heavyweight Kickboxing Champion," "World...
and Bill Wallace.
Shimabukuro currently lives in Okinawa and actively teaches classes on the island. He also tours around the United States upon request, visiting dojo
Dojo
A is a Japanese term which literally means "place of the way". Initially, dōjōs were adjunct to temples. The term can refer to a formal training place for any of the Japanese do arts but typically it is considered the formal gathering place for students of any Japanese martial arts style to...
s within his organization and performing demonstrations on proper form and technique.
External links
- New York Rendokan - New York, NY
- Okinawan Shorinryu Alliance Karate, Inc. - Grand Prairie, TX
- Okinawan Karate Club - Dallas, TX
- Okinawan Karate Club of Atlanta - Atlanta, GA
- Okinawan Karate Club of San Francisco - San Francisco, CA
- Atlanta's Traditional Okinawan Karate-Do Dojo - Atlanta, GA
- Akari-ki Karate: Shobayashi Shorin-Ryu
- Extreme Karate - Southington, CT
- New England Rendokan - Rocky Hill & Westbrook, CT
- Koryu Karate - Decatur, IL
- Insideout Karate and Fitness Lake Tapps, WA
- http://www.rachelsschoolofdance.org/pages/karate.html