Shoshin Nagamine
Encyclopedia
was a Japan
ese author
, soldier
, police officer
and karate
master.
, 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 up karate
under the watchful eye of his next-door neighbour, Chojin Kuba. Nagamine soon became a picture of good health, crediting his recovery to "hard work both at school and training of Karate"http://www.msisshinryu.com/masters/nagamine/. His health improved to such an extent that he became a leader of the school's karate club, and his friends dubbed him Chaippaii Matsu, a nickname
meaning "tenacious pine tree".
. Later that year, he was conscripted into the Japanese army
in the 47th Infantry Division
, and fought in China
before receiving an honourable discharge
in 1931.
Leaving the army, Nagamine sought an area in which his martial arts abilities would be useful, eventually settling on the police force
.
, and achieved the title of Renshi in 1940. By 1951, Nagamine was a Police Superintendent, of Motobu
, and was training his own officers in karate.
Nagamine retired as a policeman in 1952, and in 1953 he returned to Naha City and set up his own dojo
, which he named "Matsubayashi-Ryu Kododan Karate and Ancient Martial Arts Studies". From the dojo he taught Matsubayashi-ryu
, a karate school he had invented in 1947, and named in honour of Sokon Matsumura
and Kosaku Matsumora
. He continued to teach the discipline until his death in 1997. He was succeeded by his son, Takayoshi Nagamine, who is now the current sōke
of Matsubayashi-ryu
.
in 1976. This was translated in to the English language by Nagamine's student Katsuhiko Shinzato
. Tales of Okinawa's Great Masters received its first English translation in 2000; This was translated in to the English language by Patrick McCarthy [Bubishi].
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 author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
, soldier
Soldier
A soldier is a member of the land component of national armed forces; whereas a soldier hired for service in a foreign army would be termed a mercenary...
, police officer
Police officer
A police officer is a warranted employee of a police force...
and 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.
Early Life and Karate-do
Nagamine was born in Tomari, in Naha CityNaha, Okinawa
is the capital city of the Japanese prefecture of Okinawa.Naha is a coastal city located on the East China Sea coast of the southern part of Okinawa Island, the largest of the Ryukyu Islands...
, Okinawa. He was a small and sickly child, and he contracted a gastroenteric disorder
Gastroenteritis
Gastroenteritis is marked by severe inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract involving both the stomach and small intestine resulting in acute diarrhea and vomiting. It can be transferred by contact with contaminated food and water...
in 1926, his second year of high school
Secondary education in Japan
Secondary education in Japan is split into middle schools which cover the seventh through ninth grades, and high schools which mostly cover grades ten through twelve...
. He began a self-imposed diet and took up 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,...
under the watchful eye of his next-door neighbour, Chojin Kuba. Nagamine soon became a picture of good health, crediting his recovery to "hard work both at school and training of Karate"http://www.msisshinryu.com/masters/nagamine/. His health improved to such an extent that he became a leader of the school's karate club, and his friends dubbed him Chaippaii Matsu, a nickname
Nickname
A nickname is "a usually familiar or humorous but sometimes pointed or cruel name given to a person or place, as a supposedly appropriate replacement for or addition to the proper name.", or a name similar in origin and pronunciation from the original name....
meaning "tenacious pine tree".
Career in the Army
After graduation in March 1928, he began to study martial arts full time, moving to Shuri and training under Taro Shimabuku (島袋善良)and Ankichi ArakakiAnkichi Arakaki
born in 1899 in Shuri Okinawa became an Okinawan martial arts master who, despite dying at the age of 28 in 1927, is notable for aiding in the evolution of Shōrin-ryū karate...
. Later that year, he was conscripted into the Japanese army
Imperial Japanese Army
-Foundation:During the Meiji Restoration, the military forces loyal to the Emperor were samurai drawn primarily from the loyalist feudal domains of Satsuma and Chōshū...
in the 47th Infantry Division
Infantry
Infantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...
, and fought in China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
before receiving an honourable discharge
Military discharge
A military discharge is given when a member of the armed forces is released from their obligation to serve.-United States:Discharge or separation should not be confused with retirement; career U.S...
in 1931.
Leaving the army, Nagamine sought an area in which his martial arts abilities would be useful, eventually settling on the police force
Police
The police is a personification of the state designated to put in practice the enforced law, protect property and reduce civil disorder in civilian matters. Their powers include the legitimized use of force...
.
Career in the Police force
During his time as a police officer, Nagamine received further instruction in karate from Chotoku Kyan and Motobu ChokiMotobu Choki
The Okinawan karateka , younger brother of karateka Motobu Chōyū, was born in Akahira Village in Shuri, Okinawa, then capital of the Ryūkyū Kingdom....
, and achieved the title of Renshi in 1940. By 1951, Nagamine was a Police Superintendent, of Motobu
Motobu, Okinawa
is a town located in Kunigami District, Okinawa, Japan.As of 2003, the town has an estimated population of 14,481 and a density of 266.69 persons per km²...
, and was training his own officers in karate.
Nagamine retired as a policeman in 1952, and in 1953 he returned to Naha City and set up his own 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...
, which he named "Matsubayashi-Ryu Kododan Karate and Ancient Martial Arts Studies". From the dojo he taught 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...
, a karate school he had invented in 1947, and named in honour of Sokon Matsumura
Sokon Matsumura
was one of the original karate masters of Okinawa. His life is reported variously as or or or -Early history:...
and Kosaku Matsumora
Kosaku Matsumora
was an Okinawan karate master. He studied Tomari-te under Karyu 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....
. He continued to teach the discipline until his death in 1997. He was succeeded by his son, Takayoshi Nagamine, who is now the current sōke
Soke
The word soke has several meanings:* Soke , an early Western jurisdictional concept.* Soke or eke is a Tongan stick dance, originating from Wallis and Futuna., a Japanese title meaning "head of the family," and is usually used to denote the headmaster of a school of Japanese martial arts.* Soke of...
of 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...
.
Author
Nagamine wrote two books in Japanese, The Essence of Okinawan Karate-Do and Tales of Okinawa's Great Masters. The Essence of Okinawan Karate-Do, which has been reprinted many times, was first published in the English languageEnglish language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
in 1976. This was translated in to the English language by Nagamine's student Katsuhiko Shinzato
Katsuhiko Shinzato
Katsuhiko Shinzato is an Okinawan martial arts master and head of the Shōrin-ryū Kishaba Juku.-Life and Karate-do:Shinzato was born in Manila, in the Philippines. His father was a fisherman...
. Tales of Okinawa's Great Masters received its first English translation in 2000; This was translated in to the English language by Patrick McCarthy [Bubishi].
Sources
- Autobiographical article, written in 1992. Accessed 2005-09-23.
- The Founder of our Style, Nagamine Shoshin Sensei. Accessed 2005-09-23.
- History of the Matsubayashi-Ryu School Accessed 2005-09-23.
Further reading
- Nagamine, Shoshin, The Essence of Okinawan Karate-Do (Hardcover reissue) (1991), ISBN 0-8048-1163-6
- Nagamine, Shoshin, The Essence of Okinawan Karate-Do (Paperback edition) (1998), ISBN 0-8048-2110-0
- Nagamine, Shoshin, Tales of Okinawa's Great Masters (2000), ISBN 0-8048-2089-9