Okinawan Karate dates to the sixth century when Bodhidharma’s (Daruma), born in India, travels took him to China where he settled at a Shao-lin (Shorin in Japanese) Monastery. The introduction of ch’uan-fa (“fist way”) occurred in the late 1300’s with the expansion of trade and cultural exchanges between Okinawa and China. Evidence suggests that te (“hands”), in fact, was indigenous to Okinawa, (the birthplace of Karate), developing in the villages of Shuri, Naha and Tomari. Thus begins the lineage of Shorin-Ryu Kobayashi Karate from the Shuri-te system.

TAKAHARA, Peichin (1683-1760)

was revered as a great warrior and is attributed to have been the first to explain the aspects or principles of the word do (“way”). These principals are: 1) ijo, the way-compassion, humility and love. 2) katsu, the laws-complete understanding of all techniques and forms of karate, and 3) fo dedication seriousness of karate that must be understood not only in practice, but in actual combat. The collective translation is: “One’s duty to himself and his fellow man.” Most importantly, he was the first teacher of SAKUGAWA, Kanga “Tode” who was to become known as the “father of Okinawan karate.”

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KUSANKU, (AKA: Kung Syanag, Koso Kun)

is a Chinese diplomatic title. This emissary was a military official, who traveled to Okinawa, as documented in 1761. He instructed “Tode” after the death of TAKAHARA, SAKUGAWA’s first instructor. KUSANKU’s name is associated with several katas in the Shorin-Ryu styles.

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SAKUGAWA, Kanga (1733-1815)

“Tode” meaning “China hand” was a nickname given to him by his eminent instructor TAKAHARA. Known as the “father of Okinawan karate,” SAKUGAWA traveled to China to study the fighting arts. During this time he is attributed for combining the Chinese art of ch’uan fa and the Okinawan art of tode (“Chinese hand or empty hand”), forming Okinawa-te (“Okinawa hand”) which would become the foundation for Shuri-te. He passed down Kusanku, which is said to be one of Okinawa’s oldest katas. Furthermore, he developed a bo kata, Sakugawa no Kon.

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MATSUMURA, Sokon (1796-1893)

“Bushi” (“Warrior”) it is acknowledged, began his training at an early age under the tutelage of SAKUGAWA, “Tode” and made several trips to China to further study the fighting arts. He is credited, by several sources, for making the most singular contribution, katas, to the development of Okinawan karate. The Shuri-te system of katas that are still practiced today in the Kobayashi Shorin-Ryu system are Naihanchi I-III, Passai Dai, Chinto & Gojushiho.

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ITOSU, Yasutsune (1830-1915)

“Anko” (“Iron Horse”) trained under MATSUMURA, Sokon and is credited for introducing the Pinans (“Peaceful Mind”) I-V Katas to the Okinawan public schools in 1901. He is also credited for Kusanku Sho and Passai Sho. Some of the most important modern day instructors that trained directly under him were: CHIBANA, Chosin, FUNAKOSHI, Gichin, KYAN, Chotoku, MABUNI, Kenwa to name just a few.

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CHIBANA, Chosin “Hanshi no Sogo” (1887-1969)

was one of Itosu’s top students. CHIBANA Sensei was the first to differentiate his system of karate from others by naming it Kobayashi-ryu (“young forest” style), in 1930, instead of Shuri-te or by his own name (e.g. Chibana-te) as had been done in the past within the Shorin-ryu systems. This decision was brought on by the growth and development of te, not only on Okinawa, but also with the foresight of international introduction. CHIBANA Sensei was one of the founding committee members of karate masters in 1936 that agreed karate should be translated as “empty hand.” In addition, he was awarded the “Fourth Order of Merit” from the Emperor of Japan, in 1969, for his life long contributions to the martial arts. It is attributed by some sources that he passed down the Kusanku Dai and Gojushiho katas. CHIBANA Sensei’s most influential student of the modern day is NAKAZATO, Shugoro, to whom CHIBANA Sensei presented his personal black belt, which was a great honor and tribute to NAKAZATO Sensei’s devotion and martial arts skills.

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NAKAZATO, Shugoro “Hanshi JuDan” (1921 – 2016)

Hanshi JuDan NAKAZATO spent most of his life in the martial arts and in 1967, after nearly twenty years of training, was awarded 9thDan by his eminent instructor CHIBANA Choshin. Upon CHIBANA Sensei’s death in 1969, NAKAZATO Sensei became the president of the Okinawan Shorin-Ryu * ShorinKan Karate-do Kyokai and was promoted to 10thDan in 1980. NAKAZATO Sensei was one of the most influential living karate Grand Masters in Okinawa and traveled many times a year to promote the traditional Okinawan Shorin-Ryu * ShorinKan Karate (Kobayashi-ryu) system.

Hanshi JunDan headed the Okinawan karate delegation and was asked to give a special performance at the 1996 Olympic Games held in Atlanta, Georgia. In May 1999, he led an Okinawan seminar delegation of Grand Masters to the United States promoting The 1st Okinawa Traditional Karatedo & Kobudo World Tournament. In addition, Hanshi JuDan NAKAZATO is credited for the introduction of the Gorin kata. In August 2000, the Okinawan Prefecture Board of Education bestowed upon Hanshi NAKAZATO the title of “Kenmukei Bunkazi” – Intangible Cultural Asset.  In addition, on November 4, 2007, the Japanese Prime Minister under the hand of the Emperor of Japan awarded Nakazato Sensei the “Order of the Rising Sun with Gold and Silver Rays” – Asahi Soukou sho.

Hanshi JuDan NAKAZATO’s recognized current influential first generation students in the United States are Kyoshis: Eddie BETHEA, Raymond KELLER , Eberhard WELCH, Noel SMITH, C.D. WILLIAMSON, Chris ESTES, Sean RILEY, Kevin ROBERTS and Cheech LUZZI, to name a few.

On November 2, 2006 it was announced by the Okinawan Prefecture Board of Education that Shugoro Nakazato Sensei was awarded this honor for the cultural promotion and preservation of Okinawan Karate and Kobujitsu. This prestigious award was presented to Nakazato Sensei, November 8, 2006.

‘Ken Bunka Korosha’
(Cultural Award)

Also on November 4th, 2007, the government of Japan via the Japanese Prime Minister under the hand of the Emperor of Japan awarded to Nakazato Sensei the “Order of the Rising Sun with Gold and Silver Rays” – Asahi Soukou sho.

From all the prefectures in Japan a total of 960 Asahi medals were awarded in various fields with Shugoro Nakazato Sensei being the ONLY martial artist to be presented with this prestigious award.

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Hanshi Judan Minoru Nakazato 10th Rank President

Hanshi Judan Minoru Nakazato Sensei training students at the honbo dojo in Naha, Okinawa 2018

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