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Itosu, Yasutsune was born
in Shuri and became one of the most respected martial artists
in Okinawa during the 19th century. Master Itosu was a student
of Sokon Matsumura and
Kosaku Matsumora. One of his great contributions to the art of
"To-De" or karate, was the
firm belief of the importance of the development of person's
character through the concentration
on Kata, form patterns, and bunkai, application practice. Master
Itosu, is quite possibly the most
influential teacher in Shito-Ryu.
When he first began
teaching in the school system, the introduction of the Kata
Naifanchi
was his preferred way to teach. He soon realized that this Kata
was far too advanced for the
beginner, which lead to master Itosu creating a group of new
Kata, the Pinan kata's. The creation of
5 Pinan (alternate read as HEIAN) Kata was based on the Kata
called Kusanku and some other
significant techniques. He also split both the Kusanku and
Bassai kata's' into the Sho and Dai
versions. In circa.
1901, master Itosu was the first person to introduce 'To-De"
into the
Okinawa Dai Ichi Jr. High School and the Okinawa Teachers Jr.
College school system. This
was a critical step in the expansion of the martial arts since
prior to this, the art of "To-De"
was considered a "secret" art. This introduction into the
mainstream quite possibly may have
paved the way for the availability for ALL styles of the martial
arts to reach the general public.
Master Itosu also organized and systemized "To-De" into a
standard method of practice
Higaonna, Kanryo (Naha-te)
(1853-1915)
Kanryo
Higaonna was born March 3, 1853 during the time when Okinawa
Island was occupied by the Satsuma Clan of Japan. Higaonna was
born
at Nishimura of Naha City as the fourth son of Kanryo Higaonna,
the 10th
generation of Higaonna family in Haru, lineage.
Kanryo
Higaonna visited Fuchou, China, around 1877 for three years.
There
is an another account in regards to his visit to the city. It is
said that he
visited the port city in 1873 for fifteen years. Some Martial
Arts historians
explain his motives of visiting the city was to study the
Chinese Martial Arts.
Higaonna did, in fact, study a Southern Shaolin Chun style,
during his stay
in that city. However, his initial reason for visiting China was
explained by
other historians that it was the result of his political
involvements.
During
his stay in China, Higaonna supported himself by making and
selling
bamboo wares. Higaonna was one of the Students who studied Kung
Fu from
a Chinese Sifu named Wei Shinzan. Wei was the student of Sifu Ru
Ru Kuo
who also taught Higaonna Fukien Crane Chang. Fukien Crane was a
combined
school with White Crane of South Shaolin Chang and Four Ancestor
Chang.
In
China, there were two counter parted arts of Chang, or fist. One
is categorized
as hard style, or External style. The other is Soft style or
Internal style. Hard
and External style represent Zen Buddhist initiated school such
as various branches
of Shaolin Chun, and Soft and Internal style represent Hsing-Yi
Quan, Pa Kua Quan,
and Tai Chi Quan.
The
Chinese system of fist that Kanryo Higaonna studied from Wei
Shinzan and
Ru Ru Kuo was also known by its name Pangainoon, which literally
means, "one
half is hard and other half is soft". Those Kata practiced in
the current Goju-Ryu
school like Sanchin, Sanseiru, and Pecchurin all originated from
that style.
Prior
to visiting China, Higaonna studied Naha-te from Seisho Aragaki,
(1840-1920)
of Kume. Aragaki was well known among Okinawan's with his
favorite Kata called
Seisan. Unlike Shuri-te, Naha-te represents newly imported
Chinese forms from
Fukien Province of China. After his return from China, Higaonna
systemized the Naha-te
with contemporary Chinese art, thus it was called To-te (Tode),
or Chinese Hand.
Seisho, Arakaki (Tomari-te)
1840 - 1918
Arakaki Seisho lived from 1840
- 1918 or 20. Arakaki was born in either Kume mura Village,
Okinawa, or the island of Sesoku. He was a member of the royal
court in Okinawa, and thus
held the title of "Chikudon Peichin." Being fluent in Chinese,
Arakaki was requested to go to
China by the court in 1870. In China it is believe that Arakaki
studied Monk Fist Boxing and
the only name associated with his training is Wai Xinxian from
Fuchou.
Arakaki was known for
teaching a style similar to Higashionna. Arakaki taught the
kata's Sochin,
Unshu, Niseishi and staff (bo) Kata to Mabuni. Arakaki is known
to have had as students Tsuyoshi
Chitose, founder of Chito Ryu, Gichin Funakoshi of Shotokan,
Kanken Toyama of the Shudokan
School and taught Kanryo Higashionna for three years. He is
noted in history for being responsible
for passing down several significant Kata. According to some
historians Arakaki, though a recluse,
was the king’s Bushi and a legendary and enigmatic figure of
early karate. Mabuni also studied the
Sai (a large fork like weapon) from another Bushi by the name of
Tawada Shinkazu (Peichin).
Itosu Kata |
Higashionna Kata |
Mabuni Kata |
Pinan Shodan |
Sanchin |
Shinsei |
Pinan Nidan |
Tensho |
Kenshu |
Pinan Sandan |
Seienchin |
Kensho |
Pinan Yondan |
Saifa |
Juroku |
Pinan Godan |
Nipaipo |
Chintei |
Jitte |
Sochin |
Happo Sho |
Jiin |
Shisochin |
Aoyagi |
Jion |
Seipai |
Myojo |
Matsukaze |
Seisan |
Shinpa |
Wanshu |
Kururunfa |
Shiho Koshokun |
Chinto |
Unshu |
Kenpaku |
Bassai Sho & Dai |
Niseishi |
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Koshokun Sho & Dai |
Sanseiru |
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Rohai |
Suparinpei |
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Gojushiho |
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