Karate
An empty-handed self-defense art or weaponless art of self-defense.
History of Karate:
Although there is evidence of recorded Okinawan history dating back 1,000 years, unfortunately no records exist that serve to give a definitive history of karate. Insufficient documentation of karate and its traditions forces its students to base their interpretation on fragmentary information gathered from historical documents and oral tradition.
Martial Arts arose out of the fundamental human instinct of self preservation. This instinct caused primitive man, living without effective weapons in caves and trees to defend himself from attack by using his hands, feet or other parts of his body
While judo, kendo and aikido originated in mainland Japan the Okinawans developed their own unique art of self-defense; te literally meaning hands.
The development of the art of te accelerated with the subjugation of the Ryukyus in 1609 by the Satsuman clan of Japan. The Satsuma clan banned the use of all weapons and the practice of the martial arts by the Ryukuans. Despite the enforcement, the art of te was not lost. The forbidden art was passed down from father to son among the samurai class in Okinawa. Training went on in secret, having to study secretly and at great risk did not discourage those of martial spirit but rather inspired them to greater efforts.
Not until the late 17th and early 18th century did the art of karate take shape as te merged with the Chinese style of self-defense to form the present-day kata of karate
With the end of the Satsuma occupation in 1875 and official recognition of Okinawa as part of Japan, the need for secrecy ended. Karate however did not become popular until it was introduced into the physical education requirement in the Okinawan public schools in 1904. The introduction of karate into the schools was one of the most significant contributions to developing karate as we know it today.
In 1931 karate was officially adopted by the Nippon Butoku Kai, an organization formed to identify and systematize the martial arts of Japan. Karate thereby ceased to be just a hidden martial art utilized only within the narrow confines of Okinawa and gained it due position among the other Japanese martial arts.
At the time of this introduction to Japan, the Okinawan martial art of self-defense was called either To-te (Chinese hands) or Karate (empty hands). In the 1930’s karate men insisted that there must be a consensus on what to name this art of self-defense. At a meeting in 1936 Chojun Miyagi, Chomo Hanashiro, Choki Motobu and Chotoku Kyan agreed that the art should be called karate, meaning “an empty-handed self-defense art” or “weaponless art of self-defense".
Karate Styles:
Because of the secrecy in which te had to be practiced there exists no evidence to indicate clear-cut classifications of the various styles and types of karate during its formative years in the 18th century. Gradually, however, karate was divided into two main groups or types – Shorin-Ryu or Shuri-te, and Shorei-Ryu or Naha-te.
Shuri-te is divided into three styles – two are called Shorin-Ryu and a third is called Matsubayashi-Ryu. Naha-te is divided into two styles – Goju-Ryu and Uechi-Ryu.
We practice Matsubayashi–Ryu.
Matsubayashi–Ryu History:
Matsubayashi-Ryu was founded by Shoshin Nagamine born on July 15, 1907 in Tomari, Naha City, Okinawa.
As a sophomore in high school Shoshin Nagamine began his study of karate under Chojin Kuba.
At the age of nineteen Shoshin Nagamine undertook the study of karate under Taro Shimabuku. On Shimabuku’s recommendation he began to study karate under Sensei Ankichi Arakaki. It was then that he began to appreciate the spirit of karate-do.
By the time he was a senior in high school he had become the captain of the school’s karate club. That year the school participated in a karate demonstration in Naha. In order to participate they had to train every evening with the eminent karateman Kodatsu Iha, one of the direct disciples of the great Kosaku Matsumora.
After high school he was assigned to a Japanese artillery unit and upon his discharge he received an appointment to become a policeman in Okinawa. This appointment from 1931 to 1935 enabled him to take karate instruction from the famous Chotoku Kyan.
In 1936 while studying at the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Academy he was taught by Choki Motobu who was known as one of the greatest karateman of Okinawa.
May 1940 Shoshin Nagamine successfully passed the qualifying examinations for karate instructor.
During World War II Shoshin Nagamine was assigned to be chief of the Emergency War Supply Distribution Department of the Naha Police Station.
Sometime after the war Shoshin Nagamine returned to the police department and in 1953 was appointed head of the Motobu Police Station.
Shoshin Nagamine resigned from his post to pursue building a karate dojo. Realizing his dreams he built and opened his dojo in Naha, January 1953 naming it Kodokan Karate-do and Kobujutsu Dojo.
Shoshin Nagamine had received instruction from three great teachers: Ankichi Arakaki, Chotoku Kyan, and Choki Motobu. Sensei Kyan had been a student of Sensei Sokon Matsumura of Shuri, and Sensei Motobu had studied under Sensei Kosaku Matsumura of Tomari. Therefore, he was the third instructor, following these two men. Since his teachings were based on the ideas of these two noted masters, Shoshin Nagamine decided in 1947 to adopt the name Matsubayashi-Ryu in honor of both of them.
Osensei Shoshin Nagamine died in 1997. His son Takayoshi Nagamine has dedicated himself to preserving his fathers teachings and the legacy of Matsubayashi-Ryu in Naha, Okinawa.
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| Osensei Shoshin Nagamine - Formal Dress | Shoshin Nagamine (father) & Takayoshi Nagamine (son) | Soke Takayoshi Nagamine - Head of Matsubayashi Shorin Ryu Karate |
Matsubayashi-Ryu Comes to America and Our Direct Lineage:
During the years of the Armed Forces occupying Okinawa many American servicemen trained at the Nagamine Dojo. One of these servicemen was James Wax. Mr. Wax stayed in Okinawa to train for several years after his military service.
In 1960 the United States was introduced to Matsubayashi-Ryu karate when James Wax became the first westerner to teach Matsubayashi-Ryu at a dojo in Dayton, Ohio.
In 1962, Nagamine Sensei dispatched, a senior student and nephew of Ankichi Arakaki, and instructor of James Wax, Ansei Ueshiro to the United States with the intent of firmly establishing Shorin-Ryu, Matsubayashi-Ryu karate in North America.
Information Credits: “Okinawan Karate-Do” by Shoshin Nagamine, World Matsubayashi web site and interviews with Mr. Parker Shelton.
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Beginner Classes
Monday and Wednesday 7:00pm - 8:00pm
Advanced Classes
Monday and Wednesday 8:00pm - 9:00pm
Psychological Principles of Martial Arts
For those who practice Karate as a way of life it becomes more than merely a method of fighting and physical fitness. There are mental rewards such as self confidence, pride and patience.
A new state of mind begins to form. The need to be a bully or be overbearing is lost to the feeling of self confidence. Pride in self overcomes a desperate need to prove one's individual worth.
Student Comments
"A family oriented place where you can work out and train and still have a good time." Mr. DuMont, Ni Dan
"This is an excellent place to learn traditional Okinawan Karate." Ron, San Kyu