Category Archives: Chatan Yara Kusanku

Nagamine Shoshin performed Chatan Yara no Kusanku in 1969

On October 10, 1969, a National Special Invitational Kata Demonstration was presented at the Nippon Budōkan in Tōkyō. There, a number of Okinawan karate masters were invited to present Okinawa karate kata in front of a nationwide audience. The occasion … Continue reading

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The ti of Chatan Yara, and the kenpō of Tōdī Sakugawa

When was the term tī started to be used? During a roundtable discussion with Nagamine Shōshin, Chibana Chōshin explained as follows: Nagamine: Well, karate existed even before it got handed down from China. Chibana: About this, according to conversations with … Continue reading

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The Karate and Kobudō Performers and Performances of 1939

Recently I revealed that Nagamine Shōshin (1907-1997) evidently performed Chatan Yara no Kūsankū in 1939. This is the earliest instance the name of this kata appeared like this in writing. This information is based on an unpublished program of the … Continue reading

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Nagamine Shoshin performed Chatan Yara no Kusanku in 1939

On Saturday, 17 June 1939, the former Prime Minister and president of the Dai Nippon Butokukai, General Hayashi Senjuro, and invited persons attended the opening ceremony of the Dai Nippon Butokukai Okinawa Branch Butokuden, where Judo, Kendo and Karatedo performances … Continue reading

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Original References on Tomari-te

In karate circles both in Japan and abroad the so-called Tomari-te has become a topic of great interest in the recent decade. As had been pointed out recently, today there are a lot of genealogies of schools claiming Tomari-te heritage. … Continue reading

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Chatan Yara – Are kata being arbitrarily reconfigured?

Recently I talked about the Chatan Yara Kusanku currently demonstrated at sports tournaments and that it is not the original kata. In a 1999 article the arbitrary modification of Chatan Yara Kūsankū and kata were adressed by two old boys (top officials) of the JKF. Arakawa … Continue reading

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Yokoyama-copy Chatanyara

In 1994, the 12th World Karate Championship was held in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia from December 8 to December 11. Organized by the World Karate Federation (WKF), the World Karate Championships are considered the highest level of competition for karate. It was on this … Continue reading

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Sign of the Times – Chatan Yara no Kusanku

To be honest, I personally like the sport version of Chatan Yara no Kūsankū. I also support “sport” as one of the three pillars of modern budō. But here’s why everyone needs to stop calling “Chatan Yara Kūsankū” a “Shitō-ryū … Continue reading

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The Butokuden of Okinawa

The original Dai Nippon Butokukai  (DNBK) was established in April 1895 in Kyōto to encourage the practice of the budō and to cultivate warlike virtues (butoku) throughout Imperial Japan. Branches were opened in each prefecture, aiming at the dissemination and … Continue reading

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Arakaki Ankichi (1899-1929) – budoka, businessman, artist

his article describes the life and impact of Arakaki Ankichi (1899-1929). Ultimately it aims at determining the meaning of a hanging scroll bearing a poem and a depiction he created in 1928. It took me nearly seven years – more … Continue reading

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