Monthly Archives: November 2019

William Adams on Okinawa (1614-15)

Posted on November 25, 2019 by Andreas Quast

The first Western eyewitness accounts of Okinawa originated from Richard Wickham and William Adams (1564–1620). Adams became famous as a counselor of Tokugawa Ieyasu, was promoted to samurai status by the Shōgun, and provided with an estate. His Japanese name … Continue reading →

Posted in Unknown Ryukyu | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on William Adams on Okinawa (1614-15)

“Karate Kumite” 1905

Posted on November 23, 2019 by Andreas Quast

In 2016, my new discovery of a photo of Hanashiro Chōmo was featured on the website of the Okinawa Traditional Karate Liaison Bureau. Then, in 2018 I translated and published the Genealogy of Hanashiro. Today I add an overview of … Continue reading →

Posted in Okinawa Peace Theory, Prewar Okinawa Karate, Terminology, The Technique of Okinawa Karate and Kobudo, Theories of Historical Karate in Comparative Perspective, UNESCO Karate | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on “Karate Kumite” 1905

Two Karateka Served as Chairmen of Naha City Assembly

Posted on November 23, 2019 by Andreas Quast

Two well-respected Karateka served as leaders of the Naha City Assembly. Nagamine Shōshin, founder of Matsubayashi(Shorin)-ryu, served as Vice-chairman of the Naha City Assembly (1954/10 – 1955/08; 1955/11 – 1957/06). Higa Yūchoku of Kobayashi(Shorin)-ryu served as chairman of the Naha … Continue reading →

Posted in Postwar Okinawa Karate | Tagged , | Comments Off on Two Karateka Served as Chairmen of Naha City Assembly

Siamese Boxing and Karate – Fact check!

Posted on November 22, 2019 by Andreas Quast

In the January 1965 edition of Black Belt, Karate has been technically compared with Muay Thai. Today there is no karate blogger or vlogger who didn’t touch this topic. There is usually a staccato logic underlined by pictorial comparisons. Of … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Reviews | Comments Off on Siamese Boxing and Karate – Fact check!

When Karate was Military Drill

Posted on November 22, 2019 by Andreas Quast

In 1872, the Japanese government introduced a new educational system which emphasized the “threefold objective of academic education, moral education, and physical education.” The latter of which–physical education–was based on Western physical education. A first move to look into Japanese … Continue reading →

Posted in Postwar Okinawa Karate | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on When Karate was Military Drill

140 Years Ago: The “Law of Fifteen Injunctions” and the Written Oath First Published in Western Sources

Posted on November 21, 2019 by Andreas Quast

The “Law of Fifteen Injunctions” as well as the vows taken by king and councilors (sanshikan) were first given in English translation in 1879 in the Japan Daily Herald on 3rd October 1879, three days later again in the Japan Gazette, and on … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Reviews | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on 140 Years Ago: The “Law of Fifteen Injunctions” and the Written Oath First Published in Western Sources

In the 9th year of King Shō Kei (1721), a fire broke out at the main hall of Enkakuji temple

Posted on November 21, 2019 by Andreas Quast

On the first day of the New Year of 1721, during the double-hour of the Ox (1am-3am), a fire took place which damaged the main hall of the Enkakuji temple. Fortunately, the reliquary hall, the Buddha hall, and the main … Continue reading →

Posted in From the Classics..., Kyūyō | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on In the 9th year of King Shō Kei (1721), a fire broke out at the main hall of Enkakuji temple

Of bulls and mice

Posted on November 19, 2019 by Andreas Quast

“Famous persons are inherently accompanied by various romantic anecdotes. The same thing can be said about Matsumura Sōkon. While anecdotes are handed down in exaggeration, important truths are sometimes not handed down. As for anecdotes related to Matsumura, and while … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Reviews | Comments Off on Of bulls and mice

Der Kernpunkt der Karatetechnik: Sēpai, Teil 1-4. Gōjū-ryū Kaishugata. In persönlicher Unterweisung erlernt von Chōjun Miyagi.

Posted on November 17, 2019 by Andreas Quast

Vorführung und Erklärung: Gôjû-ryû Karate-dô, Kisaki Tomoharu (unter Schriftleitung von Nagoya Shigeru) Man sagt, Kata sei eine Kombination verschiedener, unabhängiger Angriffs- und Verteidigungstechniken. Das wichtigste Element bei der Ausführung von Kata ist jedoch die sich dabei widerspiegelnde Energie, d.h. die … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Der Kernpunkt der Karatetechnik: Sēpai, Teil 1-4. Gōjū-ryū Kaishugata. In persönlicher Unterweisung erlernt von Chōjun Miyagi.

Bubishi 1999

Posted on November 17, 2019 by Andreas Quast

1999 befand ich mich als Mitglied der Gruppe um Fritz Nöpel Sensei auf dem Weg nach Japan, zum internationalen Kata-Lehrgang des Goju-ryu Yuishinkan. Damals war ich 3. Kyu Braungurt (habe nachgeschaut). Ich hatte – wie es sich gehört – alle … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Reviews | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Bubishi 1999