Tag Archives: 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

Posted in Chatan Yara Kusanku, Postwar Okinawa Karate, Translations | Tagged , | Comments Off on Nagamine Shoshin performed Chatan Yara no Kusanku in 1969

Kata Taught by Matsumura Sōkon (1)

Since I read about Matsumura Sōkon in social networks recently and about the kata he presumably taught, I thought it might be a good idea to remind Karate circles of an eyewitness account about the eminent master. In his 1941 autobiography, … Continue reading

Posted in Prewar Okinawa Karate, Theories of Historical Karate in Comparative Perspective, Unknown Ryukyu | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Kata Taught by Matsumura Sōkon (1)

Ōshima Hikki – 001

In 1762, a Ryūkyūan tribute ship bound for Satsuma drifted ashore at Ōshima, a small island off the southern tip of Tosa province in today’s Kōchi Prefecture 高知県. From the exchange with a Ryūkyūan named Shiohira Pēchin, the young Confucian scholar … Continue reading

Posted in Ōshima Hikki | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Ōshima Hikki – 001

Weaponry during Edo-nobori

Edo-nobori were Ryūkyūan pilgrimages to Edo on official occasions, like the enthronement of a new Ryūkyūan king or the succession of a new Shōgun in Japan. During these pilgrimages a very few number of weapons were carried by Ryūkyūans like … Continue reading

Posted in Unknown Ryukyu | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Weaponry during Edo-nobori

A Stroll Along Ryukyu Martial Arts History

A Stroll Along Ryukyu Martial Arts History Paperback – May 15, 2015 by Andreas Quast (Author) Paperback edition: available at Amazon US ($14.99), Amazon UK (£9.79), Amazon Germany (EUR 14.97), CreateSpace eStore ($14.99), and at online and offline bookstores and retailers, as well as via public libraries and … Continue reading

Posted in Publications | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on A Stroll Along Ryukyu Martial Arts History

Nakahara Zenshu: Character and Weapons of the Ryukyu Kingdom (5)

In this 5th and last part of his article on the character and weapons of the Ryūkyū Kingdom, Nakahara discusses early karate and kobudō sources from the kingdom time. Although quite short, still today no earlier written usage of the term … Continue reading

Posted in Unknown Ryukyu | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Nakahara Zenshu: Character and Weapons of the Ryukyu Kingdom (5)

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

Posted in Chatan Yara Kusanku, Okinawa Peace Theory, Prewar Okinawa Karate, Unknown Ryukyu | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on The Butokuden of Okinawa

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

Posted in Chatan Yara Kusanku, Kyan Chotoku, Unknown Ryukyu | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Arakaki Ankichi (1899-1929) – budoka, businessman, artist

Nakamura Shigeru (1891-1969)

akamura Shigeru (1891-1969) was an Okinawan Budōka active in Karate and Kobudō. He established the name “Okinawa Kenpō” according to his perspective that originally there were no styles on Okinawa. Shigeru was born the eldest son of father Nakamura Kōkichi … Continue reading

Posted in Book Reviews, Unknown Ryukyu | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Nakamura Shigeru (1891-1969)

Mutsu Mizuho: KARATE KENPO ZEN (The Complete Karate Kenpo)

Mutsu Mizuho: Tōde Kenpō Zen [The Complete Karate Kenpō]. Yōju Shorin, Ginowan 1999. 493 pp. 27cm. Limited Edition (800 only)! his is a reprint of the 1933 original edition published by the Tōkyō University Karate Kenkyūkai. Mutsu Mizuho already in 1929 traveled … Continue reading

Posted in Book Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Mutsu Mizuho: KARATE KENPO ZEN (The Complete Karate Kenpo)