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Category Archives: Prewar Okinawa Karate
Inheriting the essence
The following is from an article published in the Okinawa Times: “Inheriting the essence. Faithfully inheriting the ancestor’s kata. Nakazato Takeshi (60), 2nd generation Sōke of Shōrinji-ryū and Chairman of Zen Okinawa Shōrinji-ryū Karatedo Kyōkai. Inheriting the techniques of Chanmī’s … Continue reading
Posted in Kyan Chotoku, Postwar Okinawa Karate, Prewar Okinawa Karate, Translations
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Shitsuden and Shinden
The term shitsuden 失伝 means disruption; interruption; non-continuation; to fall into desuetude; the loss of a tradition, a practice, a custom, etc. It can mean the loss of a full tradition, such as a complete school or style (ryūha), or … Continue reading
Posted in Comparative Analyses, kobudo, kumibo, Matayoshi Kobudo, New Developments, Postwar Okinawa Karate, Prewar Okinawa Karate, Terminology
Tagged shinden, shitsuden, 失伝, 新伝
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The karate of the “Pechin Class”
A colleague just argued that “karate” came from the Pēchin class of Okinawa. I think this is a oversimplification, and it is also one of those stories based on guesswork and premature conclusions. According to censuses of 1873 and 1880 … Continue reading
Posted in Okinawa Peace Theory, Prewar Okinawa Karate, Theories of Historical Karate in Comparative Perspective
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Kuwae no Kon (a.k.a. Torisashi Umē no Kon)
Yesterday, I received note about a rare bō kata of Okinawa. It is almost unknown in both name and technique, let alone its history. Almost. Names The name of the kata is Kuwae no Kon, and it is also known … Continue reading
Posted in Bojutsu Kata Series, Comparative Analyses, Postwar Okinawa Karate, Prewar Okinawa Karate, Terminology, Unknown Ryukyu
Tagged Kina Masanobu, Kuwae no Kon, Torisashi, Torisashi Umē no Kon, Umē, ウメー, 仲宗根朝保, 喜納昌伸, 大城盛良, 桑江の棍, 與儀正行, 鳥刺し, 鳥刺しウメーの棍
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Karate ni sente nashi
For Okinawa karate circles, imperialism and militarism are extremely difficult issues. This is because they are seemingly irreconcilable with Okinawa’s postwar karate narratives, its notional philosophies, related marketing campaigns in tourism, and most of all, the recent endeavors to list … Continue reading
Posted in Okinawa Peace Theory, Prewar Okinawa Karate
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Ryūkyū no Fūbutsu (Scenes and Customs of Ryūkyū) (1940)
The 1940 movie Ryūkyū no Fūbutsu (Scenes and Customs of Ryūkyū) was planned by the Japan Folk Art Association (Nihon Mingei Kyōkai) and headed by Yanagi Muneyoshi (1889–1961), who acted as editorial supervisor. Yanagi was born on March 21, 1889, … Continue reading
Posted in Prewar Okinawa Karate
Tagged Kano Jigoro, Kohama Kotaro, Miyagi Chojun, Ryukyu no Fubutsu, Yanagi Muneyoshi
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In 1939, Okinawan young men excel at bayonet fencing
In 1938, a physical strength department was newly established in the Ministry of Health and Welfare, and a “physical strength proficiency test” as well as a “national physical strength law” were enacted to improve the citizens’ physical strength. The “physical … Continue reading
Posted in Comparative Analyses, kobudo, Okinawa Peace Theory, Prewar Okinawa Karate
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The History and Contents of Matayoshi Kobudo as of 1999
Grandfather Shinkō was born on May 18, 1888, in Kakinohana Town, Naha City as the third son of great-grandfather, Shinchin. Raised in Senbaru, Chatan Village, he learned kenpō (empty-handed martial arts) and bukijutsu (martial arts with weaponry) handed down as … Continue reading
Posted in Bojutsu Kata Series, kobudo, Matayoshi Karate Kobudo - Written sources translated, Matayoshi Kobudo, New Developments, Postwar Okinawa Karate, Prewar Okinawa Karate, Terminology, Translations
Tagged Bojutsu, Choun no Kon, Matayoshi Shinchin, Matayoshi Shinko, Matayoshi Shinpo, Matayoshi Shintoku, Sakugawa no Kon, Shushi no Kon, Tsuken no Kon
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The History and Contents of Matayoshi Kobudo as of 1977
Chairman: Matayoshi Shinpō (hanshi) Registered domicile: 2-16-6 Kumoji, Naha City, Okinawa Prefecture Present address: 323 Yogi, Naha City, Okinawa Prefecture Date of birth: January 16, 1922 Occupation: commerce Martial Record 1930: Studied under Kyan Chōtoku (karate training) (8 years old) … Continue reading
Posted in kobudo, Matayoshi Karate Kobudo - Written sources translated, Matayoshi Kobudo, Postwar Okinawa Karate, Prewar Okinawa Karate, Translations
Tagged Matayoshi Kobudo, Matayoshi Shinko, Matayoshi Shinpo
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Sai, Tinbe and the “Expedition to the Southern Islands” 1893
As previously mentioned, in 2021, a list of “100 Footprints of Modern Karate” was published in the Okinawa Times. I have already written about Footprint No. 1 and Footprint No. 2 and today will turn to Footprint No. 3. Footprint … Continue reading
Posted in Comparative Analyses, Equipment, Fundstücke, kobudo, New Developments, Prewar Okinawa Karate, Terminology, Theories of Historical Karate in Comparative Perspective, Unknown Ryukyu
Tagged Expedition to the Southern Islands, Funakoshi Gichin, Inoue Kaoru, Nanto Tanken, poll tax, Preservation of Old Customs, sai, Saijutsu, Sasamori Gisuke, Tashiro Antei, Tinbe, Yanagita Kunio
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