Category Archives: Book Reviews

A recent seminar announcement introduced a certain Tamaki Kazuo as an 8th Dan representant and teacher of Motobu Udundī. The reason is that Okinawan masters often know each other from school or elsewhere. Okinawa karate and kobudō is largely based … Continue reading →

After a first and a second article, and a bunch of feedback by experts of the style, lets get back to basics. To do so, let me shortly recapitulate some infos gathered so far: In 1961, Shiroma Taisai performed Ufutun … Continue reading →

In Gōjū-ryū, there are basically two ways of opening at the beginning of the kata: Method 1 a. Stand in Musubi-dachi, with open hands crossed in front of the tanden. b. Open stance to Heikō-dachi while closing the fists and … Continue reading →

1882: Establishment of the Kōdōkan by Kanō Jigorō. 1895: Establishment of the Dai Nippon Butokukai. Titles Hanshi, Kyōshi, Renshi. Seirinsho certificates. 1919: The Dai Nippon Butokukai renames bujutsu to budō. 1920: Kōdōkan Judō announces the dan kyū regulation. 1933/12/8: Dai … Continue reading →

Issue 1: In 1960, the first dan and kyu grading regulation of Okinawa karate circles was implemented by the Okinawa Karate-do Renmei. 25 people graded 3rd dan, 23 people graded 2nd dan, and 40 people graded 1st dan.TASK: Name an … Continue reading →

In 1976, the Ryūkyū Kobudō Hozon Shinkōkai published a memorial booklet. In it is found the organization and members of the association, a biography of Taira Shinken, the kobudo genealogy of the association, and list of kata handed down in … Continue reading →

Taiho-jutsu is a method for present day Japanese police officers (keisatsukan), Imperial guard escort officers (kōgū goeikan), coast guard officers, narcotics control officers (mayakutorishimarikan), military police officers of the Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF), and other judicial police personnel, or alternatively, … Continue reading →

There has been some uncertainty as regards Nagamine Sensei’s exact school years. According to this photo here (and also this), Nagamine Shōshin graduated from Tomari Elementary School in 1920. At that time, 6 years was the regular term for elementary … Continue reading →

Exciting news: I have started a Kickstarter Campaign. It will run 30 days, so don’t hesitate. I have been documenting martial arts dances for more than 25 years now. Some of the things I came across are published here on my … Continue reading →

To be a hero, you only need to be a hero once. But to be a gentleman, you have to be a gentleman for life. In Okinawa still today there is a designation of high-level regard for a karate person … Continue reading →