Category Archives: Unknown Ryukyu

The Depravity of a Stipend-holding, Samurai-Family’s Sons (1898)

Posted on January 6, 2022 by Andreas Quast

(From a newspaper article of the year 1898) The Depravity of a Stipend-holding, Samurai-Family’s Sons In February of this year, the third son [Kyan Chōtoku] of the stipend-holding samurai-class member Kyan [Chōfu] from Gibo district in Shuri, together with four … Continue reading →

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Preservation of Old Customs

Posted on January 6, 2022 by Andreas Quast

[Originally published in: Quast, Andreas: Karate 1.0 – Parameter of an Ancient Martial Art. 2013.] A major administrative tool for stabilizing newly established Okinawa Prefecture from early on was a policy called “Preservation of Old Customs” (Kyūkan onzon seisaku), in … Continue reading →

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Okinawa Kenpo – Viewed from a different angle

Posted on December 23, 2021 by Andreas Quast

Jūjutsu and jūjutsu-like systems were known since feudal times in Japan under a multitude of names. The two most common of which were yawara and jūjutsu. Others were: kenpō, hakuda, hade, shubaku torite, taijutsu, kumiuchi, kogusoku, koshi no mawari, wajutsu, aikijūjutsu, aiki no jutsu, aikijutsu … Continue reading →

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Torite (continued)

Posted on December 1, 2021 by Andreas Quast

As has been noted previously, it was no less than Itosu Ankō who “said that karate was introduced by Chin Genpin.” As regards the art taught in Japan by Chin Genpin, it has been described as the “art of torite” … Continue reading →

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Torite (overview)

Posted on November 28, 2021 by Andreas Quast

Torite is a classical martial art to capture an enemy with bare hands without killing him. Depending on the respective school, auxiliary weapons are used to make the arrest, such as the mitsu-dōgu (three pole weapons for catching criminals), the … Continue reading →

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Kenpō jūjutsu

Posted on November 28, 2021 by Andreas Quast

According to Okinawan samurai Aka Pēchin (1721–1784), jūjutsu was practiced in Ryūkyū already in the 18th century. Regarding unarmed martial arts in Okinawa, it was no less than the father of modern karate, Itosu Ankō, who noted that historical karate … Continue reading →

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Kyan Chōtoku book on public display at the Karate Kaikan for the first time

Posted on April 11, 2021 by Andreas Quast

A panel exhibition sponsored by Okinawa Prefecture that introduces the history of Okinawa karate during the early Shōwa period (started 1926) began on April 8 in the lobby of the Okinawa Karate Kaikan Exhibition Room in Tomigusuku City. The kumite … Continue reading →

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Traditional Ryūkyū kumi-odori, karate … 165 prewar Okinawan photographs discovered (3)

Posted on March 30, 2021 by Andreas Quast

Traditional “Kumi-odori” of the kingdom era presented to the younger brother of Shōwa Emperor (Hirohito) Among the Okinawa-related photographs found this time in the Asahi Shimbun Osaka Headquarters, there was a photograph of the traditional Kabuki drama “Kumi-odori” of the … Continue reading →

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Inutabu Riot (Inutabu Sōdō 犬田布騒動)

Posted on January 29, 2021 by Andreas Quast

The Inutabu Riot occurred on April 23, 1864 (old lunar calendar: March 18, Bunkyū 4) in Inutabu Village, Tokunoshima. From the peasant’s point of view it is also called Inutabu Crusade (Inutabu gisen 犬田布義戦), emphasizing the righfulness of the action. … Continue reading →

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The Twilight of Lord Kogusuku

Posted on January 23, 2021 by Andreas Quast

Traditional Okinawa kobudō uses a shield with one hand in combination with a weapon in the other. There are basically two variants. One is the shield known best from Matayoshi lineage kobudō, which uses loop and handle, and which is … Continue reading →

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