Below is a statistical analysis I prepared in 2005. It used the data provided by the Okinawa dōjō directory, which was prepared by an Okinawa Prefecture educational office in 2003 or 2004, I don’t remember exactly. It provided the following information:
- Name of the ryū, kai, or ha
- the name of the dōjō
- the name of the director
- the location of the ryū, kai, ha, or dōjō
- the telephone number
- the genre
- teaching days, time, and groups (kids, adults, etc.)
- the contents of the training
Simplified organizational structure.
Obviously, the directory sometimes counted the honbu dōjō only, without giving any and all double and multiple affiliations, and without giving all shibu (branch)-dōjō. For example, Shiroma Katsuo was correctly counted among Matsubayashi-ryū, however, does not separately appear under Ryūkyū Kobudō Hozon Shinkōkai, of which he was a member at the time. According to this, the actual total number of affiliated dōjō was considerably larger.
Same goes for the national overseas shibu: the directory often only included national overseas honbu (headquarter) dōjō, with the national shibu linked to Okinawa only via this national honbu and without counting it individually. In addition, although there is often only one representative honbu dōjō in an overseas country, sometimes other dōjo might also be affiliated to Okinawa independently.
Finally, not only affiliations might change immensely over time, but also the organization in Okinawa itself. Remember that I analyzed the directory 10 years ago. Since that time, many things have changed. Same is true for 1995, 1985, 1975, and so on. It’s a living thing. It’s not about what is not known and not included, but what is known and is included.
So here it is: my statistical analysis of the directory, prepared in 2005:
1. Number of ryu, kai, ha and their dojo within Okinawa Prefecture.
2.1. Associations and number of affiliated dojo within Okinawa Prefecture – Shuri-te origin.
2.2. Associations and number of affiliated dojo within Okinawa Prefecture – Uechi-ryu origin.
2.3. Associations and number of affiliated dojo within Okinawa Prefecture – Naha-te origin.
2.4. Associations and number of affiliated dojo within Okinawa Prefecture – Kobudo origin.
2.5. Associations and number of affiliated dojo within Okinawa Prefecture – Others.
3. Number of dojo within Okinawa Prefecture – classified by places.
4. Number of dojo outside Okinawa Prefecture – mainland Japan.
5.1. Number of dojo outside Okinawa Prefecture – Overseas.
5.2. Number of dojo outside Okinawa Prefecture – Overseas.
Note: Today there is a new online karate dojo directory run by the Okinawa Karate Information Center.
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