Tag Archives: Yabu Kentsu

Nakamura Shigeru: “Karate is also to be unified”

Posted on March 22, 2020 by Andreas Quast

“Karate is also to be unified”“Unification with wearing protective gear” Nakamura Shigeru, Chairman of the Okinawa Kenpō Karate-dō Renmei Born on January 20, 1893, he entered the Karate Club of the Shuri Prefectural Middle School in Shuri at the age … Continue reading →

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The 2nd Okinawa Karate Academy — An unknown group of early modern Karate persons (3) — Yonamine Isshun

Posted on December 1, 2019 by Andreas Quast

Usually kobujutsu is spared from being accused of going through the process of technical sanitation that is typically believed to have been the case for karate in school education. As a result, kobujutsu is also believed to have been less charged with nationalistic and militaristic ideology. However, the following research results necessitate to reconsider the notion that modern Okinawan kobujutsu was an original warrior martial arts from the kingdom times. Instead, modern Okinawan kobujutsu was probably spawned by the same momenta as karate. Continue reading →

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The 2nd Okinawa Karate Academy — An unknown group of early modern Karate persons (2) — Matsuda Seiei

Posted on December 1, 2019 by Andreas Quast

On Monday, November 25, from 2-4 pm, the “2nd Okinawa Karate Academy” was held at the Auditorium on the 4th floor of the Okinawa Prefectural Office. The topic was new findings regarding “An unknown group of early modern Karate persons.” … Continue reading →

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The 2nd Okinawa Karate Academy — An unknown group of early modern Karate persons (1) — Haraguni Seishō

Posted on December 1, 2019 by Andreas Quast

“This prefecture’s usage of fists is what the martial arts of fencing (gekken) and the spear (sōjutsu) are for the other prefectures. It is also called karate and its techniques have names like “Passai,” “Kūsankun,” “Naihanchin,” and the like. Certain educated Ryūkyūans formerly all trained this method, by means of which one can prepare for emergencies.”

From: The Odd Accident of this Party’s Member, Harakuni Seishō. Ryūkyū Kyōiku, issue 4, 1896. Continue reading →

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When Karate was Military Drill

Posted on November 22, 2019 by Andreas Quast

In 1872, the Japanese government introduced a new educational system which emphasized the “threefold objective of academic education, moral education, and physical education.” The latter of which–physical education–was based on Western physical education. A first move to look into Japanese … Continue reading →

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Shirotaru no Kon (4) – Techniques of Shirotaru Deciphered

Posted on April 21, 2018 by Andreas Quast

As I noted before, Miki Jisaburō learned Shirotaru no Kon from Ōshiro Chōjo (1887–1935), who lived in Shuri Ōnaka 1-54 at the time. At that time Ōshiro served as a regular teacher as well as the head of the karate … Continue reading →

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A word in your ear

Posted on May 1, 2015 by Andreas Quast

The expression “Disposition of Ryūkyū” (Ryūkyū Shobun) designates the stepwise incorporation of the Ryūkyū Kingdom into the Japanese Empire. First, it was designated the Ryūkyū fief in 1872. Seven years later, in 1879, it integrated into the Japanese Empire as … Continue reading →

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Arakaki Ankichi (1899-1929) – budoka, businessman, artist

Posted on March 16, 2015 by Andreas Quast

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 →

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