Special feature articles
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2024.06.13
"Kakuri (Hidden) Bushi," Jinsei Kamiya
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2023.09.19
Karate Today - Yoshizato Hiroshi's Birth!
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2023.08.29
Karate Today - Honolulu Karate Youth Club Found...
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2023.08.15
Karate Today - Nakandakari’s Birth!
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2023.08.03
Karate Today - Noma Seiji made his wedding in O...
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2023.07.18
Karate Today - Yabu Kentsu conducts Karate prom...
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2023.07.04
Karate Today - First "Karate Club" created for ...
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2023.06.20
Karate Today - Yoshimura Chogi visited the form...
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2023.06.06
Karate Today - Karate club at Prefectural First...
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2023.05.26
Karate Today series will begin
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2021.12.20
Martial arts demonstration in front of the king...
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2021.03.08
Folktale: Why tigers can't climb trees
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2020.12.22
About Rei – Part 2 by Nakamoto Masahiro
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2020.11.17
Okinawa Karate "WA" Series
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2020.10.05
About Rei – Part 1: Mabuni Kenei
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2020.06.19
1969 article on master Yagi and Sūpārinpe
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2020.05.22
1969 article on master Higa and Passai Dai
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2020.05.08
1969 article on master Shimabukuro and Ānankū
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2020.04.20
1969 article on master Kushi and Wankan
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2020.04.14
1969 article on masters Kaneshima and Nagamine
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2020.04.09
Article ”Even at 80 years old “Eyaa!” ” (Okinaw...
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2020.04.09
Article ”Impressed with every move” (Ryūkyū Shi...
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2019.12.03
Kobudō 9: Nakaima Kenkō and Uchima Anyū
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2019.11.07
Kobudō 8: Kyan Shinei and Kaneshima Shinei
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2019.10.29
Kobudō 7: Ishikawa Hōei and Higa Seitoku
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2019.10.08
Kobudō 6: Nohara Kamaichi and Takara Shigeru
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2019.09.13
About the estimated new photo of Itosu Ankō
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2019.09.02
Karate policemen protecting the safety and secu...
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2019.07.02
Kobudō 5: Soken Hōhan and Shiroma Taisei
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2019.06.08
Kobudō 4: Kameshima Shinsuke and Chinen Masami
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2019.06.01
Kobudō 3: Nakamura Shigeru and Higa Yūsuke
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2019.05.24
Kobudō 2: Irei Matsutarō and Nakamura Heisaburō
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2019.05.14
Kobudō 1: Kina Shōsei and Shinjō Heisaburō
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2019.04.08
Questioning the weapons’ hunt
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2019.01.21
Kyō Ahagon Jikki, the sword and karate
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2018.05.04
The unveiling of the statue of Uechi Kanbun
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2017.12.26
Following the steps of Matsumora Kōsaku
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2017.10.20
Brushwork of late Matsumura Sōkon
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2017.10.14
Maekawa bō performed at the Shihan Gakkō
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2017.09.08
The declaration of the "Karate Day"
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2017.08.15
A district connected to karate, Uebaru
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2017.07.14
The beauty of Okinawa karate
While there are some anecdotes about Ryūkyū Kings and karate, like the ones relating to Matsumura Sōkon, martial arts related events mentioning specific areas of Shuri Castle are rare.
In 1866 was held the Sakuho ceremony of the last king of the Ryūkyū, Shō Tai. The following year, as the ceremony was completed successfully, a celebration was held at Uchaya Udun. Following the event, a karate and kobujutsu performance was held in front of the king in front of “Akata Ujō” gate.
(This event was introduced by curator Mrs. Sakihara Kyōko during a 2019 karate-related historic site tour. She also pinpointed that based on prewar records on Shuri Castle, the “Akata Ujō” gate originally referred to the “Bifukumon” gate and later the “Keiseimon” gate.)
To support this historical fact, the records “Tāfākū” of Kumemura - Kume Village mentions the program “Sanruchu Narabi Shogei Bangumi” which included martial arts demonstrations performed at the Uchaya Udun palace in Sakiyama in March 1867 and the later demonstration in front of the king.
Reference: “After proceeding according to the various programs and finishing by 7 o’clock, flagpoles were raised and a tug-of-war procession was formed in Kumemura in order to welcome the Sanruchu performers. Reaching Sakiyama Baba, the performers fully dressed joined in the procession to really create a Kumemura on parade. On the way back, they approached Akata Ujō where the king had hanged a script on the gate and was resting. Through the king’s envoy, the performers were asked to once again demonstrate their martial skills. As told, they performed 5 demonstrations in the street in front of the gate for the lord’s leisure. They then went back to Kumemura living from Tennōji, passing through the town and exiting from Shimo Ayajō (1).” (“Collection of writings of Shimabukuro Zenpatsu”, published in 1956.)
Keiseimon (upper photo in orange) and Bifukumon (lower image in blue)
These two gates are located on the east side of Shuri castle and are considered back gates.
(Source: Shuri Castle Guided Tour 12th episode “Keiseimon and Bifukumon” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3lHcdPHnm8I)
(1) Tennōji was a Rinzai sect temple during the Ryūkyū Kingdom era where the Shō queen was later enshrined. The site of the temple is located close to where the Shuri Church stands today, not far from Shuri Tonokura Post Office.
During the Ryūkyū Kingdom era, the road from Naha Port, the gateway to the sea, to Shuri Castle via Sogenji Temple in Tomari was the most famous public road in the kingdom. In particular, the wide road centered between “Shimo Ayajō” (another name for Chuzanmon gate– approximately where stand the store Shuri Ryusen next to Shuri Senior High School) and “Ui no Ayajō” (another name for Shureimon gate) was called “Ayajō Ufumichi”.
(Source: Naha City Museum of History, translation by OKIC)
Following the “Okinawa no Bushi” video collection from Mr. Yamaguchi Masafune that we presented last month, here is another video collection titled “Okinawa no Kenshi” in Japanese. Released on YouTube, features some rare videos like Maeda Bō, kama by Miyazato Eikō sensei and a demonstration by Uezu Angi sensei.
Okinawa no Kenshi -1 / 1994
Shōrin-ryū Risshikan – Kiyūna Chōkō sensei
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2LStb2N5dw
Okinawa no Kenshi -2 / 1998
Ryūei-ryū Ryūhōkai - Sakumoto Tsuguo sensei
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VF3TI9rmjtU
Okinawa no Kenshi -3 / 1993
Okikukai – Sakiyama Takao sensei
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CGEIyrWNtK0
Okinawa no Kenshi -4 / 1994
Funakoshi Shōrin-ryū – Yoza Masao – Kata “Chintē”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_l-j1AxDpQ
Okinawa no Kenshi -5 / 1993
Ryūkyū Kobudō Hōzon Shinkōkai Hdqrs Shinbukan – Kinjō Kiyoharu sensei – Kata “Urashī nu kun”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1km80AjTScQ
Okinawa no Kenshi -6 / 1993
Maeda Bōjutsu – Kobudō Kenkyūkai – Arakaki Kastunori – “Maeda no bō”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TYM2ad-joxw
Okinawa no Kenshi -7 / 1993
Ryūkyū Kobudō Hōzon Shinkōkai Hdqrs Shinbukan – Akamine Hiroshi sensei
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kLeRQLT6Jy4
Okinawa no Kenshi -8 / 1998
Demonstration by Oshiro Yuzuru sensei for Takamine Chōboku sensei, advisor of the Gōjū-ryū International Karate Kobudō Federation
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9BAFRNQ7Yn4
Okinawa no Kenshi -9 / 1993
Kōdōkan Hdqrs – Yamashiro Ken-ichi sensei – Kata “Hakutsuru-ken Ni”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7bFQk2aXQA
Okinawa no Kenshi -10 / 1993
Gōjū-ryū Meibukan Ueda Dōjō – Hokama Yasuaki sensei
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gARFMfmqaaY
Okinawa no Kenshi -11/ 1998
Ryūkyū Kobudō Eiryūkai Miyazato Hdqrs – Miyazato Eikō sensei
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PRRYN-V-Pdc
Okinawa no Kenshi -12/ 1993
Gōjū-ryū Shōdōkan Gibo Dōjō – Gibo Seiki sensei
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1JxqWgjqTU
Okinawa no Kenshi -13/ 1997
Okinawa Gōjū-ryū Canada – Kinjo Yoshitaka sensei
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2aTWTUk4oEE
Okinawa no Kenshi -14/ 1993
Uechi-ryū Kubagawa Shūbukan – Ryūkyū Kobudō Hozon Shinkōkai Kubagawa Branch – Kinjō Masakazu sensei
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9DqI7IlPWcg
Okinawa no Kenshi -15/ 1996
Gōjū-ryū Karatedō Okinawa Kenshinkai Nakachi Dōjō – Higa Masaru sensei
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B5NCEHq7trA
Okinawa no Kenshi -16/ 1997
Uechi-ryū France – Takayasu Hidemi sensei
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KITjOPXKX4I
Okinawa no Kenshi -17/ 1997
Gōjū-ryū Brazil – Yonamine Yasunori sensei
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ysmpb9bU9iM
Okinawa no Kenshi -18/ 1993
Shōrin-ryū Myobukan Hdqrs Motomura sensei – Kata “Sērū”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_yO-psf0xz0
Okinawa no Kenshi -19/ 1992
Okinawa Isshin-ryū Karate Kobudō – Uezu Angi sensei
A “Bushi” (pronounced busā in Okinawan language) is a master. It is used for someone who excells in Bugei - martial arts, karate and the likes, or to designate a powerful person. It has the meaning of Samurai. (Okinawa language dictionary)
“Kuchi busā” is someone who talks big and pretends to be very strong, but in reality, who is useless.
Among British sayings, there are “Saying is one thing and doing another” and “Actions speak louder than words.” After all, only talking brings nothing. It is the same as the French proverb that says “More noise than work.” If behaving as a “Kuchi busā”, one may finally be abandoned by friends as “a too long (eloquent) tongue can ruin even a big man” (Japanese saying).
(The sign reads “Fugen-jikkō” for “Say nothing and act”)
Source:
"Complete collection of Okinawan sayings"
Author: Nakaima Genkai
Published: 1971
Publisher: Okinawa Bunkyō Publishing
About Nakaima Genkai
Born in Kume, Naha City in 1908, Nakaima Genkai studied under Miyagi Chōjun, the founder of Gōjū-ryū from the age of 15 in 1923. Later on in 1952, he helped establish the Karatedō Gōjū-ryū Promotion Association which would be chaired by Miyagi Chōjun. In 1973, he performed Sanchin during the “Gōjū-ryū Founder Miyagi Chōjun 20th Anniversary Festival Demonstration”. His demonstration rendered shirtless wearing only a short pants can be seen at this link (the demonstration starts at 4:31).
(Source: Okinawa Karate Kobudō Encyclopedia)
During the celebration of the establishment of the Okinawa Dentō Karatedō Shinkōkai in 2008, a similar photo of Nakaima Genkai was presented to his son Nakaima Hirokazu, the then governor of the Okinawa prefecture.
Vice-chairman of Naha Assembly (Source: “Naha City Assembly History”)
In public life, Mr. Nakaima, who graduated from the prefecture normal school, was elected in the 1st Naha City Assembly election in February 1948 and served as vice-chairman for two years from September 1948 to September 1950. In 1955, he was again elected as a member of the Naha City Assembly together with karate masters Nagamine Shōshin and Higa Yūchoku.
Having held many positions during his carrier and authored many books, Mr. Nakaima is also remembered for he was the second fame caster of Radio Okinawa’s news program titled “Hōgen news” from 1973 to 1981, a unique program nationwide broadcasted in Okinawan language.
Many masters’ videos were released by Yamaguchi Seishu on YouTube under the title “Okinawa no Bushi”. For none Japanese readers, we are listing them below. Among them, there are some rare demonstrations of China Teikichi sensei, Tōma Shian sensei and Nakamura Ankichi sensei among others. Please enjoy!
Okinawa no Onna Bushi – 1 / 1992
Shuri castle festival, Shōrin-ryū Ōnaga Dōjō – Ōnaga Michiko sensei
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F5e5XSUjqGk
Okinawa no Bushi – 2 / 1995
Okinawa Karate – Kobudō Seminar Matsubayashi-ryū – Makishi Yasuharu sensei
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gpy40n5GMRA
Okinawa no Bushi – 3 / 1992
1st Karatedō Achievement Award ceremony – Demonstration by heir of the awardees – Matsubayashi-ryu 2nd Sōke Nagamine Takayoshi sensei
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dC23qPvJYck
Okinawa no Bushi – 4 / 1993
4th Okinawa Pref. Karatedō Bugeisai – Ryūkyū Shōrin-ryū Chairman Shimabukuro Eizō sensei – Chanmī gwa nu Chintō
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VjcAZCz24rs
Okinawa no Bushi – 5 / 1993
4th Okinawa Pref. Karatedō Bugeisai – Head of Seidōkan Tōma Shian sensei
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GRKPOhi9bvs
Okinawa no Bushi – 6 / 1993
4th Okinawa Pref. Karatedō Bugeisai – Shōrin-ryū Kyūdōkan Ōshiro Ikkō sensei
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DtxDO1GbBfA
Okinawa no Bushi – 7 / 1994
17th All Okinawa Karatedō Tournament – Guest demonstration by Gōjū-ryū Ryūshōkai chairman Senaha Shigetoshi sensei
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dcGMdz2tcP8
Okinawa no Bushi – 8 / 1993
4th Okinawa Pref. Karatedō Bugeisai – Shōrin-ryū Buseikan China Teikichi sensei
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UJ3w53fJMpA
Okinawa no Bushi – 9 / 1993
4th Okinawa Pref. Karatedō Bugeisai – Matsubayashi-ryū (presently Shōgen-ryū) Tamaki Tsuyoshi sensei
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=egC4D1Hlw88
Okinawa no Bushi – 10 / 1993
4th Okinawa Pref. Karatedō Bugeisai – Head of Chinese Dengen Bumon Kinjō Akio sensei
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Em7cHGyKQ6E
Okinawa no Bushi – 11 / 1993
4th Okinawa Pref. Karatedō Bugeisai – Mōdi Gassen Karatekai chairman Shiroma Kiyonari (Seihan) sensei
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lSUUjfW2pgw
Okinawa no Bushi – 12 / 1993
4th Okinawa Pref. Karatedō Bugeisai – Okinawa Dentō Kobudō Hozonkai Nojima Eishū sensei
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pTCp0BVNwrM
Okinawa no Bushi – 13 / 1993
4th Okinawa Pref. Karatedō Bugeisai – Shōrin-ryū Butokukan chairman Gibu Sokuichi sensei
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g7qoTwYe7Sg
Okinawa no Bushi – 14 / 1992
Shuri castle festival - Shōrin-ryū Myōbukan Gima Zenshū sensei
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Po3vf0ySjDI
Okinawa no Bushi – 15 / 1993
1st Tomigusuku Village China Ryūkyū Martial Arts Festival – Uechi-ryū Tomigusuku Shūbukan Senaga Yoshitsune sensei
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_Upzp3dUKM
Okinawa no Bushi – 16 / 1992
1st Karatedō Achievement Award ceremony – Demonstration by heir of the awardees – 2nd Sōke Yagi Meitatsu sensei
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NFSNTGg1MdQ
Okinawa no Bushi – 17 / 1993
4th Okinawa Pref. Karatedō Bugeisai – Ryūkyū Kobudō Ryūkonkai Nakasone Zenei sensei
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=72ZR71qWWRc
Okinawa no Bushi – 18 / 1992
1st Karatedō Achievement Award ceremony – Demonstration by heir of the awardees –Shōrin-ryū Kyūdōkan 2nd chairman Higa Minoru sensei
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qsERnM2Hhto
Okinawa no Bushi – 19 / 1993
4th Okinawa Pref. Karatedō Bugeisai – Okinawa Isshin-ryū Karate kobudō Association chairman Uezu Angi sensei
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nhXV7ZsmpwM
Okinawa no Bushi – 20 / 1992
Shuri castle festival – All Okinawa Kobudō Federation Kōdōkan Gakiya Yoshiaki sensei
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eHu3NXRSEjA
Okinawa no Bushi – 21/ 1998
Okinawa Prefectural Budōkan’ s Kagami-biraki ceremony and beginning of training – Shōrin-ryū Shidōkan Maeshiro Morinobu sensei (kata) and Kohagura Masakazu sensei
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6bq7llaQF4E
Okinawa no Bushi – 22 / 1992
Shuri castle festival – Okinawa Kōnan-ryū Seibukan 2nd chairman Itozaku Seishō sensei
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T26vzaO8MG0
Okinawa no Bushi – 23 / 1992
Shuri castle festival – Okinawa Kōnan-ryū Shureikan chairman Maeshiro Shusei sensei
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wb4VCovWW3k
Okinawa no Bushi - 24 / 1993
4th Okinawa Pref. Karatedō Bugeisai – Okinawa Shōrin-ryū Reihōkan chairman Ahagon Naonobu sensei
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JoMX7vJUIv4
Okinawa no Bushi – 25 / 1994
17th All Okinawa Karatedō Tournament – Guest demonstration by Shōrin-ryū Shōrinkan Kyokai Nakama Nobutoshi sensei, Akamine Masao sensei and Maeshiro Yukihiro sensei
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pIYts44HOkI
Okinawa no Bushi – 26 / 1993
30th anniversary of Okinawa Shōrin-ryū Myōbukan headquarters – Guest demonstration by Okinawa Gōjū-ryū Tomari-te Karatedō Association chairman Tokashiki Iken sensei
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gOmgWELNeW4
Okinawa no Bushi – 27 / 1993
30th anniversary of Okinawa Shōrin-ryū Myōbukan headquarters – Guest demonstration by Okinawa Dentō Kobudō Hozonkai Bunbukan Headquarters chairman Nakamoto Masahiro sensei
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9QcqRcNLsoo
Okinawa no Bushi – 28 / 1993
4th All Okinawa Pref. Karatedō Bugeisai – Okinawa Shuri-te karatedō Kyokai Nakamura Ankichi sensei
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bEKtSd7Xey4
Okinawa no Bushi – 29 / 1993
30th anniversary of Okinawa Shōrin-ryū Myōbukan headquarters – Guest demonstration by Uechi-ryū Karatedō Kenyūkai Shinjō Kiyohide sensei
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8dYdJ8nVg60
Okinawa no Bushi – 30 / 1993
30th anniversary of Okinawa Shōrin-ryū Myōbukan headquarters – Shōrin-ryū Myōbukan chaiman Matsuda Yoshimasa sensei
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cIcrmkhtffE
and many more…
OKIC has created a directory of Okinawa karate and kobudō dōjō outside of Okinawa prefecture. The purpose is to inform about the dōjō in mainland Japan that are affiliated with Okinawan organizations.
https://okic.okinawa/dojo-kengai
Currently, there are 236 Okinawa karate dojos registered in 39 prefectures out of 46 prefectures. The total number of dōjō is 236. Please check this PDF for the number of dōjō by prefecture.