Okinawan Masters in detail Flashcards
1
Q
When did Satunushi “Todi” Sakugawa live?
A
1762-1843. More general answer: mid-to-late 1700s to early-to-mid 1800s
2
Q
Why is Satunushi “Todi” Sakugawa important to the martial arts?
A
He was among the first to blend elements of the original Okinawan art of te with Chinese boxing (tode) to initiate the development of what we know as karate today.
3
Q
Name one of Satunushi “Todi” Sakugawa’s students.
A
Sokon “Bushi” Matsumura
4
Q
What katas did Satunushi “Todi” Sakugawa create?
A
He created the kata Kusanku and the bo kata Sakugawa No Kun.
5
Q
Who did we get the concept of dojo etiquette from?
A
Satunushi “Todi” Sakugawa
6
Q
Who created the katas Kusanku and Sakugawa No Kun?
A
Satunushi “Todi” Sakugawa
7
Q
Who was among the first to blend elements of the original Okinawan art of te with Chinese boxing (tode) to initiate the development of what we know as karate today?
A
Satunushi “Todi” Sakugawa
8
Q
When did Machu Higa live?
A
1790-1870. More general answer: late 1700s to the mid-to-late 1800s.
9
Q
Machu Higa served as a bodyguard. For whom did he serve as a bodyguard?
A
The Ryukyuan royal family
10
Q
Machu Higa was awarded what title for serving for the Ryukyuan royal family?
A
Peichin
11
Q
What does the title Peichin mean?
A
Signifies membership in the Okinawan Shizoku (equivalent to the Japanese Samurai class)
12
Q
Who served as a bodyguard for the Ryukyuan royal family for which he was awarded the title Peichin?
A
Machu Higa
13
Q
What things was Machu Higa an expert in?
A
He was an expert in bo, sai, tonfa.
14
Q
Why is Machu Higa important to the martial arts?
A
He was a expert in several weapons, and a pioneer in the early development of Karate.
15
Q
Who was one of Machu Higa’s students?
A
Ufuchiku Kankushiku (Sanda Kinjo)
16
Q
When did Sokon “Bushi” Matsumura live?
A
1798-1890. More general answer: late 1700s to late 1800s.
17
Q
Why was Sokon “Bushi” Matsumura important to the martial arts?
A
He was considered the father of Okinawan karate. He was the first to systematize Shuri-te from which the various Shorin-ryu styles have come down to us today.
18
Q
What did Sokon “Bushi” Matsumura study?
A
Chinese boxing and Japanese swordsmanship.
19
Q
Who was believed to be Sokon “Bushi” Matsumura’s teacher?
A
Satunushi “Todi” Sakugawa
20
Q
What Shorin-ryu katas did Sokon “Bushi” Matsumura originate or develop important variations on?
A
Chinto, Wansu, Passai, Seisan, and others
21
Q
The forms Chinto, Wansu, Passai, and Seisan were created by or had important variations changed by whom?
A
Sokon “Bushi” Matsumura
22
Q
When did Kosaku Matsumora live?
A
1828-1898. More general answer: early-to-mid 1800s to late 1800s
23
Q
Why was Kosaku Matsumora important to the martial arts?
A
He was a leading practitioner, developer, and teacher of Tomari-te, the karate that developed around Tomari village. Tomari-te has not survived as a distinct system, but many of its katas and techniques are incorporated within the Shorin-ryu styles of today.
24
Q
Who was a leading practitioner, developer, and teacher of Tomari-te?
A
Kosaku Matsumora
25
What is Tomari-te and has it survived as a system?
The karate that developed around Tomari village, no.
26
True or False: Many of Tomari-te's katas and techniques are incorporated within the Shorin-ryu styles of today.
True
27
Name at least one of Kosaku Matsumora's students.
Choki Motobu, Chotoku Kyan
28
When did Itosu "Anko" Yasutsune live?
1830-1910. More general answer: early-to-mid 1800s to early 1900s
29
True or False: Itosu "Anko" Yasutsune is considered the father of modern karate.
True
30
Why is Itosu "Anko" Yasutsune considered to be the father of modern karate?
Because he simplified many of the ancient katas, created several new katas of his own, and pioneered teaching methods that would revolutionize the art by making its study easier and less dangerous for future generations.
31
When did Itosu "Anko" Yasutsune first introduce Karate into the physical education curriculum of the Okinawan public school system?
1901. More general answer: early 1900s.
32
What were the effects of Itosu "Anko" Yasutsune introducing Karate into the Okinawan public school system?
It was a crucial step to transforming the public perception of karate as a feudalistic killing art to one in which the emphasis was on health and spiritual well-being.
33
What katas did Itosu "Anko" Yasutsune create?
He created the Pinan (peaceful mind) forms, shodan through godan(1-5), which are practiced today in various forms by virtually all Shorin-ryu styles.
34
Name at least 2 of Itosu "Anko" Yasutsune's students.
Gichin Funakoshi, Chomo Hanashiro, Chotoku Kyan, Chosin Chibana, Kentsu Yabu, Choki Motobu, Kenwa Mabuni, and Shigeru Nakamura.
35
Who created the Pinan forms, shodan through godan, that are practiced today in virtually all Shorin-ryu styles?
Itosu "Anko" Yasutsune
36
Who first introduced Karate into the physical education curriculum in the Okinawan school system?
Itosu "Anko" Yasutsune
37
When did Sanda Kinjo- Ufuchiku live?
1841-1926. More general answer: mid-1800s to early 1900s
38
What was Sanda Kinjo-Ufuchiku an expert in?
Karate and Kobudo
39
Sanda Kinjo-Ufuchiku served as a bodyguard to whom?
The last of Okinawa's reigning kings, Sho Tai, until the king's fall from power in 1879.
40
Who was a bodyguard to Sho Tai, the last of Okinawa's reigning kings?
Sanda Kinjo-Ufuchiku
41
What does the title Ufuchiku mean?
Police commissioner
42
Who was the police commissioner of Shuri?
Sanda Kinjo
43
What was Sanda Kinjo's system known as?
Ufuchiku Kobujutsu.
44
What student did Sanda Kinjo pass stewardship of his system onto?
Shosei Kina
45
Who taught his techniques to the police force of Shuri while slowly developing and perfecting his own system?
Sanda Kinjo
46
When did Kanryo Higashionna live?
1851-1915. More general answer: mid-1800s to early 1900s
47
What kata did Kanryo Higashionna introduce and popularize on Okinawa?
Sanchin. He also introduced and popularized the Sanchin method of breathing.
48
Kanryo Higashionna was good friends with what other martial artist?
Itosu "Anko" Yasutsune
49
Who introduced and popularized the kata Sanchin and its method of breathing?
Kanryo Higashionna
50
Why was Kanryo Higashionna important to the martial arts?
He was a leading developer and master of Naha-te, he laid the foundation for Goju-ryu which was subsequently formalized by his senior student.
51
Who was Kanryo Higashionna's senior student, who went on to formalize Goju-ryu?
Chojun Miyagi
52
Other than Chojun Miyagi, who was Kanryo Higashionna's other important student and why was he important?
Kenwa Mabuni, founder of Shito-ryu
53
Who was a leading developer and master of Naha-te, and laid the foundation for Goju-ryu?
Kanryo Higashionna
54
When did Nabe Matsumura live?
We're unsure of when he lived exactly, but it is thought to be between the mid-1800s and the mid 1900s.
55
Why was Nabe Matsumura important?
He was the grandson of Sokon "Bushi" Matsumura, so he became successor to the family system when Sokon died, thereby serving as a link between the old masters and those of the present day. Prominent Karate master of his day.
56
Who served as a link between the old masters and those of the present day?
Nabe Matsumura
57
Who did Nabe Matsumura teach?
He taught very few students, the most important of which was his nephew, Hohan Soken.
58
When did Yabu Kentsu live?
1865-1945. More general answer: mid-to-late 1800s to mid 1900s.
59
Why is Yabu Kentsu important?
He was a prominent Shorin-ryu master known for his fighting ability. It is said he never lost a match, beating even Choki Motobu in a famous challenge match.
60
True or False: Yabu Kentsu and Chomo Hanashiro were of the first ever to teach Karate in the Okinawan school system, under Itosu "Anko" Yasutsune's supervision?
True
61
Who fought on the Chinese mainland as a sergeant in the Japanese army during the Sino-Japanese War, from which came his ferocious fighting style as well as the nickname "The Sergeant"?
Yabu Kentsu
62
Yabu Kentsu was given the nickname "The Sergeant"? Why did he have this nickname?
He fought on the Chinese mainland as a sergeant in the Japanese army during the Sino-Japanese war (1894-1895). From this experience came his ferocious fighting style as well as the nickname "The Sergeant".
63
Name one of Yabu Kentsu's students and explain why they were important.
Shigeru Nakamura, founder of Okinawan Kempo.
64
Who was a prominent Shorin-ryu master known for his fighting ability, with it being said that he never lost a match, beating even Choki Motobu in a famous challenge match, and never hurting an opponent except in war?
Yabu Kentsu
65
When did Chomo Hanashiro live?
1867-1944 More general answer: mid-to-late 1800s to mid 1900s.
66
What was Chomo Hanashiro known for?
He was known for his strength and flawless technique.
67
What was Chomo Hanashiro like as a teacher?
He was known for his emphasis on fundamentals.
68
What was Chomo Hanashiro's favorite kata?
Jion
69
When did Gichin Funakoshi live?
1868-1957 More general answer: mid-to-late 1800s to the mid-1900s
70
Gichin Funakoshi was known as the father of ____, he founded _______, one of the most popular styles of Karate in the world today
Japanese Karate, Shotokan
71
Who was known as the father of Japanese Karate?
Gichin Funakoshi
72
Who founded Shotokan?
Gichin Funakoshi
73
Gichin Funakoshi was unlike most Karate masters in his time. How was he different?
He was well-educated and brought a refined, philosophic approach to Karate that attracted the attention of intellectuals on the Japanese mainland.
74
What did Gichin Funakoshi emphasize in his teaching?
He emphasized basic technique, kata training, and perfection of the individual through "do" or "the way".
75
Who is credited with the famous saying: "Karate ni sente nashi." or "There is no first attack in Karate."?
Gichin Funakoshi
76
What famous saying is Gichin Funakoshi credited with?
"Karate ni sente nashi." or "There is no first attack in Karate."
77
When did Chotoku Kyan live?
1869-1945. More general answer: late 1800s to mid 1900s.
78
Why was Chotoku Kyan important to the martial arts?
He was a legendary master even during his own lifetime, and he was an important teacher who fathered a long line of Shorin-ryu styles.
79
What was Chotoku Kyan nicknamed and why?
NIcknamed "Chan Migwa", or small-eyed one, because of his permanent squint.
80
What was Chotoku Kyan an expert in?
He became an expert in techniques such as side-stepping and body changing that would be most advantageous for a man of his size, as he was small and thin.
81
What was Chotoku Kyan known for?
He was known for his evasive tactics, and though often challenged, was never defeated in a fight.
82
Name at least 2 of Chotoku Kyan's students and why they are important.
Shoshin Nagamine- founder of Matsubayashi Shorin-ryu; Zenryo Shimabukuro- carried on Kyan's art; Tatsuo Shimabuku- founder of Isshin-ryu.
83
What were Chotoku Kyan's favorite katas?
Passai, Chinto, and Kusanku
84
When did Chosin Chibana live?
1885-1969. General answer: late 1800s to mid-to-late 1900s.
85
Why was Chosin Chibana important in the martial arts?
While another former student of Itosu "Anko" Yasutsune, Gichin Funakoshi, was busy developing Shotokan on the Japanese mainland, he was busy in Okinawa trying to preserve the katas of his teacher intact.
86
Who was Chosin Chibana's teacher?
Itosu "Anko" Yasutsune. Itosu was the only teacher Chibana ever had. He studied with him for 13 years.
87
What did Chosin Chibana later name the style he learned from Itosu "Anko" Yasutsune?
He named the style Kobayashi Shorin-ryu to differentiate it from the Shorin-ryu styles that had come down fro Chotoku Kyan.
88
How did Chosin Chibana think Karate should be taught?
He believed it should be taught as an art and not as a sport or as a mere form of exercise.
89
When did Chojun Miyagi live?
1888-1952 General: late 1800s to mid 1900s
90
What was Chojun Miyagi known for in the martial arts?
He built upon the Naha-te of his teacher Kanryo Higashionna to develop his own style, Goju-ryu.
91
Who adapted his teacher's teachings to develop their own style, known as Goju-ryu?
Chojun Miyagi
92
Who were Chojun Miyagi's teachers?
Kanryo Higashionna
93
What does Goju mean?
hard-soft
94
What forms did Chojun Miyagi create?
He created the katas Gekisai ichi and ni, as well as the kata Tensho.
95
When did Kenwa Mabuni live?
1890-1952. General: late 1800s to the mid 1900s.
96
Why was Kenwa Mabuni important to the martial arts?
He was one of the first Okinawan masters to teach on mainland Japan. He also founded Shito-ryu, one of the four main styles of Karate studied in Japan today.
97
What style did Kenwa Mabuni found, and why did he name it as he did?
Shito-ryu. He named in tribute to his teachers, using the Chinese character shi("ito" in Itosu) and to ("higa" in Higashionna) to form Shito-ryu.
98
Who was Shito-ryu founded by?
Kenwa Mabuni
99
Who were Kenwa Mabuni's teachers?
Kanryo Higashionna and Itosu "Anko" Yasutsune
100
Where did Kenwa Mabuni teach?
He taught throughout Okinawa, and in 1929, he moved permanently to Japan where he taught regularly at Japanese universities and police departments.
101
When did Shigeru Nakamura live?
1892-1969. General: late 1800s to mid-to-late 1900s.
102
Why was Shigeru Nakamura important?
He founded Okinawan Kempo.
103
Who founded Okinawan Kempo?
Shigeru Nakamura
104
Who was Shigeru Nakamura's teacher?
Itosu "Anko" Yasutsune
105
When did Choyu Motobu live?
1867-1930 General: mid-to-late 1800s to early-to-mid 1900s
106
What style was Choyu Motobu trained in because he was the first-born son of a ranking lord?
go-ten-te or palace hand, the secret martial art of the royal family which had been handed down within the Motobu family from father to first born son for eleven generations.
107
What kind of art was go-ten-te, or palace hand?
It was a soft art that incorporated many throws and grappling techniques as well as lacking formal stances, blocks, and forms.
108
Why did Choyu Motobu teach his art to an outsider of the family?
His first born son had died early and his second born had no interest in continuing the art.
109
Who was the outsider of the family that Choyu Motobu taught his art to?
Seikichi Uehara, who later named the system Motobu-ryu.
110
Who was Seikichi Uehara?
An outsider that Choyu Motobu taught his system to, who later named it Motobu-ryu.
111
When did Choki Motobu live?
1870-1944. More general: late 1800s to mid 1900s.
112
Why was Choki Motobu one of the most controversial of all the great Karate masters?
He first gained notoriety as a bully and a braggart, and though later in life he adopted a more humble attitude, he was never able to outlive his earlier reputation.
113
Who was Choki Motobu the brother of?
Choyu Motobu
114
Why was Choki Motobu not taught his family system?
He was the third born son.
115
How did Choki Motobu begin in martial arts?
He picked up on the basics of te by peeking through dojo fences and trained himself on the makiwara.
116
What was Choki Motobu's nickname and why was he known by that?
Saru, or monkey, for his exceptional leaping ability
117
Later in life, Choki Motobu underwent a profound change and attitude and was seeking the true meaning of Karate-do. Who did he dedicate himself to a serious study of kata under?
Yabu Kentsu, one of the few men who'd ever beaten him in fighting.
118
What was Choki Motobu's favorite kata and why?
His favorite kata was Niahanchi, which he believed was the only kata required for a mastery of Karate.
119
What was Choki Motobu best known for?
His kumite. Up until his death, other masters would send their students to him specifically to learn his free-fighting techniques.
120
Who believed Niahanchi was the only kata needed for a mastery of Karate?
Choki Motobu
121
When did Tatsuo Shimabuku live?
1908-1975. More general: early 1900s to late 1900s
122
What style did Tatsuo Shimabuku develop and why?
He developed Isshin-ryu to correct what he felt were deficiencies in the Karate styles he had studied.
123
What styles did Tatsuo Shimabuku blend to found Isshin-ryu in 1953?
Goju-ryu(which he learned from Miyagi) and Shorin-ryu(which he learned from Kyan)
124
What does Isshin-ryu mean?
one heart's system
125
What style's name means "one heart's system"?
Isshin-ryu
126
When was Isshin-ryu founded?
1953(mid-1900s)
127
When did Zenryo Shimabukuro live?
1909-1969 General: early 1900s to mid-to-late 1900s
128
Why was Zenryo Shimabukuro important in the martial arts?
He strived to preserve the classic Karate of Chotoku Kyan, and in doing so, became one of the most respected masters in modern times.
129
Who was Zenryo Shimabukuro's teacher?
Chotoku Kyan
130
How long did Zenryo Shimabukuro train with Chotoku Kyan?
12 years, from when Zenryo was 24 to Kyan's death in 1945.
131
Who did Zenryo Shimabukuro teach?
He opened his own dojo after WWII to preserve Kyan's teachings. Also, one of his early students that was a member of the US Army, arranged for him to teach Karate to US para-troopers, many of whom took his Karate back to the United States.
