| do, in all its various forms, finds its origins in one place - | | | | later part of the 19th century and learned their samurai |
| the Ryukyu islands off the coast of Japan. What we | | | | fighting art Jigen-ryu kenjutsu. It was not long after this |
| know as one of the most widely practiced systems of | | | | that Sokon Matsumura, "Toudi" Sakugawa, and |
| self defense and discipline in the world is the result of | | | | Tsuken Koura, among the many who had made the |
| centuries of development. While Karate-do was | | | | trip, introduced their contributions to kobudo. |
| introduced as a code of ethics to a peacetime | | | | Ultimately, three major strains were developed from |
| America only a few decades ago, it began through the | | | | Ryukyu kenpo karate-jutsu (as tode-jutsu eventually |
| need of Ryukyu natives for better methods of fighting. | | | | came to be called). These strains were named |
| There are a few theories about the origins of the | | | | Shuri-te, Naha-te, and Tomari-te, for the regions in |
| fighting arts that later became collectively known as | | | | which they were developed. All three regions are |
| Karate-do. However, it is certain that many notable | | | | based in the southern part of Okinawa. The |
| Chinese kung fu practitioners settled in Okinawa, the | | | | differences of the three styles may be traced back to |
| capital of the Ryukyu kingdom. | | | | the socio-economic status of those who practiced |
| The origins of the Chinese arts themselves are also | | | | them. The lowest rung on the ladder was the worker |
| shrouded in the mists of time. A widely accepted | | | | class studying Tomari-Te. The middle section was the |
| theory is that Bodhidharma, the founder of Ch'an (Zen) | | | | merchant class studying Naha-Te. The upper class |
| Buddhism created what would later evolve into Shaolin | | | | noblemen were taking up practice of Shuri-te in and |
| kung-fu. The original exercises were used to | | | | around the capital. |
| strengthen his monks' bodies, minds, and spirits, to help | | | | Matsumura is commonly considered the great |
| them better fulfill their duties. This level of personal | | | | grandfather of the karate movement in and around |
| cultivation carried across to many Chinese martial arts. | | | | Shuri. He learned native Okinawan fighting from |
| By way of transmission to other countries, this carried | | | | Sakugawa (who in turn learned from Kusankun and |
| across to other martial arts, Karate-do being one of | | | | other masters). He later studied in Fujian and Satsuma. |
| them. | | | | He learned Shaolin Boxing (Shorin-ryu) under the |
| Details are rather sketchy at best as to the actual | | | | tutelage of master Iwah. As a result of the efforts of |
| origins of Karate-do, however. It is most widely | | | | Matsumura, the fighting arts that surfaced around the |
| accepted that in the year 1507, a weapons ban was | | | | noble / castle district of Shuri came to be known as |
| passed by King Sho Shin. This led to the rapid | | | | Shuri-te (Shuri hand). |
| development of native unarmed fighting arts. These | | | | The Chinese master Ason taught Zhao Ling Liu |
| arts were primarily influenced by various forms of | | | | (Shorei-ryu) to Sakiyama, Gushi, Nagahama, and |
| Chinese kung fu, which Okinawans began learning in | | | | Tomoyori of Naha. This led to the development of |
| the 14th century. | | | | Naha-te. Naha, a coastal city, was a large trade center |
| Okinawans learned forms of Shaolin kung fu from | | | | at the time. Xie Zhongxiang (nicknamed Ryuru Ko) of |
| Shaolin masters who fled China as a result of the | | | | Fuzhou founded Whooping Crane kung fu (hakutsuru) |
| oppressive Qing dynasty. Okinawans also learned | | | | and taught it to a number of notable karate masters in |
| various forms of kung fu from Chinese merchants, | | | | the Fuzhou province. Wai Xinxian, it is said, was a Qing |
| Chinese officials on diplomatic missions, and young | | | | dynasty officer, and taught Xingyi kung fu as well as |
| members of wealthy Okinawan families who went to | | | | Monk Fist Boxing. It is also said he assisted Master |
| China to learn "Quan Fa" / kung fu to further their | | | | Iwah's instruction in Fuzhou province. |
| education and martial arts studies. The general name | | | | Two separate, modern styles developed from |
| given to the fighting arts learned and further refined by | | | | Naha-te: Goju-Ryu and Uechi-Ryu. Goju-ryu stresses |
| the Okinawan martial artists was tode-jutsu | | | | deep breathing methods (ibuki). Its kata, including |
| (alternately spelled tou-di), the Okinawan name given to | | | | Sanchin, tend to utilize dynamic tension for power |
| Chinese martial arts. | | | | training. Uechi-ryu uses a number of kata that Kanei |
| In February 1609, invasion of Okinawa by the Satsuma | | | | Uechi (1877-1948) learned while in China, as well as |
| clan (of Kyushu, Japan) triggered another period of | | | | several Goju-ryu kata. Uechi-ryu's Sanchin is done with |
| rapid development of native Okinawan fighting arts. | | | | open hands, and doesn't use the deep breathing |
| Satsuma control lasted until 1879, when the King of | | | | emphasized by Goju ryu. |
| Ryukyu finally abdicated and the country became part | | | | Naha-te's Chinese lineage can be seen through the |
| of Japan. | | | | influence of the forms and methods of Crane and |
| During this period, kobudo (often translated "classical | | | | other styles. Dragon Boxing includes the forms Seisan, |
| fighting method"; commonly used to represent | | | | Peichurrin (also known as Suparimpei), Saam Chien, |
| Okinawan weapon fighting) evolved. Farm implements | | | | and Eighteen Scholar Fists. Tiger Boxing also includes |
| were used as weapons, as traditional weapons were | | | | Saam Chien and Peichurrin, as well as Sanseiru and |
| not allowed. However, some of the native Ryukyu | | | | others. Arhat Boxing (Monk Fist) has Saam Chien, |
| warrior class traveled up to the Satsuma clan in the | | | | Seisan, Jitte, Seipai, Useishi, Peichurrin, and other forms. |