The History of ShitoRyu Karate

Matsumura Sōkon was born in Yamagawa Village, Shuri, Okinawa. Matsumura began the study of karate under the guidance ofSakukawa Kanga (1762–1843) or (1733–1815) or (1782–1837).Sakukawa was an old man at the time and reluctant to teach the young Matsumura, who was regarded as something of a troublemaker. However, Sakukawa had promised Matsumura Sōfuku, Matsumura Sōkon’sfather, that he would teach the boy, and thus he did. Matsumura spent five years studying under Sakukawa. As a young man, Matsumura had already garnered a reputation as an expert in the martial arts.

Matsumura was recruited into the service of the Shō family, the royal family of the Ryūkyū Kingdom in 1816 and received the title Shikudon (also ChikudunPechin), a gentry rank. He began his career by serving the 17th King of Ryūkyū's second Shō dynasty, KingShōKō. In 1818 he married YonamineChiru, who was a martial arts expert as well. Matsumura eventually became the chief martial arts instructor and bodyguard for the Okinawan King ShōKō. He subsequently served in this capacity for the last two Okinawan kings, ShōIku and Shō Tai. Matsumura traveled on behalf of the royal government to Fuzhou andSatsuma.[1] He studied ChuanFa in China as well as other martial arts and brought what he learned back to Okinawa.

He was the first to introduce the principles of Satsuma's swordsmanship school, Jigen-ryū, into Ryūkyūkobujutsu and he is credited with creating the foundation for the bōjutsu of Tsuken. He passed on Jigen-ryū to some of his students, including AnkōAsato and ItarashikiChochu. The TsukenBō tradition was perfected by TsukenSeisoku Ueekata of Shuri.[4]

Matsumura is credited with passing on the Shōrin-ryūKempō-karate kata known as naihanchi I & II, passai, seisan, chintō, gojūshiho, kusanku (the embodiment of kusanku'steaching as passed on to TodeSakugawa) and hakutsuru. Teachings of Bushi Matsumura

Matsumura was given the title "bushi" meaning "warrior" by the Okinawan king in recognition of his abilities and accomplishments in the martial arts. Described by Gichin Funakoshi as a sensei with a terrifying presence, Matsumura was never defeated in a duel, though he fought many. Tall, thin, and possessing a pair of unsettling eyes, Matsumura was described by his student AnkōItosu as blindingly fast and deceptively strong.

Grandmaster KanryoHigaonna (Higashionna was the original Okinawan pronounciation) was born on March 10, 1853, in Naha, the capital city of Okinawa. His father, Kanyo, worked as a merchant sailing between the small islands of Okinawa trading everyday goods. From a young age KanryoHigaonna helped his father in this work and through the hard physical labor that was involved he developed a strong body. KanryoHigaonna was still in his teens when his father died suddenly. 

Higaonna began his martial arts training in 1867 in Monk Fist Boxing (LohanQuan) from AragakiSeisho. In 1870, at the age of 16, he traveled with his instructor to Fuzhou, China. Once in Fuzhou he studied the Chinese martial arts under the great Master RuRuKo (XieZhonh Xiang in Chinese). RuRuKo was the founder of Whooping Crane gongfu and was a student of Pan Yuba who, in turn, was a student of Lin Shixian, a master of White Crane gongfu. Higaonna also received instruction from numerous other gongfu masters including WaiXinxian. Hiagaonna remained in China for a period of 5-13 years. In addition to studying empty hand and weapon arts, he also became accomplished in herbology and Chinese medicine, including acupuncture. 

Chojun Miyagi (founder of Goju-Ryu and successor to Higaonna) said of Higaonna, "My sensei possessed incredible strength; the severity of the training he underwent in China is beyond comprehension.... Kanryo Sensei's speed and power were truly superhuman; his hands and feet moved faster than lightning". Words cannot express his real ability. We can only say that his skill was incredible, but even this fails to do him justice. 

In the year 1881, he returned to Okinawa where his martial arts would become known as Naha-te though he always referred to it as chuanfa. KanryoHigaonna taught these martial arts to the people of Okinawa and at the same time continued his own research and practice. In order to teach the youth of Okinawa he developed a teaching method that was specifically designed to develop the mind and body; to improve both physical well-being. 

The first occasion on which the previously secretive art of Naha-te "opened" to society in general, occurred in October 1905, when Higaonna began teaching at the Naha Commercial High School. When teaching, Higaonna was an extremely hard task master. However, in his everyday life he was a quiet and humble man and one who was renowned for his virtuous character. He was a person who had no need or desire for worldly things. He leads a simple life that was devoted to the study and practice of martial arts. 

KanryoHigaonna is now bestowed with the title "Kensei (sacred fists) KanryoHigaonna" a title which is eminently fitting. His name is synonymous with Okinawan martial arts and Naha-te, and his spirit is destined to live on forever as a great and valued treasure within Okinawan culture. 

KanryoHigaonna's whole life was devoted to Karate. He passed away in December 1915 at the age of 63.

SokeKenzoMabuni was the son of founder of Shito-Ryu Karate-do, the late KenwaMabuni. 

Born on May 30th, 1927 at Akahira-Machi, Shuri City in Okinawa, his family moved to Osaka City, Japan in 1929 when he was 2 years old and he remained in his father's house. KenzoMabuni began his Karate training at the age of 13 and had continued his training for the last 60 years. He obtained his Shodan (1st Degree Black Belt) on August 1, 1943 from his father and earned the rank of Judan (10th degree Black belt) as well as a respected master throughout the world. 

His organization, Nihon Karatedo Kai was founded by his father in 1939. After his father's death in 1952, his mother, Kame Mabuni, came to KenzoMabuni and requested that he take over the style. He inherited the responsibility and became the 2nd Governor of ShitoRyu and successor to this organization. His father left him the ShitoRyu name, his complete syllabus, and the dojo with he Association name Nippon Karate Do Kai. All these remain intact until today. He followed his father's syllabus exactly the way it was written down in 1929 and that is why he called his style, "Seito ShitoRyu" or pure, true ShitoRyu. 

KenzoMabuni devoted his life to the preservation of ShitoRyu Karate as his father had created. KenzoMabuni remained relatively low-keyed in Japan until 1993 when he was invited to come to America by the late Shotokan Master, Osamu Ozawa. This became the first exposure of the Seito ShitoRyu System outside of Japan. In 1994 he was invited once more to the United States and a following began. Mabuni's organization, ShitoRyu International Karate Do Kai, now has branches in North and South America, Europe, Asia and the Oceania regions. He served as the Kaicho, or President, and Soke (Grandmaster) for this organization. 

KenzoMabuni passed away on June 26, 2005 at 14:45 HRS in Osaka, Japan. KenzoMabuni's eldest daughter, Tsukasa Mabuni now presides over the Seito Shito-RyuKarate-do Kai organization. 

He advised that one should take note of the following points when practicing KATA: 

KATA should start and end with REI (Bow). 

Correct Basic Techniques are; 

Breathing 
Dachi (Stances) 
Posture 

TenshinHappo (8 Directions) 
Chakgan (Focusing) 
Bunkai (Meaning and Application) 
Zanshin (Awareness) 
Repetition - To perfect the KATA 

His vision was that he would continue his father's work in promoting this  TRADITIONAL MARTIAL ART and teach only the TRUE and ORIGINAL form of  SHITO-RYU KARATE-DO.

HANSHI A.GOVINDHRAJANwas born on August 28th 1955 in Chidambaram, Tamil Nadu. At the age of 19, he started learning traditional Indian martial arts like silambam (Bow), kuthuvarisai etc., and later on he was attracted by the modern karate and because of his great interest and effort he become the first person to invite a ShorinRyuShorin-Kan Grand Master from overseas to India by inviting H. GaminiZoysa in 1980 and received his black belt .

Later in the year 1981 he started learning ShitoRyu karate under Sensei Mosses MuthiahThilagan and continued to learn under him for many years.

In the year 1996, through a common acquaintance, he came to know about SokeKenzoMabuni, 2nd Soke of Shito-Ryu International Karate Do who accepted him as a student. Then under the guidance of SokeKenzoMabuni, he started Shito-Ryu Nippon Karate Do Kai India. Being the representative of Shito-Ryu International Karate Do in India, he aimed at developing and spreading this true art throughout India. Shito-Ryu Nippon Karate Do Kai India which started just with one state in beginning was later spread to around 17 states within few years due to his dedicated training. In the year 1996, Shihan A. Govindhrajan arranged for a National level tournament and seminar in the presence of SokeKenzoMabuni and the event was a great success and a memorable one in which he was awarded with 6th Dan grade and “Shihan” title by SokeKenzoMabuni. In the year 2005 he received his 7th Dan grade along with “Kyoshi” title from SokeKenzoMabuni.

By the year 2009, he received the most Honorable 8thDan grade from 3rd Soke Tsukasa Mabuni which happens to be the highest rank in Asia in Shito-Ryu and also was awarded with the prestigious “Hanshi” title. He is the first person to receive this honorable title in South-East-Asia as well. He passed away on October 29th 2009. He was a man of high character. He was generous, very sociable and very popular among people, without selfishness and greed. He also dedicated his life to preserving the true lineage of his master’s karate.