This chart indicates the lineage for the Shorinjiryu Kenshin school of Karatedo. The author would like to inform the readers that there are many affiliated schools throughout the world, and for a more complete listing please refer to our
LINKS page.
Shorinjiryu Karatedo can trace it's lineage to the early Shaolin Temple where the priests practiced for health purposes rather than for reasons of martial-prowess. These exercises have evolved over many years, and continue to develop with each new member coming into the ranks as a practitioner. Each in their own right will contribute for the growth, development and understanding of this remarkable art form.
Shorinjiryu Kenkokan Karatedo was founded in 1945 in Tokyo, Japan by Kaiso Masayoshi Kori Hisataka (Seiki Kudaka in Okinawan). It is based upon his lifetime experience with various Okinawan Masters, most notably with Chotoku Kyan.
It's introduction to North America / Canada is relatively young, with the first school being opened through Hanshi Masayuki Hisataka on invitation from the government to demonstrate at the NEW YORK WORLD'S FAIR in 1965.
In 1967, he was then asked by the government to demonstrate at the MONTREAL WORLD'S FAIR "EXPO 67". Following this introduction to Canada (Montreal) and enjoying the charm of the Canadian people, he began offering instruction and soon opened several schools (DOJO), the most reputable being "Seidokwan Academy of Judo and Karatedo".
(or pronounced Seiki Kudaka in Okinawan) was born in Shuri (Naha City in Okinawa) on April 22nd, 1907, and was a descendant of Seiwa, the 56th Emperor of Japan.He studied Jiu Jitsu and studied with and exchanged with many of the great Karate masters of the time, but mostly under Master Chojun Kyamu of Okinawa Karate.
He entered the military learning Army training, bayonet handling,and furthered his knowledge of combat.
In 1929 he toured Taiwan with Master Chojun Kyamu and Master Ryosei Kuwae for about one year and was undefeated against the local Kempo practitioners.Upon returning to Japan he studied Judo at the Kodokan with Master Sanpo Toku and achieved 4th Degree Black Belt within a year of training. He studied Kendo (the Japanese version of sword fencing) and
competed at every Police Department competition.
During World War II, he was sent to Manchuria and assigned as a station master along the railway at Bakudashu, Sarachi, and Cho Kakko.When possible he would practice Karatedo and Judo training, and studied Chinese martial arts with a master of Hakkyoku Kempo. He is credited with saving both Chinese and Japanese lives during his stint as station master.
After World War II he returned to Japan to find that the Japanese people were demoralized by the war so he placed a greater emphasis on spiritual development of the individual through karatedo training.He founded the first Shorinjiryu Kenkokan Karatedo dojo in Oshima Park, Hamada village, in Kumamoto prefecture, Kyushu in 1945.He named this karatedo style based on the influences of Okinawan Karate (tode) , Chinese Shorinji kempo, Ryukyu Kudaka jima Shishiryu bo jutsu, and Kudakaryu Karate jutsu. He also made some innovations to Karatedo training including:
- use of the heel when kicking
- whole body is put into action when exeecuting a technique,
using a follow through motion
- use of the vertical fist (tate ken)
- practice of yakusoku kumite
- use of protective equipment to allow tthe karatedo student
to really test their techniques without having to hold back
their power.
- practice of weapons (buki ho)
Kaiso Masayoshi Kori Hisataka passed away in Tokyo Japan on April 14,1988, and his legacy continues on today through the practioners of Shorinjiryu Kenkokan Karate and the various branches that trace their origin to his development of karatedo.
This is the last of my series of articles about O'Sensei Chitose's karate teachers. Hopefully, after this, I will be able to present some information about O'Sensei's kobudo instructors.
Kyan Chotoku was probably the most influential of O'Sensei's Tote instructors and Chito-ryu is abundant with Kyan influences. We can see this in numerous kata that we do, including Bassai, Chinto, Sanshiru and Kusanku. Chito-ryu also has a variation of Kyan Seisan. However, our Seisan is also very close to the common Matsumura Seisan and Kyan's influence on O'Sensei's Seisan isn't fully understood. O'Sensei also learned Ananku and Gojushiho from Kyan.
Kyan spawned over half a dozen popular styles which have splintered into many more groups since his death. Because of this, Kyan is considered not only one of the main influences of Chito-ryu, but of Shorin-ryu as a whole. Like most famous masters, Kyan also attended the "Meeting of Okinawan Masters" in Oct. 25th, 1936 to discuss the re-naming of Tote-jutsu to Karate-do.
Because of his permanent squint and small spectacles, Kyan was known throughout his life as Migua Chan (small eyed Kyan - Chan is the original pronunciation, it is sometimes pronounced Kiyabu or Kiyatake in modern Japanese). Kyan Chotoku was a weak, sickly child who overcame his poor eyesight and small size to become a renowned master through constant practice.
Born in December of 1870, Chotoku was the third or fourth son of Kyan Chofu, steward to the Ryukyuyan King Shotai and 11th generation successor of the Shosei family line. Chofu was educated in Chinese and Japanese classics and a skilled martial artist. He was a trusted member of the Royal staff and carried out all the business of the Royal family. Around this time, events that eventually became known as the Meiji restoration were effecting all of Okinawa, especially the royalty and their workers. The Meiji government of Japan officially abolished all royalty and aristocracy in Okinawa in 1872.
King Shotai was eventually forced to leave Okinawa, travelling to Tokyo in 1879. He continued to live an aristocratic life for a while, even bringing some of his more trusted staff including his steward Kyan Chofu. Chotoku accompanied his father to Tokyo at the age of 12 and received an education in Chinese classics until age 16 when they returned to Okinawa, Chofu's duties to the king concluded.
As a boy, Kyan was small and in poor health. His father believed that Kyan must improve his health to become a proper member of the Shosei family line. Chofu often took Chotoku outside on cold winter days to exercise in various martial arts, including Tote. Chotoku's father gave him advice on how to train and practice which Chotoku often repeated to his own students years later including the most famous, "Proficiency in karate doesn't depend on natural talent and ability, but on constant practice." When Chotoku was about 20, his father felt that he should practice Tote regularly.
Three of the most famous masters at that time were "Bushi" Matsumura Sokon (of Shuri), Itosu Anko (of Shuri), and "Peichin" Oyadomari (of Naha). According to Nagamine Shoshin, Chofu asked all three to train his son.
It has been repeated that Kyan studied under Itosu, Bushi Matsumura's most famous successor, however, there are other students of Kyan (Nakazato Joen) and even the successor of Itosu Anko (Chibana Chosin) who said that Kyan never practiced under Itosu. There is no way to know for sure without someone uncovering further documentation in the future. Regardless of this, Kyan obtained an impressive Tode education under the very best Okinawan masters.
The Meiji restoration hurt the Kyan finances and they eventually moved to Yomitan village where they owned property. They struggled from then on and Chotoku took on odd jobs like raising silk worms and pulling carts. According to Nagamine Shoshin, Kyan's adult life was miserable and poverty stricken. Despite this, he continued to train while in Yomitan and learned the Kusanku kata from a Tote expert named Yara Chantan (b. 1816).
Kyan advanced rapidly and by the time he was 30, he was well known for his martial arts skills. Having studied with an unusually large number of experts, Kyan accumulated what was considered a very large number of kata. Here is a list of Kyan's kata curriculum:
C Seisan, Naihanshi and Gojushiho from Bushi Matsumura
C Kusanku from Yara Chantan
C Passai (Bassai) from Oyadomari Kokan (1827-1905)
C Chinto from Matsumora Kosaku (1829-1898)
C Wansu from Maeda "Peichin" (a student of Matsumora Kosaku)
C Ananku (sometimes Ananko) from a Taiwanese in Okinawa or from a trip to Taiwan, no one knows for sure.
C Tokumine No Kon (a bo kata) from the banished official named Tokumine "Peichin". From "Okinawan Karate" by Mark Bishop, Nakama Chozo mentioned that when Kyan visited the southern island of Yaema, Tokumine had already died. The story goes that Tokumine had taught his landlord the kata and the man kindly agreed to teach it to Kyan.
Matsumora Kosaku, Oyadomari Kokan and Maeda Peichin were well known masters of the Tote taught in and around Tomari village. While similar to the Tote taught in Shuri, Tomari's Tote had some different kata and a unique flavor. Because of this, Kyan is known for passing down Tomari Tote from these three Tomari greats, although in a modified form. Kyan's Chinto, Wansu and Passai reflect Tomari style Tote.
Kyan took part in some of the very first demonstrations along with other famous masters following the 1917 demonstration by Funakoshi Gichin and Matayoshi Shinko in Kyoto, Japan for the Dai Nippon Butokukai (founded 1895, The Butokukai is a governing body for Japanese martial arts). Kyan was also a member of the 1918 Ryukyu Tote Kenkyukai (Okinawan Karate research club) founded by Miyagi Choyun and run by the successors of the last generation of masters.
Known as an innovator, Kyan contributed much to the body of Tote knowledge. He was small and had to adjust his skills to his small stature. This led to innovations in taisabaki, kicking and jumping techniques. He never backed up, but preferred to move forward at a diagonal when defending. As with other youths of the time, Kyan took part in challenge matches to test his skill and according to his students, he was never defeated.
Kyan was also fond of travelling and assimilated knowledge not only from all over Okinawa, but also in Taiwan where he led a group in 1930 to represent Okinawa at a martial arts festival. He also visited Japan for a while as did other Okinawan masters like Mabuni and Miyagi around 1928 to 1932. We don't know what places Kyan visited or for how long. We do know that one of his famous students named Kudaka (Hisataka) Seiki accompanied him.
A karate master is not only measured by the skill that they possess, but in the skill they pass on and the students they leave behind. Karate lineages spreading out from Kyan are some of the most impressive and form some of the best-known groups of Okinawan karateka.
Kyan taught Tote at his home near the Hija Bridge in Yomitan ward and later taught at the Okinawan Prefectural Agricultural School and the Kadena Police Station. He was also an early karate teacher in the elementary school system and taught Ananku, Passai, Kusanku and Chinto at the Kenritsu Norin school. It is from these places that Kyan spawned a whole lineage of Shorin-ryu related styles. These include Shobayashi-ryu, Isshin-ryu, Matsubayashi-ryu, Shorinji-ryu, Shorinji-ryu Renshinkan, Shorinji-ryu Kenkokan and many others. These styles share some common kata and techniques with each other and with Chito-ryu.
Even though Kyan's students formed many styles, Kyan's first and most famous students didn't form any styles at all. Aragaki Ankichi (1899-1927) and Shimabukuro Taro were closest to Kyan following WWI and were seen with him all over the island. They were wild young men and accompanied Kyan at cockfights and brothels. Handsome and strong, they were the heroes of their time and were talked about often.
Aragaki Ankichi was a very talented athlete who approached karate scientifically and left a lasting impression on many masters, including Nagamine and Chitose. He trained not only in karate, but in Sumo and Kendo as well. Aragaki was a good friend of O'Sensei, as they were nearly the same age and were both training with Kyan at the same time. It is likely that O'Sensei exchanged some kata with Aragaki. Ankichi died of stomach ulcers in 1927.
Too numerous to discuss in detail, other Kyan students include: Nagamine Shoshin (founder Matsubayashi-ryu), Nakazato Joen (founder Shorinji-ryu), Shimabukuro Zenryo (founder Seibukan), Shimabuku Tatsuo (founder Isshin ryu), Shimabuku Eizo (founder Shorin-ryu Shaolin) and Kudaka/Hisataka Seiki (founder Shorinji-ryu Kenkokan).
Kyan's students also passed on stories about him which form what can only be called a mythology. This is unusual for such a recent individual (he still has living students at this writing) and includes stories of death duels and famous challenge matches and how he even killed Gushikawa Taira-gua for being a bandit by jumping on him from out of a tree. Stories like these are unfounded and probably grew wilder in the telling.
Kyan gave demonstration in May of 1942 at the opening of Nagamine Shoshin's first dojo in Naha City. He performed Bassai and Bo jutsu to an audience of distinguished guests. In 1943, Kyan and some students did demonstrations at the Motobu and Nakijin elementary schools to try and improve morale of families who'd lost sons during the war. At 73, Kyan thrilled the audience by breaking some boards.
Kyan died at the age of 76 from fatigue and malnutrition in the northern part of Okinawa in Sept. 20th, 1945 in the wake of the battle of Okinawa. His students say that he died of starvation because he was giving his food to hungry children.
References:
Hokama, Tetsuhiro: "History and Traditions of Okinawan Karate", translated by Cezar Borkowski, printed by Masters Publications, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, 1996.
Nagamine, Shoshin: "The Essence of Okinawan Karate-Do", Published by Charles E. Tuttle Company, Inc., 1976.
Bishop, Mark: "Okinawan Karate: Teachers, Styles and Secret Techniques", A&C Black Limited, London, England, 1989.
Borkowski, Cezar: "Nagamine Shoshin, The Living Link to the Golden Age of Okinawan Karate Part I", Steve Grayston's Martial Arts, No. 40.
Borkowski, Cezar: "Nagamine Shoshin, The Living Link to the Golden Age of Okinawan Karate Part II", Steve Grayston's Martial Arts, No. 43.
Sells, John: "Unante, the Secrets of Karate", John Sells and Hawley Publi cations, 1996.
Sells, John: "Chito Ryu Karatedo, the Legacy of Chitose Tsuyoshi", Bugeisha Magazine, issue #2, March 1997. Maai Productions Inc., PA, U.S.A.
Sells, John: "Seibukan, the Shorin-ryu Karate of Shimabukuro Zenryo", Bugeisha Magazine, issue #5, Winter 1998. Maai Productions Inc., PA, U.S.A.
As I look back over the nine decades of my life - from childhood to youth to maturity to (making use of an expression that I dislike) old age - I realise that it is thanks to my devotion to Karate - Do that I have never once had to consult a physician. I have never in my life taken any medicine: pills, no elixirs, not even a single injection. In recent years my freinds have accused me of being immortal; it is a joke to which I can only reply, seriously but simply, that my body had been so well trained that it repels all sickness and disease.
In my opinion, there are three kinds of ailments that afflict human beings; illnesses that cause fever, malfunctions of the gastrointestinal systems and physical injuries. Almost invariably, the cause of disability is rooted in an unwholesome life - style, in irregular habits, and in pour circulation. If a man who runs a temperature practices karate until the sweat begins to pour from his body, he will soon find that his temperature has dropped to normal, and that his illness has been cured. If a man with gastric troubles does the same, it will cause his blood to circulate more freely and so alleviate his distress. Physical injuries are, of course, another matter, but many of these too may be avoided by a well - trained man exercising proper care and caution. Karate - Do is not merely a sport that teaches how to strike and kick; it is also a defense against illness and disease.
Reference: KARATE - DO, MY WAY OF LIFE
Gichin Funakoshi
Tokyo, 1956
