HISTORY OF OKINAWA KENPO KARATE & KOBUDO

The roots of Okinawan Karate can be traced back to the Indian martial art that was
introduced to China by a Buddhist monk name Dharma. Dharma left India and
traveled to the Shaolin Temple in the Honan Province to teach Zen Buddhism.
Finding the monks in poor physical fitness and defenseless against bandits,
Dharma taught the monks a series of exercises to enhance their physical strength
and establish a means of defending themselves and the temple. These exercises
and techniques are the origin of Chinese Kun-Fu, also known as Shaolin-JiKempo.
Between the 6th and 19th centuries Chinese martial arts spread throughout the
country. When King Satto of Okinawa opened trade with China, many Chinese
masters brought their martial arts to Okinawa. Chinese kempo was merged with the
Okinawans native martial art called Tode to create a unique method of fighting
arts known as Te (Hand). The foundation for the Okinawa Kenpo system came
from China to Okinawa in the 7th. Kempo, as it was known, was taught only to
family members until 1472. In that year, the systems Master, Naha Bushi
Nakayama, agreed to teach Kenpo (Kenpo is the Okinawan pronunciation) to
students outside of his family. To keep the lineage of the system pure, he
established a scroll that would document the succession of Grand Masters of his
familys martial art. The scroll exists today, and it is the only Okinawan martial
arts artifact dating back to 1400 to survive the Allied invasion of Okinawa. Prior
to the invasion of Okinawa, the Japanese placed all Okinawan artifacts in Shuri
Castle. The Okinawa Kenpo masters refused to turnover their scroll. They hid
their scroll in a cave in northern Okinawa. Shuri Castle was destroyed during the
invasion, and unfortunately, so were the artifacts. The scroll is unrolled once in a
lifetime and the new Grand Masters name is added to it. Okinawa Kenpo Karate
is the only Okinawan martial art that can document its lineage back to 1472.
In 1786, a Chinese military official named Kushanku came to Okinawa. Kushanku
was the greatest Chinese martial artist to visit the island nation. A promising
young Okinawan martial arts student named Sakugawa from Akata Village in
Shuri observed a Chinese man standing on a bridge admiring the moons reflection
on the water. As a prank, Sakugawa attempted to push the man off the bridge and
into the river.

Kushanku seized the young man and was about to dispatch him when Kushankus
translator intervened, telling Kushanku that Sakugawa was a local martial arts
student. Kushanku told Sakugawa If you want to learn the how and the why of
the martial arts, return to China with me and I will teach you.
After several years of training, he returned to Okinawa where he would come to be
known as Chinese Hands Sakugawa. He taught his art to many students who
would eventually become masters themselves. But, it was not until late in
Sakugawas life that he would accept a young student who would become his most
famous student, Sokun Matsumura (1787-1890) of Yamakawa Village in Shuri.
Because of Matsumuras great martial arts skill, he was appointed as the head of
the Okinawan Royal Guard. Matsumura was never defeat in countless battles with
Japanese Samurai, bandits, and challenges from other martial arts masters.
In addition to training under Sakugawa, Matsumura studied with a Chinese master
called Iwa in China. Matsumura passed on his knowledge and skills onto many
students who would later become karate masters. But, his greatest student was
Anko Itosu (1832-1916). Like his teacher, Matsumura, Itosu was never beaten in
the many battles he fought. It is said his body wore the scars from many deadly
encounters. Furthermore, it was Itosu who introduced karate into the Okinawan
school system.
Like Matsumura (who established his martial arts reputation in Shuri), Kitoku
Sakiyama, of Wakuda Village established his reputation in Naha. Sakiyama had
studied under a Chinese Imperial Guard. In 1839, Sakiyama accepted an invitation
from the Imperial Guard to come to Fukien Province in China to further his study
in the martial arts. Sakiyama studied in China for over four years under the tutelage
of Lau Loon Kon, the Chief Martial Arts Instructor of the Imperial Military
Academy. Upon returning to Okinawa, Sakiyama taught his martial arts skills to
Shinkichi Kuniyoshi of Kumoji Village, Naha City. In later years, Kuniyoshi
would pass his martial arts system onto Shigeru Nakamura, the founder of modern
Okinawa Kenpo Karate.
Prior to the 1900, Okinawan martial arts (karate) were named after the three major
cities where the specific styles were practiced. The three major martial arts styles
were Shuri-Te, Naha-Te, and Tomari-Te. In the early 1900s, the martial arts
styles names were changed. Shuri-Te was changed to Shorin-Ryu (Ryu means
school or style). Shorin-Ryu translates as the Old pine tree style. This is a
reference to the mountain where the Shaolin Temple is located. Naha-Te was
changed to Goju-Ryu. Goju Ryu translates as the Hard/Soft style. Tomari-Te
was changed to Okinawa Kenpo. Okinawa Kenpo translates as Okinawa boxing.

Shigeru Nakamura was born on January 20, 1894 in Nago City. His father was a
close friend of Anko Itosus most senior student, Kentsu Yabu (1866-1937).
Nakamuras father sent Shigeru to the prestigious First National Okinawan Junior
High School in Shuri. For five years, Shigeru studied karate at the school.
The Karate instructor at the school was Chomo Hanashiro (1869-1945), who was
regarded as one of Itosus greatest students. Itosus other famous students were
Gichin Funakoshi (1863-1957), Chotoku Kyan (1870-1945), Moden Yabiku,
Kenwa Mabuni, and many others. In fact, Itosu himself appointed Hanashiro to the
prestigious position of teaching the students at the school. In addition to Master
Hanashiro, Anko Itosu and Kentsu Yabu came to the school once a week to teach
karate. Nakamura was very fortunate to study under three of the greatest karate
masters in history. He took full advantage of this opportunity.
After graduation, Nakamura returned to Nago City. In Nago City, Nakamura
studied under Shinkichi Kunioshi, successor to the late Sakiyama. Kunioshi was
so impressed by Nakamuras dedication to karate that he decided to pass on his
secrets of Chinese Kenpo to him. Nakamura studied under Kunioshi for ten years.
Having mastered the basic skills during his study at the First National School,
Nakamura was able to master the advanced martial art skills of Kunioshis system.
Prior to passing away at the age of 75, Kunioshi named Nakamura as the successor
of the Sakayama/Kunioshi (Tomari-Te) martial arts system. After the death of his
instructor, Nakamura changed Tomari-Te to Okinawa Kenpo and established the
first Okinawa Kenpo Karate dojo in Nago City. At this time, Nakamura had
developed the same powerful punching power as his instructor. Kunioshi was
known as The Iron Fist Warrior. Nakamuras reputation spread throughout
Okinawa. Consequently, many martial arts students came to Master Nakamura for
instruction in Okinawa Kenpo.
Furthermore, in the early 1900s, the Japanese government enacted a prohibition
on death matches (bare-knuckled full contact free-style fighting) between
Okinawan martial artists. Consequently, all Okinawan karate practice was limited
to only kata training. Katas are ancient arrangements of karate techniques (formal
exercises) that are used by the karate instructor to evaluate and test a students skill
level and condition the practitioners body. The masters believed that free style
fighting among their students was too dangerous. Nakamura understood the
importance of jiyu-Kumite (free style fighting).

Also, he valued the importance of kata training. Nakamura publicly proclaimed

that jiyu-kumite was the actual application of kata. Therefore, if there is no
realistic test of a fighers skill, there is no martial art. In addition, Nakamura
feared that if the karate fighter could not test his skills in no-holds barred, full
contact fighting, karate would change from a deadly combat system to a sport like
kendo and judo. Nakamura developed protective sparring equipment by modifying
kendo masks, chest protectors and gloves referred to as Bogu gear.
Using this protective equipment, Nakamura was able to teach bogu-tsuke kumite
(full contact fighting with protective gear). This was the first time in the history of
karate that students could test their fighting techniques and skills at full power and
full speed without serious injury. Master Nakamura considered full contact
sparring extremely important to karate training. He believed that non-contact
fighting was impracticable, ineffective, and betrayed the true purpose of karate to
kill or maim your opponent.
Although Nakamuras Bogu Sparring was initially criticized by other karate
masters, they eventually came to realize the benefit of it. By the 1960s, the merits
of bogu-tauke kumite were acknowledged by many karate associations and
instructors. Furthermore, it was adopted by high school and college karate clubs.
Many karate tournaments adopted Master Nakamuras method of sparring
In 1969, at the age of 75, Master Nakamura passed away. He was a true pioneer
who devoted his life to the study and practice of karate. Master Nakamura is
survived by his son, Taketo Nakamura, who carries on the Okinawa Kenpo Karate
system as the current Grand Master. Taketo Nakamura is the President of the
Okinawa Kenpo Karate-Do Association headquartered in Okinawa.
Master Nakamuras most senior student was Seikichi Odo (1926-2002). Master
Odo received his first karate instruction from Chotoku Kyan (1870-1945) when he
was 14. Master Odo was not only a master of Okinawa Kenpo Karate he was a
master of Tomari-kobudo. Kobudo is the study of the traditional Okinawan martial
arts weapons: bo (six foot staff), tonfa, sai, kama (sickle), nunchuku, nunte bo
(fishermans spear), and eku bo (boat oar). Master Odo began the study of kobudo
as a teenager with his bestfriends father, Simpo Mateyoshi a famous kobudo
master. Before Master Shigeru Nakamura passed away, he asked Odo to
incorporate Tomari-karate with Tomari-kobudo to make the system Okinawa
Kenpo Karate and Kobudo. Master Nakamura named his son, Taketo, to be the
Grand Master after his death.

After Shigeru Nakamura died, Taketo Nakamura stated that since Seikichi Odo
was the Masters most senior student Odo should hold the Grand Master position.
Then, on Odos death, Taketo would assume the Grand Mastership. This decision
angered some of Master Nakamuras other senior students. These students broke
off their relationship with Odo and either chose to study under Taketo Nakamura,
joined other karate associations, or formed their own associations. This was a
great loss to the Okinawa Kenpo system because these masters were some of
Okinawa Kenpo Karates most skilled martial artists.
Master Odo, fearing that many of the lesser-practiced Okinawan Karate Kata
would be forgotten over time, incorporated all the original Okinawan Karate Kata
into the Okinawa Kenpo Karate and Kobudo system.
All total (karate and
kodudo) there are thirty-nine kata that Master Odo practiced and taught. Many
Okinawan karate systems practice less than a dozen kata. It is unimportant how
many kata a system practices. What is important is the practitioners knowledge of
the concepts, techniques, and training principles of his or her karate style.
Traditionally, in Okinawa, a practitioner can specialize in the practice of kata. A
practitioner can specialize in fighting. Or, the practitioner can specialize in both.
In the mid-1970's Master Odo created the "Okinawa Kenpo Karate Kobudo
Association. In 1983, Odo disbanded the Okinawa Kenpo Karate and Kobudo
Association to form the Americanized "Okinawa Kenpo Karate-Kobudo
Federation. Knowing that on his death, the Okinawa Kenpo Karate leadership
would go back to Master Nakamura and the Okinawa Kenpo Karate-Do
Association would become the official organization, in 1998, Odo changed the
Okinawa Kenpo Karate Kobudo Federation to be the "Ryukyu Hon Kenpo
Kobujutsu Federation.
With Master Odos death on March 24, 2002, Grand Master Nakamura assumed
the leader of Okinawa Kenpo Karate. Consequently, the Okinawa Kenpo KarateDo Association became the official association for Okinawa Kenpo Karate.
The Okinawa Kenpo Karate and Kobudo Federation/Ryukyu Hon Kenpo
Kobujutsu Federation is an American martial arts association that has no affiliation
with Master Nakamura or the Okinawa Kenpo Karate-Do Association.
Furthermore, the members of this organization have abandoned the primary
teachings of Master Nakamuras Okinawa Kenpo Karate and replaced them with
an emphasis on American free-style open tournament (no/light contact) sparring.
This has angered the traditional Okinawa Kenpo Karate masters.

Kobudo (Pronounced Co-boo-doe)

Kobudo is the study of the seven Okinawan martial arts weapons. In 1609, the
Japanese Samurai invaded Okinawa to punish the Okinawan King for not
supporting the Japanese during their war with China. Prior to the invasion, the
Okinawans had their own warrior class similar to the Japanese and Chinese. The
Okinawan warrior class fought with swords, spears, and bows. However, after the
Samurai conquered Okinawa, they confiscated all Okinawan weapons and made it
illegal to possess them. So strict was this prohibition, that at one point, the
Okinawans were required to keep their utility knives secured in the village armory.
The knives were checked out in the morning and returned at nightfall.
Furthermore, the practice of the martial arts by the Okinawans were outlawed. The
Okinawans were forced to practice their martial arts in secret.
As a means of defending themselves against the Samurai and Okinawan criminals
the Okinawan martial artists developed their farming and fishing tools into
weapons of self-defense. The Bo (six foot staff) was used to carry two buckets of
water at the same time. The Tonfa was the handle to a rice grinder or a well
winch. The Kama was a hand sickle that was used to cut vegetation. The Sai was
a handled spike that was used for planting. The Nunchucku had two versions.
One version was used as a fail to remove rice grains from its stock. The over
version was used as a horses bridle. The Nunte Bo is a fishermans spear. The
Eku Bo is a boat paddle.
The Okinawan Warrior Class adapted the techniques of their previously possessed
conventional weapons for use with their work tools. Although some Okinawans
masters only trained in Kobudo, most of the Karate Masters trained in one or more
Kobudo weapons.
In the Okinawa Kenpo Karate and Kobudo system, as originally taught by Master
Odo, there are thirteen Bo Katas, three Sai Katas, two Kama Katas, two Tonfa
Katas, and one Nunchucku Kata, one Nunte Bo Kata, and one Eku Bo Kata.