Shobayashi-ryu

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Shobayashi-ryu, also called Shobayashi Shorin-ryu, is a style of Okinawan karate.

1 History
2 Influences
3 See also
4 External links
- 4.1 Dojos practicing Shobayashi-ryu

[edit] History

Although Chinese martial arts began spreading to Okinawa in the 14th century, it was not prominent until the 18th century, when Kusanku, a Chinese military official, visited Okinawa and gave a demonstration. In subsequent visits, he started teaching "chuan fa" (meaning "fist way") to Okinawans.

Tode Sakugawa blended Kusanku's chuan fa with indigenous Okinawan martial arts to form the first martial art style called karatedo. His student Sokon Matsumura blended Sakugawa's style with Shaolin style to form Shorin-ryu karate.

Matsumara was Anko Itosu's primary instructor, and both Mastsumara and Itosu instructed Chotoku Kyan and Choki Motobu. Several of Kyan's students would go on to lead their own branches of karate. These are: Choshun Chibana (Kobayashi-ryu), Shoshin Nagamine (Matsubayashi-ryu), Tatsuo Shimabukuro (Isshin-ryu), and Eizo Shimabukuro (Shobayashi-ryu).

Eizo Shimabukuro studied under Chojun Miyagi before taking up Shorin-Ryu under Chotoko Kyan. Although Kyan then became his primary instructor, Shimabukuro also studied under Choki Motobu and weapons under Taira Shinken. When Kyan died in 1945, Shimabukuro was left in charge of the Shobayashi-ryu system. In 1959, Kanken Toyama promoted Eizo Shimabukuro to 10th Dan, the youngest person ever to receive that honor.

Shimabukuro currently lives in Okinawa and remains active in teaching.

[edit] Influences

Chotoku Kyan - Eizo Shimabukuro's primary instructor
Anko Itosu - Pinan series, Kyan's primary instructor
Chojun Miyagi - Shimabukuro's instructor; Shimabukuro later incorporated 2 of his Goju-ryu kata, Sanchin and Seiunchin, into the Shobayashi-ryu style
Taira Shinken - taught weanpons to Shimabukuro, who incorporated it into Shobayashi-ryu.