Chōtoku Kyan
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| Chōtoku Kyan | |
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| Born | 1870 |
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| Died | 1945 Okinawa, Japan  |
| Martial art practiced | Shorin-Ryu |
| Teacher(s) | Bushi Matsumura; others |
| Notable students | Tatsuo Shimabuku, Shōshin Nagamine, Zenryō Shimabukuro, Joen Nakazato |
Chotoku Kyan (喜屋武 朝徳 Kyan Chōtoku?, 1870-1945) was an Okinawan karate master who was famous for both his karate skills, and his colorful personal life. Chotoku Kyan (also as Chotoku Kiyan) was a master in Shorin-Ryu.
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[edit] Early life
Kyan's father, Chofu Kyan, was a high-ranking official under the Okinawan king. As a youth, Chotoku Kyan was small and sickly, plagued with asthma and poor eyesight. This may have led to his nickname Chan Migwa (squinty-eyed Chan).
In an effort to strengthen his son's constitution, the elder Kyan enrolled his eight year old son in the most grueling martial arts training available, from many different masters, many of whom taught different (and possibly contradictory) styles. According to biographer Richard Kim, Kyan underwent training "that would have done justice to a Zen temple." This training did indeed improve Kyan's health, but it is believed that he developed a tremendous sense of rage at this austere life of training forced upon him.
[edit] Karate Legacy
Instead of teaching one static style, Kyan seems to have taught many different kata throughout his career, even prompting Clayton to note that “he seems to have taught every student something different. Anyone who preserves a Kyan kata is preserving something that Kyan himself eventually abandoned.” One of Kyan’s students was Tatsuo Shimabuku, who is the creator of Isshin-ryū karate.
One of Kyan Sensei's noted students was Shōshin Nagamine Sensei, the founder of Matsubayashi-ryu Karate. Nagamine was a police officer, stationed in Kadena from 1931 to 1935. It was during this period that he studied with Kyan.
The most long time student of Kyan was Zenryō Shimabukuro, who studied with Kyan for over 10 years. Shimabukuro later founded Shōrin-ryū Seibukan.
An another noted student was Joen Nakazato. He founded Shōrinji-ryū Kyudokan, which is very similar to Shōrin-ryū Seibukan. This is probably due to fact that, unlike Tatsuo Shimabuku and Shōshin Nagamine, Shimabukuro and Nakazato did not have any other teachers than Kyan.
Kyan was a participant in the 1936 meeting of Okinawan masters, where the term "karate" was standardized, and other far-reaching decisions were made regarding martial arts of the island at the time.
[edit] Death
Kyan survived the Battle of Okinawa in 1945, but starved to death afterwards.
[edit] Sources
- Clayton, Bruce, phD. Shotokan's Secret: The Hidden Truth Behind Karate's Fighting Origins. Black Belt Books, 2004.
- Alexander, George. Okinawa, Island of Karate. Yamazato Publications, 1991.
- Bishop, Mark, Okinawan Karate, Teachers, Styles, and Secret Techniques. Tuttle, 1999.
- Kim, Richard. The Weaponless Warriors. Ohara, 1974.
- Akari-ki Karate: Chotoku Kiyan
