| Arakaki Seishō | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1840 Okinawa, Ryūkyū Kingdom |
| Died | 1918 (aged 77–78) Naha, Okinawa, Japan |
| Other names | Arakaki Ou, Mayā Arakaki, Arakaki Kamadeunchu, Aragaki Tsuji Pechin Seisho |
| Style | Tode |
| Teacher(s) | Wai Xinxian |
| Notable students | Chitose Tsuyoshi, Funakoshi Gichin, Higaonna Kanryō, Uechi Kanbun, Kanken Tōyama, Mabuni Kenwa |
Arakaki Seishō (新垣 世璋, 1840 – 1918) was a prominent Okinawan martial arts master who influenced the development of several major karate styles.[1][2][3] He was known by many other names, including Aragaki Tsuji Pechin Seisho.[4]
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Arakaki was born in 1840 in either Kumemura village, Okinawa, or on the nearby island of Sesoku.[3] He was an official in the royal court of Okinawa, and as such held the title of Chikudon Peichin,[2] which denoted a status similar to that of the samurai in Japan.[1] On 24 March 1867, he demonstrated Okinawan martial arts in Shuri City, then capital of the Ryūkyū Kingdom, before a visiting Chinese ambassador; this was a notable event, since experts such as Asato Ankō, Itosu Ankō, and Matsumura Sōkon were still active at that time.[1] Arakaki served as a Chinese language interpreter, and travelled to Beijing in September 1870.[2][3] His only recorded martial arts instructor from this period was Wai Xinxian from Fuzhou, a city in the Fujian province of Qing Dynasty China.[1][2][3] Arakaki died in 1918.[2][3]
Arakaki was famous for teaching the kata (patterns) Unshu, Seisan, Shihohai, Niseishi, and Sanchin (which were later incorporated into different styles of karate), and weapons kata Arakaki-no-kun, Arakaki-no-sai, and Sesoku-no-kun.[3]
While he did not develop any specific styles himself, his techniques and kata are scattered through a number of modern karate and kobudo styles.[1][3] Arakaki's students included Higaonna Kanryō (1853–1916; founder of Naha-te), Funakoshi Gichin (1868–1957; founder of Shotokan), Uechi Kanbun (1877–1948; founder of Uechi-ryū), Kanken Tōyama (1888–1966; founder of Shūdōkan), Mabuni Kenwa (1889–1952; founder of Shitō-ryū), and Chitose Tsuyoshi (1898–1984; founder of Chitō-ryū).[1][2]
Some consider Chitō-ryū the closest existing style to Arakaki's martial arts,[3] while others have noted that Arakaki's descendants are mostly involved with Gōjū-ryū.[1]