Matsubayashi-ryū
Matsubayashi-ryū (松林流), is a style of Okinawan karate that was founded in 1947 by Shōshin Nagamine (1907–1997). Its curriculum includes 18 kata, 7 two-man yakusoku kumite (prearranged sparring) routines, and kobudō (weapons) practice. Matsubayashi-ryu is one of the four main styles of karate on Okinawa today, and was one of the styles represented when the Okinawa Karate-do Federation was founded. It included the styles: Goju-ryu, Uechi-ryu, Shorin-ryu, and Matsubayashi-ryu.[1]
Sensei Nagamine named his style in honor of the two masters whom he viewed as the most important masters that his teachings were based upon, Sōkon Matsumura of Shuri-te.[2] and Kosaku Matsumora of Tomari-te[3].. He chose to name the school using the first kanji characters from both master's names Matsu (松) and the style is pronounced in Japanese "Matsubayashi".
Shuri-te is divided into three styles, two are called Shorin-Ryu and a third is called Matsubayashi-Ryu[4][5]. Matsubayashi-Ryu is a style of Shorin-Ryu and the terms Matsubayashi-Ryu and Shorin-Ryu can be used interchangeably[6]. Normally, the style is referred to as Shorin-Ryu but when a definite distinction is required between the other styles of the Shorin family (Kobayashi-Ryu & Shobayashi-Ryu) then it is called Matsubayashi-Ryu[7].
Nagamine Shōshin also credited Motobu Chōki as the teacher who inspired his seven Yakusoku kumite forms. Today, the official Matsubayashi-ryū organization is run by Shōshin Nagamine's son, Takayoshi Nagamine, though there are many schools teaching Matsubayashi-ryū that are not officially affiliated with the Nagamine dojo. A new kata, Fukyugata San, was developed in 1960 by Ueshiro sensei and is performed in his association's schools.
Matsubayashi-ryū is one of the better-documented traditional karate styles, owing to Nagamine's book, The Essence of Okinawan Karate-dō.[8] as well as Tales of Okinawa's Great Masters[9]
Kata
Kata are sets of moves in Karate and are considered the most important part of the Matsubayashi-Ryu style.
Ranks
These are the ranks as set out by the World Matsubayashi-Ryu (Shorin-Ryu) Karate-Do Association and the Kodokan Nagamine Karate Dojo (World Honbu).
Mudansha
- 8th Kyu - White Belt, one green stripe
- 7th Kyu - White Belt, two green stripes
- 6th Kyu - Green Belt, three white stripes
- 5th Kyu - Green Belt, two white stripes
- 4th Kyu - Green Belt, one white stripe
- 3rd Kyu - Brown Belt, three white stripes
- 2nd Kyu - Brown Belt, two white stripes
- 1st Kyu - Brown Belt, one white stripe
Yudansha
- 1st to 10th Dan - Black Belt
Shogo Titles
- Renshi (6th Dan) - Black Belt with one stripe
- Kyoshi (7th & 8th Dan) - Black Belt with two stripes
- Hanshi (9th & 10th Dan) - Black Black with three stripes
- Hanshisei (10th Dan) - Black Belt with four stripes
Major Organizations of Matsubayashi-Ryu
- World Matsubayashi-Ryu (Shorin-Ryu) Karate-Do Association (WMKA), Okinawa, Headed by Takayoshi Nagamine
- Sub-Organisations of the World Matsubayashi-Ryu (Shorin-Ryu) Karate-Do Association
- North American Matsubayashi-Ryu Karate-Do Association (NAMKA), United States, Headed by Don Caponigro
- United States Matsubayashi-Ryu Karate-Do Federation, United States, Headed by Michael Ritter
- Karate USA - Terry Maccarrone, United States, Headed by Terry Maccarrone
- Shorin-Ryu Karate USA, United States, Headed by Robert Scaglione
- Shorin-Ryu and Kobudo Association, United States, Headed by Eihachi Ota
- World Shorin-Ryu Karate-Do Federation (WSKF), United States, Headed by Frank Grant
- Matsubayashi Shorin-Ryu Ireland, Ireland, Headed by Patrick Beaumont
- Matsubayashi-Ryu (Shorin-Ryu) Karate-Do Argentina, Argentina, Headed by Shigehide Akamine
Well-known Matsubayashi-Ryu Practitioners
Okinawa
- Shoshin Nagamine, Founder of Matsubayashi-Ryu
- Takayoshi Nagamine, Current head (Soke) of Matsubayashi-Ryu
- Yasuharu Makishi, Senior student of Shoshin Nagamine
- Toshimitsu Arakaki, Senior student of Shoshin Nagamine
- Yoshitaka Taira, Senior student of Shoshin Nagamine
- Kiyoshi Shinjo, Senior student of Shoshin Nagamine
- Nobuhide Higa, Senior student of Shoshin Nagamine and Yoshitaka Taira
- Ansei Ueshiro, Sent to the United States by Shoshin Nagamine in 1962 to promote Matsubayashi-Ryu in the United States
- Chotoku Omine, Senior student of Shoshin Nagamine and sent to the United States to promote Matsubayashi-Ryu by Shoshin Nagamine
- Kensei Taba, Senior student of Shoshin Nagamine and Founder of his own organisation, the Okinawa Shogen-Ryu Karate-Do Association
- Eihachi Ota, Moved to the United States in 1969 to promoted Matsubayashi-Ryu
- Masao Shima, Senior student of Shoshin Nagamine
- Chokei Kishaba, Senior student of Shoshin Nagamine and Founder of Shorin-Ryu Kishaba Juku
- Shigehide Akamine, Student of Shoshin Nagamine who moved to Argentina and heads the Matsubayashi-Ryu (Shorin-Ryu) Karate-Do Argentina
United States
- Jim Wax, First non-Okinawan to receive a Black belt from Shoshin Nagamine in Matsubayashi-Ryu[10]
- Fred Christian, Student of Shoshin Nagamine & Takayoshi Nagamine, WMKA Administration Officer[11]
- Walter Rowden [12]
- Don Capronigro, Student of Takayoshi Nagamine & Frank Grant, Head of the NAMKA
- Bob Yarnall, Student of Jim Wax [13]
- Frank Grant, Student of Jim Wax, Ansei Ueshiro and Shoshin Nagamine, Head of the WSKF[14]
Notes
References
- ^ Shoshin Nagamine. The Essence of Okinawan Karate-do. ISBN 0804832056 chapter 1 pages 21-24
- ^ Patrick McCarthy and Mike Lee. Classical Kata of Okinawan Karate ISBN 0-89750-113-6 Chapter 1 page 18
- ^ Bishop, Mark. Okinawan Karate: Teachers, Styles and Secret Techniques. ISBN 0804832056.page 12
- ^ http://www-edu.pref.okinawa.jp/hotai/karate/dojolist-2009/shurite11.html The Directory of Okinawa Karate and kobudo
- ^http://seinenkai.com/ The History of Japanese Karate. Masters of The Shorin-ryu. by Graham Noble with Ian McLaren and Prof. N. Karasawa Part Three:
- ^http://seinenkai.com/ Master Funakoshi's Karate, The History and development of the Empty Hand Art Part 2. by Graham Noble
- ^ http://www.wonder-okinawa.jp/023/eng/008/001/index.html
- ^ http://www.wonder-okinawa.jp/023/eng/014/009/index.html
- ^ http://www.wonder-okinawa.jp/023/eng/003/004/index.html
- ^ http://www.wonder-okinawa.jp/023/eng/003/002/index.html
External links