Kūsankū

Kusanku
Born 1670?
China China
Died 1762
Other names Kūshankū
Kwang Shang Fu
Style Ch'uan Fa
Notable students Chatan Yara,[1][2] Kanga Sakukawa

Kūsankū (クーサンクー、公相君) or Kūshankū (クーシャンクー), also known as Kwang Shang Fu, was a Chinese martial artist who lived during the 18th century.[3] He is credited as having an influence on virtually all karate-derived martial arts.[4]

Kūsankū learned the art of Ch'uan Fa in China from a Shaolin monk. He was thought to have resided (and possibly studied martial arts) in the Fukien province for much of his life.[5] Around 1756, Kūsankū was sent to Okinawa as an ambassador of the Qing Dynasty.[6] He resided in the village of Kanemura, near Naha City. During his stay in Okinawa, Kūsankū instructed Kanga Sakukawa.[4]

Sakugawa trained under Kūsankū for six years.[7] After Kūsankū's death (around 1762), Sakugawa developed and named the Kusanku kata in honor of his teacher.

References

  1. ↑ First Karate Pioneers
  2. ↑ History of Shorin-Ryu Kenshin Kan Karate
  3. ↑ Kushanku
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 The History of Martial Art and Karate
  5. ↑ Biographie of Kushanku
  6. ↑ NOTE: Previously this read Ming dynasty. However since the Ming Dynasty fell in 1644, either Kūsankū was not sent by the Ming or the date of his journey is wrong.
  7. ↑ Kushanku "To View the Sky"