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Matsubayashi ryu karate was founded in 1947 by the late Okinawan Master Shoshin Nagamine, who developed his style based on the traditional kata taught him by Ankichi Arakaki, Chotoku Kyan, and Choki Motobu. Conversely these karateka studied under Anko Itosu, Sokon Matsumura, and Kosaku Matsumura, thus the name Matsubayashi to honor the latter. The style is characterized by fast, shifting body movements, and its techniques rely on (and actually utilize) snapping the hips to generate speed/power. The late Master Chokei Kishaba (Kishaba Juku) took these kata to an even higher level by placing more focus and accelerating the hip movements, or as Mr. George Donahue puts it ". . . after the double pump comes triple and quadruple and more pumps so that the movement becomes a vibration, rather than a discrete pumping motion. Once that is mastered it is de-emphasized and the concentration is put into making power through compression." Master Shoshin Nagamine was an accomplished martial artist who also published one of the most complete karate books ever written, The Essence of Okinawan Karate Do, a clear and concise depiction of traditional karate, and who formerly headed the Okinawan Shorin ryu Karate Association. Although all karate styles proclaim to use the hips to generate power, in my humble opinion it is rare to actually see this theory in use, as is the case with Japanese styles, which lack the swiftness and snap of Okinawan karate. As in most karate ryuha, Matsubayashi ryu kata have a lot of hidden bunkai, but to a great extent, some of these bunkai, especially in the more advanced kata, resemble graceful dance steps (end of Wanshu, Rohai). This is characteristic of Matsubayashi ryu, as opposed to other styles whose techniques are more clearly (bluntly) defined combative and linear movements. It has been written that Okinawan Ti influenced the movements of the kata, and this is probably why some kata resemble traditional Okinawan dance steps. The style contains 18 empty-hand kata (some of which are shared with Eizo Shimabukuro's version of Shorin ryu, Shobayashi ryu, but modified). Shobayashi's kata have varying differences, (i.e., the Naihanchi series of kata start out almost alike in the first 2, but change in nidan and sandan - these also do not use the sweeping motion seen in the lateral movement of the Matsubayashi kata; the Pinan katas are also very similar, with fewer variations than on the Naihanchi). Both styles claim to derive their kata from their corresponding masters, but we will never know where the change occurred or which of the two masters actually modified the kata. Although the Shobayashi Shorin Ryu style incorporates 3 Goju Ryu kata (Sanchin, Seisan, Seyiunchin), these have been heavily modified, with Sanchin being the most similar to the actual Goju kata. Matsubayashi ryu is currently organized under the World Matsubayashi Ryu Karate Association, headed by Master Nagamine's son, Takayoshi Nagamine. This organization holds the rights to the name and insignia. However, there are other organizations in the United States representing Matsubayashi ryu, including the Shorin Ryu Karate Kobudo Association under the guidance of Eihachi Ota (formerly of the WMKA), and Shorin ryu Karate U.S.A., led by Ansei Ueshiro. Ueshiro Sensei is recognized as a Matsubayashi ryu pioneer, and one of the people responsible for the introduction of Matsubayashi ryu in the United States in the early 1960's. Ueshiro Sensei created the Fukyugata san kata which is practiced by members of his organization. |
Matsubayashi ryu has many looks these days, at least on the surface. There are currently 3 patches in use today because of commercial considerations. Although the katas remain the same (thank God these cannot be trademarked, else the Masters would be turning in their graves), the patch has seen a couple of facelifts (for all SKKA members wishing a copy of Sensei Ota's patch, please e-mail me at Samurai70@msn.com).
This is the patch created by Eihachi Ota and worn by all SKKA members so as not to "infringe" on the trademark imposed by the WMKA on the original patch, below
This is the original patch created by Master Nagamine and later trademarked by the WMKA.
This is the patch Ansei Ueshiro developed to differentiate himself from the Nagamine dojo. Illustration by Steve Rittersporn |
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For more information on Shobayashi Shorin ryu, check out Steve Rittersporn's web site, The Okinawan Shorin ryu Karate Do Home Page.
