INTERNATIONAL KARATE ORGANIZATION

The origins of Okinawan Karate date back to the 18th and 19th century. Literally meaning "open hand or empty hand", Karate became the accepted term for the empty-handed system of self-defense of Okinawa. Before that time period, Okinawa was invaded by Japan (they were two independent countries) and confiscated all the Okinawans’ weapons. Japan placed a ban on all use of weapons. Without any weapons to defend themselves, the Okinawans practiced ‘empty-handed’ self-defense techniques in order to defend themselves from the armed Japanese invaders. The self-defense system they developed was called te, and over time evolved into a more sophisticated form of martial arts which is known as Karate.

On the main island of Okinawa, Karate developed in three major cities: Shuri, Naha, and Tomari, which are all located within a few miles of each other. The early styles of Karate were named after the cities where it was practiced; Shuri-te, Naha-te, and Tomari-te. Shorin-Ryu Shorinkan is a small branch which evolved from the Shuri-te sytem of fighting.

Historically, karate was practiced for its combative and self defense skills. However, modern Karate has evolved into two schools of thought: (1) Karate as a sport, and (2) Karate-do (meaning the way). Karate as a sport is often competitive, governed by rules, and limited to an individual's physical ability. On the other hand, Karate-do is an individual's effort to bring body, mind and spirit together."

Both schools of thought are not mutually exclusive, for in many instances, a Karate-ka (practitioner) will be an active sport Karate participant and also an avid follower of Karate-do. Karate-do seems to follow a path of lifetime self-improvement and self-development, while sport Karate is limited to physical skill.

"Do" more clearly defined is a road, or a way of life. "There is no gate on the way of life that refuses entrance to those who want to pass. If you want to go somewhere, take any way because there are thousands of ways. If you are determined, you will succeed in your goal, and the way will disappear and you will become the way. There is no one way for your life. Your mind is the way."

Karate-do is a way of life in which one strives to overcome one's inner weakness by its practice. Karate-do tends to strengthen the practitioner both physically and mentally. The art of Karate is a never-ending quest in developing the spirit and body to defeat your greatest opponent - one's self. For he/she who conquers him/herself is the greatest warrior. Tranquil and unafraid, he/she can remain calm when faced with any calamity.

	Sakagawa Tode (1733 – 1815) born March 5, 1733, combined chuan-fa with tode forming Okinawa-te, te, karate (china hand).He is generally acknowledged as founder of the Okinawan martial arts.
	Anko Itosu (1830 – 1915) One of the most influential karate practitioners was Ankoh Itosu. Born in Shuri, Okinawa he taught karate in the public school systems. He felt that some of the kata or techniques were too difficult for school children to learn, so he developed a simplified series of katas in order to improve the teaching of karate in a public school setting. He also was the instructor of Chosin Chibana.
	Gichin Funakoshi (1869 – 1957) was born in Shuri, Okinawa in 1868. As a boy, he was trained by two famous masters of that time. Each trained him in a different Okinawan martial art. From Yatasune Azato he learned Shuri-te. From Yatsune Itosu, he learned Naha-te. It would be the melding of these two styles that would one day become Shotokan karate. He is regarded universally as the ‘father of modern Karate. d Nishioka trained with Funakoshi in1955.
	Chosin Chibana (1885-1969) started his martial arts career when he was fifteen years old. When he began to teach, he wanted to be able to differentiate the various styles which developed within the Shorin-ryu system. Rather than naming his style after himself, which was the popular practice, he called his style kobayashi-ryu or young forest style. He opened his first school in 1917, and was the karate instructor for the Shuri police department from 1954 to 1958. Chibana’s top student was Shugoro Nakazato.
	Shugoro Nakazato (1920- ) has been involved in martial arts nearly his entire life. He began to study judo at age thirteen and started his karate instruction under Chosin Chibana in 933. After twenty years of training under Chibana, Nakazato was promoted to ninth dan or ninth degree black belt. Chibana also presented Nakazato with his own black belt, which is one of the greatest honors. Upon Chibana’s death in 1969, Nakazato became president on the Shorin-ryu Shorinkan Karate association and was promoted to tenth dan in 1980.
	Chotoku Kyan (1870 – 1945), born in Shuri to descendants of Okinawan nobility in December 1870. Kyan's whole life was a struggle against misfortune. But Kyan Chotoku embodied the true spirit of karate by always fighting to overcome adversity, never complaining about hardship, and exerting all his strength to further the art of karate. Founder of Shobayashi branch of Shorin-ryu.
	Shoshin Nagamine (1907 -) The founder of the Matsubayashi-ryu branch of Shorinryu, hanshi tenth dan, Nagamine sensei's accomplishments in the field of budo are far too lengthy to list Briefly, he began his karate training at the age of 17 with Chojin Kuba, who lived in the same neighborhood. Two years later, he traveled to Shuri to study under Shimabuku Taro, who soon referred him to the youthful Arakaki Ankichi (who studied under Gusukuma Shimpan, Hanashiro Chomo, Chibana Choshin and Kyan Chotoku). During his years as a policeman at the Kadena Police Station (1931-1935), Nagamine studied directly under Kyan (who was a disciple of Matsumura Sokon of Shuri, among others). While studying at the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Academy in 1936, he received instruction under the renowned kumite (sparring) expert, Motobu Choki (who studied under Matsumora Kosaku of Tomari). In addition to karate, Nagamine also practiced judo and kendo, achieving dan rankings in both arts.
	Hinori Otsuka (1892- 1982)Master Hironori Otsuka, The founder of Wado-Ryu, was born on June I, 1892. He began his martial arts training at the age of six, practicing ju-jitsu under the tutelage of his father. Several years later he began his formal training in the Shinto-Yoshin school of ju-jitsu, which stressed kicking and striking techniques, in contrast to the throwing techniques of most typical-jitsu styles. He studied in the school, under Master Nakayama, for 16 years. At age 29, he was presented a certificate of "full proficiency" by Master Nakayama, and accepted the mastership of the Shinto-Yoshin school of ju-jitsu. In 1922, Master Otsuka met Gichin Funakoshi, an Okinawan karate master who would later become known as the "Father of Modern-day Karate." Master Funakoshi had been sent to Japan by a council of Okinawan karate masters in order to introduce karate to the Japanese. After witnessing an impressive demonstration by Master Funakoshi, Master Otsuka began studying this new art of karate with him.After 1930, Master Otsuka went on his own, and in 1934 inaugurated his own style of karate by altering some of the Shotokan movements learned from Master Funakoshi, and incorporating some jujitsu techniques from the Shinto-Yoshin school. Master Otsuka created a style of karate with the major physical characteristics of speed, mobility, efficiency, and effectiveness. The ultimate goal of the style however, is to provide a vehicle for positive character development as well as developing a sense of harmony within yourself and with others.
	Walter Nishioka (1932 -) The International Karate League or Kokusai Karate Renmei is based in Honolulu, Hawaii, under the direction of Walter K. Nishioka - Shihan. Nishioka Shihan was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, June 18, 1932, into a family already versed in the Martial arts. His father, Hikoki Nishioka, was a re-nown jujitsu practitioner who had trained the Imperial Marines in Japan before immigrating to Hawaii. Shihan started learning jujitsu from his father at an early age. His formal training began at the age of 8 under Professor Henry Okazaki. Shihan attained his black belt in jujitsu at the age of 16. Nishioka Shihan entered the US Air Force after the Korean War broke out, originally as a tail gunner on a B29. Because of his martial arts training he was enlisted as an instructor of survival training at Walker Air Force Base, New Mexico - teaching hand to hand combat. The Shihan's first formal karate instruction came during his tour of duty at Walker AFB. Professor Emilio Bruno who headed the Strategic Air Command Martial Arts Combat Readiness Team, brought three of Master Funikoshi's best students, along with seven other famous Japanese martial artists (six judo senseis and Kenji Tomiki a renown akido sensei), to the United States in 1953 to tour every Strategic Air Command base in the United States and Cuba. The three karate sensei, Hidetaka Nishiyama, Toshio Kamada, and Isao Obata, trained Nishioka Shihan in the formal art of Karate. He accompanied the visiting instructors during the entire tour. In 1955, after his discharge, he traveled to Japan to train at the world famous Kodokan Judo Institute at the invitation of several notable instructors of the Kodokan Judo College. Among them were professor Sumiyuki Kotani and professor Kusuo Hosokawa (head instructor of the Nakano Police College in the Nakano District of Tokyo). Concurrently he trained in Aikido techniques with Tomiki Sensei and began his karate training at the Shotokan school of Karate founded by professor Gichin Funikoshi. Upon returning to Hawaii, Shihan opened a school for karate at the Moiliili Community Center Association. Meanwhile he returned to Japan several times to further his knowledge in karate. During this period he had the opportunity to live with Senseis Tatsuo Suzuki, one of the head instructors of the Wado-Ryu school, and Yoshio Kawaguchi, head instructor of the Yokohama branch. He cherishes the moments he had trained and spent with professor Hironori Otsuka, who had founded the Wado-Ryu Karate School, in his private dojo at his home in Nerima Ku, Tokyo. Prior to founding the Wado school of karate, professor Ohtsuka, who had trained for many years in Jujitsu, became one of Master Funikoshi's most senior students. Wado-Ryu Karate was first introduced to Hawaii by Nishioka Shihan in one of the earliest karate schools in the United States, Goshin Kai (Self Preservation). The Shihan opened his school with the permission of the Japanese Karate Federation, the blessing of Ohtsuka Shihan and under the Han's seal. Go Back