Hohan Sōken
Encyclopedia
was an Okinawan martial arts
master who founded the Shōrin-ryū
Matsumura Seito Okinawa Karate
Kobudo
Association.
He was born May 25, 1889 (although at least one text puts his birth year as 1891) in Nishihara, Okinawa
. He died November 30, 1982 in Nishihara, Okinawa.
He was the nephew of Nabe Matsumura
(who was the grandson of Matsumura Sōkon). He began karate training at 13 under his uncle. Matsumura taught him several kata, including Naihanchi Shodan, Naihanchi Nidan, Naihanchi Sandan, Pinan Shodan, Pinan Nidan, Passai Sho, Passai Dai, Chinto, Kusanku, Gojushiho, Sesan, Rohai Jo, Rohai Jo, Rohai Chu, Rohai Ge, and finally at age 23, Hakutsuru. Soken has said in interviews that Kusanku is the most important kata to the style.
In 1924, Sōken emigrated to Argentina. While in Argentina, he worked as a photographer and clothes cleaner. He also taught karate to Japanese and Okinawan ex-pats in Buenos Aires
. In 1952, he returned to Okinawa and started to teach karate, first to family members. Then he opened a small dojo to the public. At first, he called the style "Matsumura Shuri-te." But in 1956, changed the name to Matsumura Seito Shōrin-ryū karate.
Among his students were Seiki Arakaki, Kohana Nakazato, Inoue, Masaya Kyan, Kosei Nishihira, Yuichi Kuda, Fusei Kise, Roy Suenaka
, Chokei Kishaba, Vincent C. Wiegand.
Okinawan martial arts
Okinawan martial arts refers to the martial arts which originated among the indigenous people of Okinawa Island in Japan, most notably karate, tegumi, and Okinawan kobudō....
master who founded the Shōrin-ryū
Shorin-Ryu
is one of the major modern Okinawan martial arts. It was founded by Choshin Chibana in 1933. Shōrin-ryū combines elements of the traditional Okinawan fighting styles of Shuri-te.-History:Chosin Chibana was a top student of the great master of shuri-te, Anko Itosu...
Matsumura Seito Okinawa Karate
Karate
is a martial art developed in the Ryukyu Islands in what is now Okinawa, Japan. It was developed from indigenous fighting methods called and Chinese kenpō. Karate is a striking art using punching, kicking, knee and elbow strikes, and open-handed techniques such as knife-hands. Grappling, locks,...
Kobudo
Okinawan kobudo
Okinawan kobudō is a Japanese term that can be translated as "old martial way of Okinawa"...
Association.
He was born May 25, 1889 (although at least one text puts his birth year as 1891) in Nishihara, Okinawa
Nishihara, Okinawa
is a town located in Nakagami District, Okinawa, Japan.As of 2008, the town has an estimated population of 34,869 and a density of 2,201 persons per km²...
. He died November 30, 1982 in Nishihara, Okinawa.
He was the nephew of Nabe Matsumura
Nabe Matsumura
, was an Okinawan martial arts master who helped to continue the Matsumura family style of Shōrin-ryū karate-do.-History:Nabe Mastsumura, born 1860, was the grandson of Matsumura Sōkon, who founded the Shōrin-ryū style of karate...
(who was the grandson of Matsumura Sōkon). He began karate training at 13 under his uncle. Matsumura taught him several kata, including Naihanchi Shodan, Naihanchi Nidan, Naihanchi Sandan, Pinan Shodan, Pinan Nidan, Passai Sho, Passai Dai, Chinto, Kusanku, Gojushiho, Sesan, Rohai Jo, Rohai Jo, Rohai Chu, Rohai Ge, and finally at age 23, Hakutsuru. Soken has said in interviews that Kusanku is the most important kata to the style.
In 1924, Sōken emigrated to Argentina. While in Argentina, he worked as a photographer and clothes cleaner. He also taught karate to Japanese and Okinawan ex-pats in Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
. In 1952, he returned to Okinawa and started to teach karate, first to family members. Then he opened a small dojo to the public. At first, he called the style "Matsumura Shuri-te." But in 1956, changed the name to Matsumura Seito Shōrin-ryū karate.
Among his students were Seiki Arakaki, Kohana Nakazato, Inoue, Masaya Kyan, Kosei Nishihira, Yuichi Kuda, Fusei Kise, Roy Suenaka
Roy Suenaka
Roy Yukio Suenaka , in Honolulu, Hawaii, is an American martial arts instructor, teaching aikido and karate, and is the founder of the American International Ki Development and Philosophical Society .-Personal history:...
, Chokei Kishaba, Vincent C. Wiegand.