Kyan Chotoku
Encyclopedia
was an Okinawan karate
master who was famous for both his karate skills, and his colorful personal life. Chotoku Kyan (also spelled Chotoku Kiyan) was a large influence in the styles of karate that would become Shorin-Ryu
and its related styles.
before the realm's official assimilation into Japan as the Okinawan Prefecture
. Kyan was noted for being small in stature, suffering from asthma and frequently bed-ridden. He also had poor eyesight, which may have led to his early nickname Chan Migwa (squinty-eyed Chan).
in his early years. When Kyan was 20 years old, he began his karate training under Kosaku Matsumora
and Kokan Oyadomari
. While at 30 years of age, he was considered a master of the karate styles known as Shuri-te and Tomari-te. The most long time student of Kyan was Zenryō Shimabukuro
, who studied with Kyan for over 10 years. Kyan is also noted for encouraging his students to visit brothels and to engage in alcohol
consumption at various times.
Kyan was a participant in the 1936 meeting of Okinawan masters, where the term "karate" was standardized, and other far-reaching decisions were made regarding martial arts of the island at the time.
Kyan survived the Battle of Okinawa
in 1945, but died from fatigue and malnutrition in September of that year.
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,...
master who was famous for both his karate skills, and his colorful personal life. Chotoku Kyan (also spelled Chotoku Kiyan) was a large influence in the styles of karate that would become Shorin-Ryu
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...
and its related styles.
Early life
Chotoku Kyan was born as the first son of Chofu Kyan who was a steward to the Ryukyuan KingRyukyu Kingdom
The Ryūkyū Kingdom was an independent kingdom which ruled most of the Ryukyu Islands from the 15th century to the 19th century. The Kings of Ryūkyū unified Okinawa Island and extended the kingdom to the Amami Islands in modern-day Kagoshima Prefecture, and the Sakishima Islands near Taiwan...
before the realm's official assimilation into Japan as the Okinawan Prefecture
Okinawa Prefecture
is one of Japan's southern prefectures. It consists of hundreds of the Ryukyu Islands in a chain over long, which extends southwest from Kyūshū to Taiwan. Okinawa's capital, Naha, is located in the southern part of Okinawa Island...
. Kyan was noted for being small in stature, suffering from asthma and frequently bed-ridden. He also had poor eyesight, which may have led to his early nickname Chan Migwa (squinty-eyed Chan).
Karate legacy
Kyan's father is noted as possibly having a background in karate and even teaching Kyan tegumiTegumi
Tegumi is a traditional form of wrestling from Okinawa.According to Shōshin Nagamine, in his "Tales of Okinawa's Great Masters", there are no accurate historical documents surrounding the origins of grappling in Okinawa...
in his early years. When Kyan was 20 years old, he began his karate training under Kosaku Matsumora
Kosaku Matsumora
was an Okinawan karate master. He studied Tomari-te under Karyu Uku and Kishin Teruya. He also studied Jigen-ryu. Among Matsumora's students, who went on to influence new generations through students of their own, were Choki Motobu and Chotoku Kyan....
and Kokan Oyadomari
Kokan Oyadomari
Kokan Oyadomari was a disciple of the Chinese Annan and of Ason, a Chinese sailor or possibly a pirate. Annan was a castaway from a shipwreck along the coast of Okinawa, who took refuge in the cemetery of the mountains near Tomari...
. While at 30 years of age, he was considered a master of the karate styles known as Shuri-te and Tomari-te. The most long time student of Kyan was Zenryō Shimabukuro
Zenryo Shimabukuro
was a karate master and the founder of Shorin-ryu Seibukan karate.Zenryo Shimabukuro was born in Shuri, Okinawa in 1908 . He earned his living as a baker and tatami maker, but had studied karate under the karate master Chotoku Kyan...
, who studied with Kyan for over 10 years. Kyan is also noted for encouraging his students to visit brothels and to engage in alcohol
Alcohol
In chemistry, an alcohol is an organic compound in which the hydroxy functional group is bound to a carbon atom. In particular, this carbon center should be saturated, having single bonds to three other atoms....
consumption at various times.
Kyan was a participant in the 1936 meeting of Okinawan masters, where the term "karate" was standardized, and other far-reaching decisions were made regarding martial arts of the island at the time.
Kyan survived the Battle of Okinawa
Battle of Okinawa
The Battle of Okinawa, codenamed Operation Iceberg, was fought on the Ryukyu Islands of Okinawa and was the largest amphibious assault in the Pacific War of World War II. The 82-day-long battle lasted from early April until mid-June 1945...
in 1945, but died from fatigue and malnutrition in September of that year.
External links
- Chotoku Kyan: A Chronological Look, by Dan Smith
- Description of Shorinji-ryu, by Okinawa Prefectural Government
See also
- PechinPechinThe is an Okinawan term for the warrior class of the former Ryūkyū Kingdom , the class equivalent of the Japanese Samurai...
/Peichin - Alexander, George. Okinawa, Island of Karate. Yamazato Publications, 1991.
- Bishop, Mark, Okinawan Karate, Teachers, Styles, and Secret Techniques. Tuttle, 1999.
- Kim, Richard. The Weaponless Warriors. Ohara, 1974.