Shimabuku Tatsuo - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

Tatsuo Shimabuku was the founder of Isshin-ryū

Isshin-ryu

is a style of Okinawan karate founded by Tatsuo Shimabuku 　and named by him on 15 January 1956. Isshin-Ryū karate is largely a synthesis of Shorin-ryū karate, Gojū-ryū karate, and kobudō. The name means, literally, "one heart method"...

("One Heart Style") 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,...

Family

Tatsuo Shimabuku was born in Kyan [Chan] village, Okinawa, on September 19, 1908. He was the first of ten children born into a farming family. By the age of 12, he had a strong desire to study martial arts

Martial arts

Martial arts are extensive systems of codified practices and traditions of combat, practiced for a variety of reasons, including self-defense, competition, physical health and fitness, as well as mental and spiritual development....

. He walked to the nearby village of Shuri, a distance of 12 miles, to the home of his uncle, Shinko Ganiku, a fortuneteller. Shinkichi primarily learned to be a fortuneteller from his uncle, but also studied the rudiments of the karate that his uncle had learned while in China.

Ezuco Shimabukuro (b.1925) is a younger brother of Tatsuo's who also excelled in martial arts. Eizo studied under his elder brother, Tatsuo, and is said to have also studied under the same masters as Tatsuo, such as Chotoku Kyan, Choki Motobu, Chojun Miyagi

Chojun Miyagi

was an Okinawan martial artist who founded the Goju-ryu school of karate.-Early life and training:Miyagi was born in Higashimachi, Naha, Okinawa on April 25, 1888, the adopted son of a wealthy businessman. He began his study in Karate-do at the age of nine . He first learned martial arts from Ryuko...

, and Shinken Taira

Shinken Taira

was a Japanese martial artist, born as in 1897 on Kume island in the Ryūkyū archipelago.- Early life :He was the second son in a family of three boys and one girl. He was given up for adoption as a child . In his early life he took on his mother's maiden name of Taira. Taira worked in the sulfur...

. While the older brother went on to create his own new style of karate, Eizo quickly moved up the ranks in Shōrin-ryū (Shōbayashi).

Learning years

By the time Shimabuku was a teenager, he had obtained the physical level of a person six years his senior. His physical condition was due to his karate training as well as his working on the family farm. He excelled in athletic events on the island. By the time he was 17, he was consistently winning in two of his favorite events, the javelin throw and high jump.

Around the age of 23, because of Shimabuku's desire to further his knowledge, he began to study Shuri-te, which later became known as 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...

(Shao-lin Style) under Chotoku Kyan in the village of Kadena

Kadena, Okinawa

is a town located in Nakagami District, Okinawa, Japan.As of 2005, the town has an estimated population of 13,624 and a density of 915.9 persons per km². The total area is 15.04 km². Approximately 85% of the town is controlled by the US Government including Kadena Air Base, the second-largest...

. He began his training with Kyan in 1932. Kyan taught Shimabuku at his home. Kyan also taught at the Okinawa Prefectural Agricultural School. Within a short time, he became one of Kyan's best students and, under Kyan's instruction, learned the kata: Seisan

Seisan

The karate kata Seisan literally means '13', however some people refer to the kata as '13 Hands', '13 Fists', '13 Techniques', '13 Steps' or even '13 killing positions'. However, all these names are made up and have no historical basis.Seisan is thought to be one of the oldest kata quite spread...

, Naihanchi

Naihanchi

is a karate Kata, performed in straddle stance . It translates to 'internal divided conflict'. The form makes use of in-fighting techniques and grappling. In Shorin-Ryu and Matsubayashi-Ryu Naihanchi Shodan is the first Ni Kyu although it is taught to Yon Kyu occasionally before Evaluations for...

, Wansu, Chinto and Kusanku along with the weapons kata Tokumine-no-kun and basic Sai. He also began his study of "Ki" (or "Chinkuchi; (チンクチ)" in Okinawan dialect) for which Kyan was most noted. Shimabuku studied with Kyan until 1936. He always considered Kyan his first formal Sensei and was very loyal to him.

Shimabuku had always been fascinated by Naha-te (Goju Ryu

Goju Ryu

, is one of the main traditional Okinawan styles of karate, featuring a combination of hard and soft techniques. Both principles, hard and soft, come from the famous martial arts book Bubishi , used by Okinawan masters during the 19th and 20th centuries...

) and sought out Chojun Miyagi, the founder of Goju Ryu

Goju Ryu

. Miyagi's teacher was Higaonna Kanryo

Higaonna Kanryo

, also known as "Higashionna West", was a native of Nishi-shin-machi, Naha, Okinawa. He was born in Nishimura, Naha to a merchant family, whose business was selling firewood, an expensive commodity in the Ryukyu Islands...

(also called Higashionna) who brought a derivative of Kenpo (拳法): kin gai is the name of this system. Pangai noon is the forerunner of Uechi-ryu) from China

China

Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...

to Okinawa. Eventually this became Naha-te. From Miyagi, Tatsuo learned the kata

Kata

is a Japanese word describing detailed choreographed patterns of movements practised either solo or in pairs. The term form is used for the corresponding concept in non-Japanese martial arts in general....

Seiunchin ("Seize-Control-Fight") and Sanchin

Sanchin

is a kata of Southern Chinese origin that is considered to be the core of several styles, the most well-known being the Goju Ryu and Uechi Ryu styles of Karate as well as the Chinese martial arts of Fujian White Crane, Five Ancestors, Pangai-noon and the Tiger-Crane Combination style associated...

("Three-Fights/Conflicts").

After his studies with Miyagi, in 1938, Shimabuku sought out another famous Shorin-Ryu instructor, Choki Motobu. Choki Motobu was probably the most colorful of all of Shimabuku's instructors. Motobu had many teachers for short periods of time, including some notables such as Anko Itosu

Anko Itosu

is considered by many the father of modern karate, although this title is also often given to Gichin Funakoshi because the latter spread karate throughout Japan.- Biography :...

(Shuri-te

Shorin-Ryu

) and 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....

(Tomari-te). Motobu was known for getting into street fights often in his youth to promote the effectiveness of karate

Karate

. Shimabuku studied with Motobu for approximately one year.

Shimabuku opened his first dojo in 1946 after the war

World War II

World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...

in the village of Konbu, near Tengan village.

Turning point

Coming from a farming family, Shimabuku had always been poor, yet he was very innovative and opportunistic. He had a natural talent in adapting things to work for him. As a young man, he discovered a way to bind tile to the roofs of homes in Chun (チャン) Village without using mud, which had been the traditional way. Prior to World War II

World War II

, he saw an opportunity and started a small business. Purchasing several horses and carts, he received a contract to help in the construction of a Japanese airfield in Kadena. He was doing quite well until the Allied invasion 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...

began. During one of the bombing raids by Allied forces, his business was destroyed.

Practicing years

Shimabuku continued to study and develop his skills in both styles, but he was not satisfied that either style held the completeness he felt a style should have. His interest in ancient weapons (Kobudo) continued to grow and he sought out the most renowned weapons instructors on the island for at the time he only knew the one bo (staff)

-People:*Bo , name origin, plus people with the name*Bo , name origin, plus people with the surname**Bo , Chinese family names*Bo people , extinct minority population in Southern China famous for hanging coffins...

kata, Tokumine no Kun and basic sai techniques he learned from Chotoku Kyan. In a short time, he became a master in such weapons as the Bo and Sai. (During the late 1950s and early 1960s, he continued his study of Kobudō

Okinawan kobudo

Okinawan kobudō is a Japanese term that can be translated as "old martial way of Okinawa"...

with one of Moden Yabiku’s top students, Shinken Taira

Shinken Taira

. This training took place in Shimabuku’s dojo in Agena.) He learned Hama Higa no Tuifa, Shishi no Kun, Chatan Yara no Sai, and Urashi Bo. Shimabuku created Kyan Chotoku sai and Kusanku sai using sai techniques he learned from Chotoku Kyan. To honor Chotoku Kyan, he named his first sai kata after him.

Creation years

It was during the late 1940s that Shimabuku began experimenting with different basic techniques and Kata from the Shorin-Ryu and Goju-Ryu systems as well as Kobudo. He called the style he was teaching Chan-migwha-te after Chotoku Kyan nickname Chan-migwa (チャンミーグヮー). Kyan’s nickname was “Chan-migwa”, meaning “small-eyed-Chan." "Chan (チャン)" in the Okinawa dialect “Uchinaguchi” is “Kyan (喜屋武)." In Uchinaguchi “mi (ミー)” means “eye." The suffix “Gwa (グヮー)” or “Guwa (グヮー)” mean's “small.” So Chan-migwa means “Small eye Chan (Kyan).” Chan migwa-te was the style taught until he renamed his style "Isshin-ryū

Isshin-ryu

" on January 15, 1956.

By the early 1950s Shimabuku was refining his karate teaching combining what he felt was the best of the Shorin-Ryu and Goju-Ryu styles, the weapons forms he had studied, and incorporating his own techniques. As his experimentation continued, his adaptation of techniques and kata were not widely publicized. He consulted with several of the masters on Okinawa concerning his wish to develop a new style. Because he was highly respected as a karate Master, he received their blessings. (These would later be rescinded due to the many radical changes made in traditional Okinawan karate.)

One night in 1955, Mr. Shimabuku fell asleep and dreamed of a goddess; Isshinryu no Megami (Goddess of Isshinryu). Three Stars appeared symbolizing the three styles Isshin-ryu derived from, Goju-Ryu, Shorin-Ryu, and Kobudo. The stars can also represent the Physical, Mental, and Spiritual strength needed for Isshin-ryu. The gray evening sky symbolized serenity and implies that karate is to be used only for self-defense.

The next morning when Shimabuku awoke, he felt that his dream had been a divine revelation. He met with his top student, Eiko Kaneshi, and told him of his dream and desire to break away from Okinawan tradition and start a new style of karate. The day was January 15, 1956. Upon announcing his decision to start a new style, many of his Okinawan students left, including his brother Eizo.

The new system was not initially given a name, and in fact, went through 2 name modifications before Isshin-ryū was finally adopted. However, the official start of Isshinryu karate is January 15, 1956. The Isshin-ryū Megami was drawn from Shimabuku’s description by Shosu Nakamine, Eiko Kaneshi’s uncle, and was chosen to be the symbol for Isshin-ryū karate.

During his karate career, Shimabuku changed his name to “Tatsuo,” meaning “Dragon Man.” Whenever asked about this change, Shimabuku would reply that “Tatsuo” was his professional karate name. He also was given the nickname, “Sun nu su”, by the mayor of Kyan (Chan) Village. Sun nu su was a name of a dance that was created by Shimabuku's grandfather.

Teaching years

In 1955, the Third Marine Division of the U.S. Marine Corps was stationed on Okinawa, and the Marine Corps chose Shimabuku to provide instruction to Marines on the island. As a result of his instruction, Isshin-ryū was to be spread throughout the United States by Marines and returned home. The karate that the marines brought back to the dojos in the United States was a blending of what Shimabuku thought to be the best of the karate systems.

The first of the Marines to bring the Isshin-ryū karate to the United States were Don Nagle

Donald Hugh Nagle

Don Nagle was a Karate Pioneer, Grand Master Of Isshinryu Karate & "Living Legend" from New Jersey.-Biography:Nagle was born in Jersey City, New Jersey on April 5, 1938 he had four sisters and two brothers....

and Harold Long

Harold G. Long

Harold G. Long was a Isshin-Ryu Karate instructor from Tennessee.- Biography :He was born in Rockwood, Tennessee, on September 3, 1930, one of thirteen children born of Bessie Marie Fance Long and John Riley Long. His family moved from Rockwood to Morgan County in 1934 where he attended elementary...

. Nagle

Donald Hugh Nagle

opened his dojo outside Camp Lejeune, North Carolina in late 1957, while Harold Long’s first dojo was in his backyard at Twenty-Nine Palms, California in late 1958. Upon their discharge from service, Nagle

Donald Hugh Nagle

moved to Jersey City, New Jersey, and opened the first Isshin-ryū dojo in the Northeast. Long returned home to Knoxville, Tennessee, and opened his first dojo at the Marine Reserve Training Center.

Returning later were Harold Mitchum

Harold M. Mitchum

Harold Marion Mitchum is a tenth degree black belt in the Isshin-ryū karate system. He learned under the founder of Isshin-ryū, Shimabuku Tatsuo, while serving three tours in Okinawa with the U.S. Marines. Though Mitchum himself claims that he was on Okinawa and trained under Shimabuku for...

, Edward Brown, Sherman Harill, Steve Armstrong, Ed Johnson, Walter Van Gilson, Clarence Ewing, George Breed, Jim Advincula, Bill Gardo, and Harry Smith as well as others. [George Breed began teaching Isshin-ryū Karate in Atlanta, Georgia in 1961; and then, in Gainesville, Florida from 1966-1969. He remained independent of the Association.] From this meeting, the Okinawan-American Karate Association was formed with Harold Mitchum as the association’s first president. A year later, the name of the association would be changed to the American-Okinawan Karate Association.

Shimabuku made two trips to the United States to visit with his top students. The first trip was in 1964, and the second in 1966. During his 1966 trip, he visited Steve Armstrong in Tacoma, Washington, Harold Long in Knoxville, Tennessee, and Nagle

Donald Hugh Nagle

in New Jersey. All 3 men were promoted to the rank of Hachi-Dan (Eighth Degree). Each of these men became a driving force in the promotion and spread of Isshin-ryū karate in the United States. Shimabuku was noted to not enjoy traveling far from home, and further visits representing him were conducted by his students, mainly Uezu Angi, who was also his son-in-law.

Another important event took place during this trip. While visiting the dojo of Steve Armstrong, Shimabuku was filmed performing all 14 Isshin-ryu kata as well as some basic exercise and self defense techniques. Copies of this film were circulated among the top instructors. It is believed that Shimabuku did not want to be filmed and the recording do not reflect a true expression of the various kata.

Shimabuku continued teaching at his dojo in Agena until his retirement in early 1972. He passed his legacy over to his son, Kichiro Shimabuku. There was much controversy over this decision as Shimabuku had originally intended to pass the system onto his number one Okinawan student, Kaneshi Eiko. When Kichiro learned of this decision, he was outraged and demanded that his father keep with Okinawan tradition and pass the system over to him. Shimabuku relented and granted his wish, but their relationship never recovered.

Modifications from traditional forms

Some of his modifications of karate are:

The vertical rising punch (instead of corkscrew).
Making a fist with the thumb on top (not along the side of the fist).
Blocking with the radius and ulna of the forearm together (on the muscle of the outside forearm) instead of bone blocks.
Shimabuku formulated the kata Sunsu. A kata exclusive to Isshin-ryu, Sunsu consists mostly of techniques from other kata that Tatsuo found useful and important.
Making Naihanchi kata reversed, going left first, rather than right

Legacy

Some call him a non-traditionalist, but he had a foot in both worlds. Some kata were modified for use with shoes but his students still trained barefoot in the outdoors. Often techniques were taught differently on different days. Once Shimabuku was sitting drinking awamori

Awamori

Awamori is an alcoholic beverage indigenous to and unique to Okinawa, Japan. It is made from rice, and is not a direct product of brewing but of distillation ....

with some students. He asked them while pointing toward some bottles "which bottle is best?". Some picked the bigger bottles some the smaller. Tatsuo stated that the shape of the bottle is not important. He indicated all bottles were good, that there was no "best bottle" and that all bottles served a purpose.

In 1980, Shimabuku was the first person inducted into the Isshin-ryū Hall of Fame

Isshin-ryu Hall of Fame

The Isshin-ryū Hall of Fame is both an annual event of recognized Isshin-ryū practitioners and the associated list of past inductees. The annual event includes a karate tournament of Isshin-ryu practitioners.-History:...

Death

Shimabuku died from a stroke at his home in the village of Agena on May 30, 1975 at the age of 66 while practicing Sanchin kata.

External links

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