Shogo kuniba
Encyclopedia
aka Sōke Kuniba was a Japanese
teacher of karate
.
His adoptive father (biological uncle) was Kōsei Kokuba (Kuniba), who began training him at five years old. Kuniba Sōke was taught by many masters of the day including:
When he was 24 years old, Shōgō Kuniba became the youngest karate system head (Sōke) in Japan, taking over the style his adoptive father (Kōsei Kokuba) as inherited from Motobu Chōki. He thus became the Sandai Soke of Ryukyu Karate Motobu-ha (Choki Motobu was Shodai Soke; Kosei Kokuba was Nidai Soke).
Sōke Kuniba is known for integrating the power of karate with the sensitivity of aikido
and other traditional martial arts, in a style he called "Motobu-ha Shito-ryu." This style is structured to adopt concepts and techniques from other styles to form a modern system replete with traditional values, but with an open=minded philosophy. Shogo Kuniba was the Shodai Soke of Motobu-ha Shito-ryu Karate-do. It is sometimes referred to as Kuniba-ha Karate-do. A book titled A Primer of Kuniba-ha Karate-do: The Style of Shogo Kuniba was written and published in 1985 by Shihan James Herndon; it was republished in 2009.
Kuniba applied his knowledge of aikido, jujutsu
, judo
and other arts to the bunkai of karate kata. This made for very creative variations on techniques, which became his hallmark. He created a new style, Kuniba-ryū Goshindō (aka Goshin Budō Jujutsu), which literally means Kuniba Sōke's style of self defense. Kuniba-ryū Goshindō combines elements of karate, aikido and judo. There are also several other Goshindō/Goshin Budō/Goshinbudō
systems which do not came from Kuniba, so it is most proper to always state the full name as "Kuniba-ryū Goshinbudō/Kuniba-ryū Goshindō" in order not to confuse Kuniba sensei
's Goshinbudō/Goshindō with other Goshinbudō
/Goshindō styles. (See: Goshinbudo
, for examples of self-defense systems using the same name but not related to Sōke Kuniba's Goshinbudō).
In Japan, Shōgō Kuniba was treated as a Meijin (brilliant man).
When Kuniba Sōke died on July 14, 1992, the organizations he had led split over disagreement of leadership. Kunio Tatsuno became Sōke of Motobu-Ha Karate-dō and Kaicho of Seishinkai
. In the U.S., Kuniba Sōke named William H. Price as second Sōke of both Kuniba-ryu Karate-Do and Kuniba-ryū Goshindō on March 16, 1992. Several American karateka under Kuniba Sōke followed his named U.S. successor. Chikubu-Kai was created on September 8, 1995, to continue his teachings. However, upon the death of Kunio Tatsuno, Kuniba-Kai was established in Japan by the Kuniba family in 1999. Many Shihan loyal to Kuniba have affiliated with Kuniba-Kai, headed by Kozo Kuniba and Kosuke Kuniba.
The style is called Kuniba-ryu Karate-Do in the U.S. and Motobu-Ha Shitō-ryū in Japan. Today, the Seishinkai
(the Karate organization originally started by Kosei Kokuba) still exists to promote Shitō-ryū (however, the term "Motobu-Ha" is no longer claimed). A new International Seishinkai
Karate-dō Union (ISKU) was formed by Kunio Tatsuno in 1999; in 2007, Sadatomu Harada formed the Seishinkai
International Shitoryu Karate-dō Union (SISKU). Neither ISKU nor SISKU claim Motobu-Ha. Kuniba-Kai has exclusive rights to that style per the Japan Karate Federation (JKF).
A famous quote, by Soke Shōgō Kuniba, states, "Seven Times Down, Eight Times Up!".
Japanese people
The are an ethnic group originating in the Japanese archipelago and are the predominant ethnic group of Japan. Worldwide, approximately 130 million people are of Japanese descent; of these, approximately 127 million are residents of Japan. People of Japanese ancestry who live in other countries...
teacher of 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,...
.
His adoptive father (biological uncle) was Kōsei Kokuba (Kuniba), who began training him at five years old. Kuniba Sōke was taught by many masters of the day including:
- Kenwa Mabuni - Shitō-ryū Karate
- Kōsei Kokuba - Motobu-ha Karate-dō
- Itoh Asakichi - JudoJudois a modern martial art and combat sport created in Japan in 1882 by Jigoro Kano. Its most prominent feature is its competitive element, where the object is to either throw or takedown one's opponent to the ground, immobilize or otherwise subdue one's opponent with a grappling maneuver, or force an...
- Ishii Gogetsu - Mugai-ryūMugai-ryuis a Japanese koryū martial art school founded by in 23rd June 1680.- History :The founder of Mugai ryu, Tsuji Gettan Sukemochi 辻月丹資茂 was born to Tsuji Yadayū descendant of Sasaki Takadzuna, in the second year of Keihan ,in the Miya-mura-aza village area 宮村字 of Masugi 馬杉, in the Kōka-gun district...
Iaido - Shōshin Nagamine - Shōrin-ryū KarateShorin-Ryuis 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...
- Kenko Nakaima - KobudōOkinawan kobudoOkinawan kobudō is a Japanese term that can be translated as "old martial way of Okinawa"...
- Kosha Shojin - BōBo-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...
and nunchakuNunchakuis a traditional Okinawan weapon consisting of two sticks connected at their ends with a short chain or rope.-Etymology:The Japanese word nunchaku is the Kun'yomi reading of the Kanji term for a traditional Chinese two section staff.... - Junko Yamaguchi - TonfaTonfaThe tonfa , also known as tong fa or tuifa, is an Okinawan weapon. It is a stick with a handle, and is about 15-20 inches long. It was traditionally made from red oak and wielded in pairs...
- Shioda Gozo - AikidoAikidois a Japanese martial art developed by Morihei Ueshiba as a synthesis of his martial studies, philosophy, and religious beliefs. Aikido is often translated as "the Way of unifying life energy" or as "the Way of harmonious spirit." Ueshiba's goal was to create an art that practitioners could use to...
- Ryusei Tomoyori - Kenyu-ryū KarateKarateis 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,...
When he was 24 years old, Shōgō Kuniba became the youngest karate system head (Sōke) in Japan, taking over the style his adoptive father (Kōsei Kokuba) as inherited from Motobu Chōki. He thus became the Sandai Soke of Ryukyu Karate Motobu-ha (Choki Motobu was Shodai Soke; Kosei Kokuba was Nidai Soke).
Sōke Kuniba is known for integrating the power of karate with the sensitivity of aikido
Aikido
is a Japanese martial art developed by Morihei Ueshiba as a synthesis of his martial studies, philosophy, and religious beliefs. Aikido is often translated as "the Way of unifying life energy" or as "the Way of harmonious spirit." Ueshiba's goal was to create an art that practitioners could use to...
and other traditional martial arts, in a style he called "Motobu-ha Shito-ryu." This style is structured to adopt concepts and techniques from other styles to form a modern system replete with traditional values, but with an open=minded philosophy. Shogo Kuniba was the Shodai Soke of Motobu-ha Shito-ryu Karate-do. It is sometimes referred to as Kuniba-ha Karate-do. A book titled A Primer of Kuniba-ha Karate-do: The Style of Shogo Kuniba was written and published in 1985 by Shihan James Herndon; it was republished in 2009.
Kuniba applied his knowledge of aikido, jujutsu
Jujutsu
Jujutsu , also known as jujitsu, ju-jitsu, or Japanese jiu-jitsu, is a Japanese martial art and a method of close combat for defeating an armed and armored opponent in which one uses no weapon, or only a short weapon....
, judo
Judo
is a modern martial art and combat sport created in Japan in 1882 by Jigoro Kano. Its most prominent feature is its competitive element, where the object is to either throw or takedown one's opponent to the ground, immobilize or otherwise subdue one's opponent with a grappling maneuver, or force an...
and other arts to the bunkai of karate kata. This made for very creative variations on techniques, which became his hallmark. He created a new style, Kuniba-ryū Goshindō (aka Goshin Budō Jujutsu), which literally means Kuniba Sōke's style of self defense. Kuniba-ryū Goshindō combines elements of karate, aikido and judo. There are also several other Goshindō/Goshin Budō/Goshinbudō
Goshinbudo
Goshinbudō, literally "self-defense" "martial" "arts" , is a generic name for several systems of modern self-defense which are based on martial arts techniques from Japan...
systems which do not came from Kuniba, so it is most proper to always state the full name as "Kuniba-ryū Goshinbudō/Kuniba-ryū Goshindō" in order not to confuse Kuniba sensei
Sensei
' is a Japanese word that basically means "person born before another." In general usage, it means "master" or "teacher," and the word is used as a title to refer to or address teachers, professors, professionals such as lawyers, CPA and doctors, politicians, clergymen, and other figures of authority...
's Goshinbudō/Goshindō with other Goshinbudō
Goshinbudo
Goshinbudō, literally "self-defense" "martial" "arts" , is a generic name for several systems of modern self-defense which are based on martial arts techniques from Japan...
/Goshindō styles. (See: Goshinbudo
Goshinbudo
Goshinbudō, literally "self-defense" "martial" "arts" , is a generic name for several systems of modern self-defense which are based on martial arts techniques from Japan...
, for examples of self-defense systems using the same name but not related to Sōke Kuniba's Goshinbudō).
In Japan, Shōgō Kuniba was treated as a Meijin (brilliant man).
When Kuniba Sōke died on July 14, 1992, the organizations he had led split over disagreement of leadership. Kunio Tatsuno became Sōke of Motobu-Ha Karate-dō and Kaicho of Seishinkai
Seishinkai
Seishinkai is an international organization for the promotion and teaching of Shitō-ryū Karate. It is now also considered a sub-style of Shitō-ryū. Seishinkai is also an international shotokan karate organization based in the UK....
. In the U.S., Kuniba Sōke named William H. Price as second Sōke of both Kuniba-ryu Karate-Do and Kuniba-ryū Goshindō on March 16, 1992. Several American karateka under Kuniba Sōke followed his named U.S. successor. Chikubu-Kai was created on September 8, 1995, to continue his teachings. However, upon the death of Kunio Tatsuno, Kuniba-Kai was established in Japan by the Kuniba family in 1999. Many Shihan loyal to Kuniba have affiliated with Kuniba-Kai, headed by Kozo Kuniba and Kosuke Kuniba.
The style is called Kuniba-ryu Karate-Do in the U.S. and Motobu-Ha Shitō-ryū in Japan. Today, the Seishinkai
Seishinkai
Seishinkai is an international organization for the promotion and teaching of Shitō-ryū Karate. It is now also considered a sub-style of Shitō-ryū. Seishinkai is also an international shotokan karate organization based in the UK....
(the Karate organization originally started by Kosei Kokuba) still exists to promote Shitō-ryū (however, the term "Motobu-Ha" is no longer claimed). A new International Seishinkai
Seishinkai
Seishinkai is an international organization for the promotion and teaching of Shitō-ryū Karate. It is now also considered a sub-style of Shitō-ryū. Seishinkai is also an international shotokan karate organization based in the UK....
Karate-dō Union (ISKU) was formed by Kunio Tatsuno in 1999; in 2007, Sadatomu Harada formed the Seishinkai
Seishinkai
Seishinkai is an international organization for the promotion and teaching of Shitō-ryū Karate. It is now also considered a sub-style of Shitō-ryū. Seishinkai is also an international shotokan karate organization based in the UK....
International Shitoryu Karate-dō Union (SISKU). Neither ISKU nor SISKU claim Motobu-Ha. Kuniba-Kai has exclusive rights to that style per the Japan Karate Federation (JKF).
A famous quote, by Soke Shōgō Kuniba, states, "Seven Times Down, Eight Times Up!".