Information

I have a large amount of information that a friend of mine had given me many years ago. Much of it is on the Okinowan and Japanes arts and masters (He was a Sh!to Ryu pratitioner) There is also info on some Gun Fu as well as other arts. I am creating this thread to share the Japanese and Okinowan information as much of this is not only difficult to find, but also imposible to find anymore.
Enjoy

__________________
Daniel W. "Gigagei Waya" McCullar, 4th Dan

Oooh, look the Korean stylist used Chinese
http://www.dragonslist.com/discussio...read-ever.html

Sosai Mas Oyama

Sosai (President) Masutatsu Oyama, the founder of Kyokushin Karate, was born in southern Korea in 1923. While living at his sister's farm in Manchuria at the age of nine, he began his lifelong journey along the Martial Way when he began studying the southern Chinese form of kempo know as "Eighteen Hands". When Mas Oyama returned to Korea at the age of 12, he continued his training in Korean kempo.
In 1938, at the age of 15, Mas Oyama moved to Japan to train as an aviator, and continued his martial arts training by participating in judo and boxing. Shortly afterwards, he began training at the dojo of Gichin Funakoshi, who had brought karate from Okinawa to Japan and developed what is now known as Shotokan Karate. Mas Oyama's training progressed so rapidly that by the age of 17, he was a Nidan (2nd Dan), and by the age of 20, he was a Yondan (4th Dan) in Shotokan. At this point, Mas Oyama took a serious interest in Judo, and in less than four years he achieved the rank of Yondan in Judo as well.
After the end of World War II, Mas Oyama began training under So Nei Chu, one of the highest authorities in Japan of Goju Ryu, an Okinawan karate style. So Nei Chu, renowned for the power of his body as well as his spiritual insight, encouraged Mas Oyama to dedicate his life to the Martial Way. He s uggested that Mas Oyama retreat from civilization for three yearsto train his mind and body without the distractions of the outside world.
Around this time, Mas Oyama also met Eiji Yoshikawa, the author of the novel Musashi, which was based on the life and exploits of Miyamoto Musashi, Japan's most famous Samurai warrior. Both the novel and the author helped to teach him the meaning of Bushido, the Way of the Warrior. That same year, Mas Oyama went to Mt. Minobu in Chiba Prefecture, where Musashi had developed his style of sword fighting. Mas Oyama thought that this would be an appropriate place to begin the rigorous training he had planned for himself. Accompanied by a student, he went into the wilderness there to train, with a friend bringing food supplies to them once a month. After six months of training, his student was unable to handle the solitude and secretly fed during the night, leaving Mas Oyama completely alone to continue his training. After fourteen months of training in the wilderness, his friend informed Mas Oyama that he could no longer provide the monthly supplies of food, and Mas Oyama had to return to civilization.
A few months later, in 1947, Mas Oyama won the karate section of the first Japanese National Martial Arts Championships afterWorld War II. However, still feeling empty for not having completed the three years of solitude, he decided to dedicate his life completely to karate. Once again Mas Oyama left civilization for the wilderness, this time going to Mt. Kiyozumi, also in Chiba Prefecture, which he chose for its spiritually uplifting environment. This time his training was fanatical – 12 hours a day, every day, with no rest days, standing under cold buffeting waterfalls, breaking river stones with his hands, using trees as makiwara (striking boards), jumping over rapidly growing flax plants hundreds of times each day. Each day also included a period of study of the ancients classics on the martial arts, Zen, and philosophy. After eighteen months of rigorous training, Mas Oyama returned to civilization fully confident in himself and able to take control of his life.
In the 1950s, Mas Oyama began demonstrating his power and skill by fighting bulls. In all, he fought 52 bulls, three of which he killed instantly and 49 of whose horns he took off with shuto (knife hand) strikes. In 1952, Mas Oyama traveled throughout the United States for a year, demonstrating his karate live and on national television. During subsequent years, he took on all challengers, resulting in fights with 270 different people. He defeated the vast majority of his opponents with just one technique. A fight never lasted more than three minutes, and rarely lasted more than a few seconds. Mas Oyama's fighting technique was based on the Samurai warriors' principle of "Ichi geki hissatsu", or "One strike, certain death". If he got through to you, the fight was over. If he hit you, you broke – if you blocked his punch, your arm was broken or dislocated, if you didn't block it, your rib was broken. Because of his strength and skill, he became known as "the Godhand".
In 1953, Mas Oyama opened his first "dojo" on a grass lot in Tokyo. In 1955, he opened his first real dojo in a former ballet studio behind Rikkyo University. In 1957, the name "Kyokushin", or "Ultimate Truth", was adopted for Mas Oyama's karate organization, which had 700 members by then, despite the high drop-out rate due to the severity of training. Practitioners of other styles also came to train here for the jis-sen kumite (full contact fighting). Mas Oyama would observe those from other styles and adopt any techniques that would be useful in a fight. By doing so, Kyokushin Karate evolved into one of the most formidable style of martial arts in the world. It soon became known as "The Strongest Karate", not only because of the incredible feats of strength and endurance that Mas Oyama performed, but also because of the rigorous requirements of the training and tournaments.
In order to test his own abilities, Mas Oyama decided to perform a three hundred man kumite (fight) in three days. He chose the strongest students in his dojo to fight him one at a time. After each had a turn, they started from the beginning again until all three hundred fights were completed. Each student had to face Mas Oyama about four times over the three days, though some never made it past the first day due to Oyama's powerful blows. He defeated all of his opponents, never wavering in his resolve, despite the fact that he was injured in the process. Legend has it that Mas Oyama was willing to go for a fourth day, but no opponents were willing or able to do so.
Since its inception, Kyokushin Karate has spread to more than 120 countries, with more than twelve million practitioners, making it one of the largest martial arts styles in the world.
Sadly, Mas Oyama (a non-smoker) died of lung cancer in 1994.
Mas Oyama's unexpected death left his organization, the International Karate Organization (IKO), in a very confused state. Prior to his death, he stated in his will that Yukio Nishida would be his successor to lead the IKO, but on his deathbed he spontaneously appointed Akiyoshi Matsui, then Godan (5th Dan). Qualified though Matsui was, both in Kyokushin Karate and in management of the organization, many of the higher yudansha (black belts) and Branch Chiefs of the organization took exception to this. This has resulted in a splintering of the IKO into three groups – the IKO(1) under Matsui, the IKO(2) under Nishida, and the IKO(3) under Yoshikazu Matsushima. Each group claims to be the true successor to Mas Oyama's organization.
A fourth group of Kyokushin karateka decided to affiliate themselves with Hanshi (Master) Steve Arneil of Great Britain, who left the Japanese Kyokushin organization in 1991 to form the International Federation of Karate (IFK). Hanshi Arneil still teaches Kyokushin Karate as it was originally taught to him by Mas Oyama.
[The information on this page was obtained in large part from the extensive Australian Kyokushin website created and maintained by Sempai Shaharin Yussof.]

__________________
Daniel W. "Gigagei Waya" McCullar, 4th Dan

Oooh, look the Korean stylist used Chinese
http://www.dragonslist.com/discussio...read-ever.html

Profiles of Okinawa Goju Ryu Masters

KANRYO HIGASHIONNA
Master KANRYO HIGASHIONNA, born in Naha Nishimura (West Village) on 10 March 1853 was the fourth son of KANYO HIGASHIONNA. HIGASHIONNA Sensei was first introduced to the martial arts in 1867 when he began to study Monk Fist Boxing ( Luohan Quan) from ARAGAKI SEISHO. HIGASHIONNA Sensei trained for three years with ARAGAKI Sensei who then introduced him to Master TAITEI KOJO in September 1870. Master KOJO with the help of a family friend, YOSHIMURA UDUN CHOMEI, arranged for HIGASHIONNA Sensei to travel to China and be taught in the martial arts. HIGASHIONNA Sensei set sail for Fuzhou, China, in 1868.
At the young age of fifteen HIGASHIONNA Sensei traveled from his homeland, Okinawa, to Mainland China where he spent a number of years studying Chinese fighting traditions of WOOPING CRANE with a man named, RYURU KO or better known as XIE CHONGXIANG. XIE CHONGXIANG went on to become one of Fuzhou's most prominent masters before he died in February 1930 at the age of seventy seven.
There is no doubt that after nearly ten years in Fuzhou HIGASHIONNA Sensei learnt the central elements of many different kinds of Chinese Kempo. Research conducted by one of the most renowned historians of Okinawa Karate Do, PATRICK McCARTHY, has proven that HIGASHIONNA Sensei did not only bring back to Okinawa the five kata of RYURU KO Sensei, ( Happoren, Nepai, Chuko, Jusen and Shichikei) but he also brought back the kata of four other sects of Crane Boxing, namely; Sanseryu, Niseshi, Seisan, Peichurrin, Saamchin and a kata called 18 Scholar Fists, Seisan, Jutte, Sepai, Ueseshi kata of the Tiger Fist Boxing, Monk Fist Boxing, Lion Fist Boxing and the Dragon Fist Boxing.

CHOJUN MIYAGI
The founder of Goju Ryu was Master CHOJUN MIYAGI. He was born in NAHA on the 25 April 1888 into a very wealthy family. He was originally named MATSU MIYAGI. MIYAGI Sensei name was changed to CHOJUN at the age of five by his uncle who adopted him after the death of his father in 1893. MIYAGI Sensei martial arts training began at the age of eleven. His early instruction consisted mainly of strength building exercises under Okinawan Master, ARAGAKI RYUKO.
In 1901 Master RYUKO introduced the fourteen year old MIYAGI Sensei to the renowned Okinawan martial arts Master, Master KANRYO HIGASHIONNA.
Training was very strenuous and consisted mainly of performing Sanchin kata, running and strength exercises. Master KANRYO HIGASHIONNA very demanding on his student s performance. MIYAGI Sensei trained for 13 years, until the death of Master KANRYO HIGASHIONNA on 23 December 1915, developing into a very powerful karateka.
MIYAGI Sensei, who was an enormously creative man, firstly, did not establish Goju Ryu Karate Do until long after the death HIGASHIONNA Sensei and secondly, contrary to popular belief, MIYAGI Sensei did not base his teachings sole on what he had learnt from HIGASHIONNA Sensei. It is common knowledge that MIYAGI Sensei's principal teacher was HIGASHIONNA Sensei but what is not common knowledge is that MIYAGI Sensei, to enhance his own understanding of the fighting traditions, did his own research of Chinese Kempo with the help of a companion, GO KENKI, an expert of Fujian Yongchun White Crane Kempo and another friend, TO DAKI, a Tiger Fist Boxer from Fuzhou.
MIYAGI Sensei also made more than ten journeys to Fuzhou in an effort to research Chinese Kempo. He attended several karate study groups, traveled to and taught on the Mainland Japan, Hawaii and Korea.
MIYAGI Sensei combined the hard external fighting styles with the soft internal styles of Pa Kua Chuan, I Chuan and Tai Chi into a close range, highly efficient method of self defense. The Goju Ryu system of MIYAGI Sensei was made up of circular blocking movements, grabs and grappling techniques, punches and kicks to the lower half of the body characterise a style of karate that is designed strictly for self defense and not for sport.
In 1926, at the age of 38, MIYAGI Sensei setup a system where he together with Kenwa Mabuni, Chomo Hanashiro and Motobu Choyo spent three years researching, studying and training Kata, Basics, Fitness and Philosophy.
In 1933, MIYAGI Sensei, officially registered the art as Goju Ryu with the Butoku-Kai, the Japanese Martial Arts Association. In the same year, he presented his article "An Outline of Karate-Do".
The following year, MIYAGI Sensei, was appointed the head of the Okinawan branch of the Butoku-Kai Association.
In 1940, MIYAGI Sensei created the kata Gekisai Dai Ichi and Gekisai Dai Ni.
After MIYAGI Sensei's death on 08 October 1953, four of his students, SEIKO HIGA, MEITOKU YAGI (Meibukan Goju Ryu Karate Do), SEIKICHI TOGUCHI (Shoreikan Goju Ryu Karate Do) and EIICHI MIYAZATO (Jundokan Goju Ryu Karate Do) carried on with MIYAGI Sensei's original teachings. The four students formed an organisation named the ALL OKINAWAN GOJU KAI, which was a reorganisation of the old GOJU RYU SHINKO-KAI. They established a promotional ranking system for the art of Karate Do.

SEIKO HIGA
SEIKO HIGA Sensei was born in 1898, and began his training with Master KANRYO HIGASHIONNA at the age of 13. After HIGASHIONNA Sensei death in 1915, he trained with MIYAGI Sensei .
HIGA Sensei was an primary school teacher and later entered the police force. In 1931, he left the force and opened his own dojo in Naha, Okinawa. From 1937 to 1939 he taught in Saipan in the South Pacific. After World War II, he opened a new dojo at Ryukyu University and the Naha prison.
He took over as MIYAGI Sensei immediate successor temporarily after his death in 1953. This responsibility was eventually passed to MEITOKU YAGI, who later received the Menkyo Kaiden.(Official successor to MIYAGI Sensei)
SEIKO HIGA Sensei, the only person ever authorised by MIYAGI Sensei to teach Goju Ryu set up his first dojo in 1931 in Naha City. In 1939 HIGA Sensei was awarded the Renshi (teaching) grade from the DAI NIPPON BUTOKUKAI for his efforts in furthering the teachings of MIYAGI Sensei. In 1956 HIGA Sensei became the first vice President of the OKINAWA KARATE DO RENMEI which still remains the largest governing body for Okinawan karate today. In 1958 HIGA Sensei was awarded the Hanshi grade and he then opened the SHODOKAN DOJO. In that same year he formed the INTERNATIONAL KARATE AND KOBUDO FEDERATION for the purpose of researching Goju Ryu and unifying the KATA.
SEIKO HIGA Sensei died in 1966.

MEITOKU YAGI
MEITOKU YAGI Sensei was born on March 6th 1912. He began his training with MIYAGI Sensei in 1926 at age 14.
In 1963, MEITOKU YAGI Sensei was named the official successor of the Goju Ryu system, Menkyo Kaiden, by MIYAGI Sensei s family and he was presented with the karate gi and belt of MIYAGI Sensei. YAGI Sensei was chosen by virtue of his loyalty to MIYAGI Sensei, his character and his knowledge and ability in Goju Ryu.
As a young man YAGI Sensei was well known as the makiwara breaker. He was able to break a punching board at will. On occasions he would pick out a particularly tough makiwara to break when others said it was impossible.
In addition to the MEIBUKAN School of Okinawa Goju Ryu, YAGI Sensei also established the Okinawa Goju-Kai.

SEIKICHI TOGUCHI
SEIKICHI TOGUCHI Sensei was born in Naha on 20 May 1917. TOGUCHI Sensei studied Goju Ryu Karate Do with MIYAGI Sensei until his death in 1953.
In 1952, MIYAGI Sensei named him Executive Director of the Goju-Kai Federation. TOGUCHI Sensei became the Vice President of the organization.
In 1969, TOGUCHI Sensei formed the SHOREI-KAN branch of Goju Ryu.
TOGUCHI Sensei passed away on 31 August 1998. Katsuyoshi Kanei, Masanobu Shinjo and Toshio Tamano were his top students.

SHINJO MASANOBU SENSEI
1938 - 1993
On Okinawa, a Goju Ryu master named Masanobu Shinjo emerged and, like Miyagi before him,
became known for his gentle nature and extraordinary strength. Shinjo formally began his study of karate in 1953 and in 1963 opened his own dojo, the Shobukan. Over the next decades Shinjo would hold anniversary demonstrations and see his organization grow to include schools not only on the mainland of Japan, but also in North and South America, South Africa, Europe, and India. In 1982, Masanobu Shinjo was awarded the 9th dan and the title "Hanshi" by the Okinawa Goju Ryu Goju-Kai, making him one of the highest ranking Goju Ryu karate masters on Okinawa.
Master Yagi, who is a 10th dan in Goju Ryu, described Shinjo as being closer to Master Miyagi in the way he performed kata and techniques than any other Goju Ryu practitioner. This similarity may have resulted from Shinjo's seeking out anyone on Okinawa who had trained under Miyagi for the purpose of studying their individual kata, since Miyagi usually had his students specialize in only one kata, along with Sanchin. In this way, Shinjo was able to learn all aspects of Goju Ryu as Miyagi had previously done with the study of Naha-Te under Higashionna.
One of Shinjo's primary mentors was Meitoku Yagi, who was Miyagi Sensei's top student. Through this direct lineage, the teachings and integrity of Miyagi's art were maintained. In 1990, Shinjo succeeded Yagi as President of the Okinawa Goju Ryu Goju-Kai, while still serving as chief instructor of the organization which he founded, the Okinawa Goju Ryu Shobukan Association. Shinjo also became the President of the All Okinawa Karate-Do Association, the prestigious organization which encompasses all of the traditional styles of karate-do on Okinawa.
The karate world suffered a serious setback in October of 1993 with the untimely passing of Master Shinjo after a yearlong illness. Like Master Miyagi, Shinjo had spent his life promoting Goju Ryu, making trips to China and the Shaolin Temple, Taiwan, and visiting his United States Shobukan headquarters and branch schools.
As of June 15, 1996, the Shobukan organization was reorganized and became officially known as the "Shobukai," with the main dojo in Yaeshima, Okinawa still carrying the name "Shobukan." Today's Shobukai adheres firmly and strictly to the high standards of both technique and conduct as established and nurtured under Shinjo Sensei's guidance. Shinjo Sensei's senior instructor, Azuma Seizo Sensei, is now the president of the Shobukai Organization.
The Shobukai organization remains firm in its dedication to the popularization and internationalisation of traditional Okinawa Goju Ryu Karate-Do.

ANDRE LINCOLN SENSEI
Mafeking, situated in the north central South Africa, reorganized from the north eastern most part of the former Cape Province and the south eastern half of the Transvaal, borders the Northern Cape, Free State, Gauteng, Northern Province and Botswana, is the capital of the Northwest Province of South Africa.
Mafikeng, the Tswana word meaning “the place of stones”, is the place where Andre Lincoln Sensei was born on the 28 October 1961. This sparsely populated dusty town was home until October 1964 when the Lincoln family ( father, Sensei Reggie Lincoln, mother and sister) relocated to Cape Town.
Andre Lincoln was introduced to the art of Goju Ryu Karate Do by his father, Reggie Lincoln Sensei, in September 1974. It was then that he enrolled as a student of the South African Gorei Karate (S.A.G.K.) dojo of Sensei Harry Pieterkosky. Prior to becoming a student of the S.A.G.K., Andre Lincoln’s interest in karate was encouraged and developed by him watching his father taking extra lessons from Karl Sissing, a friend who at the time had a bit more knowledge and skill of the art of karate.
The OKINAWA KARATE DO GOJU RYU SHOBUKAN (S A) was founded by Sensei Reggie Lincoln and Sensei Andre Lincoln on the 20 November 1983.
In January 1992 Sensei Andre Lincoln was awarded a United Nations scholarship to do a course in Industrial Relations and Techniques in Japan. This gave him the opportunity to travel to Okinawa where he found the dojo of the world renowned Okinawa Goju Ryu master, MASANOBU SHINJO SENSEI.
Sensei Andre Lincoln trained in Master SHINJO dojo for the period he was in Japan. It was through his skill, perseverance and hard training that the South African dojo was accepted by Master SHINJO who was well known to be extremely choosey of who he accepted as students.
Sensei Andre Lincoln has also been a major role player in promoting the style of Goju Ryu in South Africa. He is a founder member of the SOUTH AFRICAN GOJU RYU KARATE FEDERATION.
The OKINAWA KARATE DO GOJU RYU SHOBUKAN (S A) is a founder member of the KARATE ASSOCIATION OF SOUTH AFRICA and Sensei Andre Lincoln played an active and constructive role in unifying karate organisations in South Africa and getting South African karate back into the fold of the WORLD UNION OF KARATE ORGANISATIONS.
OKINAWA KARATE DO GOJU RYU SHOBUKAN (S.A.) has special classes for children from the age of four years. These classes have been specially designed by Sensei Reggie Lincoln and Sensei Andre Lincoln where the main focus is on self-discipline, co-ordination, self-confidence, respect and self defence. We believe that our children must enjoy their classes and therefore the training and discipline is not as rigid as with the adult classes. Children enjoy having fun and we provide that atmosphere in our classes.

REGGIE LINCOLN SENSEI
Sensei Reggie Lincoln was born in Mafeking on 25th July 1937. From an early age he was always interested in sports. He was a well known soccer star in his town and also played cricket. Sensel Reggie moved to Cape Town with his family in 1964.
His first encounter with the martial arts was in 1965 when he joined the Judo Dojo of Sensei Ronnie van der Horn. The judo training did not last for too long because shortly after joining the dojo Ronnie van der Horn immigrated to Canada. Sensei Reggie then spent the following years playing club cricket until 1974.
In 1974 he started taking karate lessons with Sensei Harry Pieterkosky at the South African Gorei Karate (SAGK). Shortly after his First Kyu Brown Belt grading in 1976 he took over the instruction of the Kensington dojo of the SAGK. Sensei Reggie remained a loyal and dedicated student of Sensei Harry until November 1983 when he and his son, Sensei Andre Lincoln decided to break away from the SAGK and establish their own organisation.
The break away from the SAGK was purely a political decision based upon the current problems facing Apartheid South Africa at the time. He was well aware of the fact that karate was an art rather than a sport but we were competing at club level and a sports moratorium was imposed on South Africa and it was on that basis that Sensei Reggie agreed to support the struggle for non racialism and democracy and not compete outside of the boundaries of non racial sport.
For nine years Sensel Reggie and the newly formed Shorei Do Karate remained loyal to the anti apartheid struggle and never sought any international affiliation neither did they compete against karate dojo that were outside the boundaries of non racial sport.
In 1991 the dojo started looking for an authentic Okinawan Goju Ryu dojo to affiliate to. Given the popularity and the commercialisation that the martial arts had received through the movies many schools had opened overnight all over the world and even in Japan and Okinawa. This presented us with a problem of authenticity and therefore careful research was done by the dojo to select an organisation that was credible, that could prove direct lineage to the founder of Goju Ryu and that was affordable to us in South Africa.
In January 1992 Sensei Andre Lincoln was awarded a United Nations scholarship to do a course in Industrial Relations and Techniques in Japan. This gave him the opportunity to travel to Okinawa where he found the dojo of the world renowned Okinawa Goju Ryu master, MASANOBU SHINJO SENSEI.
In 1993 Sensei Reggie Lincoln led a delegation of students to train at the Shobukan head quarters in Okinawa. Sensei Reggie Lincoln and his students gained the admiration and respect of the Okinawan Masters.
Sensei Reggie Lincoln returned to Okinawa in 1995 for further training.
The OKINAWA KARATE DO GOJU RYU SHOBUKAN (S A) has also been a major role player in promoting the style of Goju Ryu in South Africa. It is a founder member of the SOUTH AFRICAN GOJU RYU KARATE FEDERATION.
The OKINAWA KARATE DO GOJU RYU SHOBUKAN (S A) is a founder member of the KARATE ASSOCIATION OF SOUTH AFRICA and it's members played an active and constructive role in unifying karate organisations in South Africa and getting South African karate back into the fold of the WORLD UNION OF KARATE ORGANISATIONS. It has since produced Provincial and National champions in most weight division since 1992.
Today the OKINAWA KARATE DO GOJU RYU SHOBUKAN (S A) is one of the leading styles in
South Africa and Sensei Reggie Lincoln is recognised as one of the most senior Goju Ryu authorities in the country.
OKINAWA KARATE DO GOJU RYU SHOBUKAN (S.A.) Has special classes for children from the age of four years. These classes have been specially designed by Sensei Reggie Lincoln and Sensei Andre Lincoln where the main focus is on self-discipline, co-ordination, self-confidence, respect and self defense. We believe that our children must enjoy their classes and therefore the training and discipline is not as rigid as with the adult classes. Children enjoy having fun and we provide that atmosphere in our classes.


Dates of Note
1851 Kanryo Higaonna, founder of Naha-Te, is born on March 10th.
1866 Kanryo Higaonna sails to Fukien province in China, where he studies Chinese martial arts under Ryu Ryuko.
1888 Chojun Miyagi, founder of Goju Ryu, is born on April 25th.
1890 Kanryo Higaonna introduces Naha-Te and a breathing exercise called Sanchin.
1896 Yoshio Itokazu is born on October 2nd.
1898 Seiko Higa, founder of Shodokan Goju Ryu and Chojun Miyagi's early successor, is born.
1902 Chojun Miyagi begins his training with Kanryo Higaonna.
1908 Choboku Takamine is born on March 24th.
1909 Gogen Yamaguchi, founder of Japanese Goju Ryu, is born on January 21st.
1912 Meitoku Yagi, founder of Meibukan Goju Ryu and Chojun Miyagi's later successor, is born on March 6th.
1915 Kanryo Higaonna dies on December 23rd. Chojun Miyagi travels to Foochow province in China and trains in several local styles.
1917 Chojun Miyagi returns to Okinawa. Seikichi Toguchi , the founder of Shoreikan Goju Ryu, is born on May 20th.
1922 Eiichi Miyazato, founder of Jundokan Goju Ryu, is born on July 5th.
1927 Seikichi Higa is born on February 10th.
1927-28 Chojun Miyagi founds Goju Ryu karate, also becoming the first to give his style a name other than that of the city from which it is practiced.
1928 Chojun Miyagi travels to Japan and teaches karate at universities.
1929 Gogen Yamaguchi invites Chojun Miyagi to Japan.
1930 Gogen Yamaguchi establishes Japanese Goju Ryu headquarters in Tokyo. Chojun Miyagi named Karate Division Chairman of the Okinawan Prefecture Athletic Association.
1931 An'ichi Miyagi is born on Feb. 9th.
1933 Anthony Mirakian is born on November 12th. Chuck Merriman is born on January 8th.
1934 Chojun Miyagi lectures and teaches karate in Hawaii. He also becomes a permanent officer of the Dai Nippon Butokukai (Great Japan Martial Virtues Association). Peter Urban is born on August 14th in Jersey City, New Jersey.
1935 All Japan Goju-Kai Karate-Do Association founded by Gogen Yamaguchi, who also originates jiyu-kumite (free sparring), the basis for sport karate as it is known today. Gosei Yamaguchi is born on January 15th in Kyoto.
1936 Chojun Miyagi receives a medal for "Excellence in the Martial Arts" from the Japanese Ministry of Education. He also travels to Shanghai and studies Chinese martial arts at the Seibu Dai Iku Kai (Great Gymnastic Association, Pure Martial Arts Spirit).
1937 Chojun Miyagi, along with other stylists, forms the Dai Nippon Butokukai Karate Jukkyoshi (Great Japan Martial Arts Karate Teachers Association). He also receives a Kyoshi degree from the Dai Nippon Butokukai.
1938 Masanobu Shinjo, founder of the Shobukan style, is born. Morio Higaonna, founder of the IOGKF, is born on December 25th.
1939 Gogen Yamaguchi is sent to Manchuria as an intelligence officer, where he is captured and held by the Russians.
1940 Chojun Miyagi creates the katas Gekisai Dai Ichi and Gekisai Dai Ni.
1944 Meitatsu Yagi is born in June.
1946 Chojun Miyagi was made an official of the Okinawa Minsei Taiiku Kan (Okinawa Democratic Athletic Association).
1947 Gogen Yamaguchi is freed by the Russians and returns to Japan.
1950 Gogen Yamaguchi founds the Karate-Do Goju-Kai in Tokyo.
1953 Chojun Miyagi dies on October 8th. Meitoku Yagi forms the Meibukan.
1955 Shikan Akimine (a student of Kanki Izumikawa) opens the first Goju Ryu dojo in Brazil. Seikichi Toguchi forms the Shoreikan.
1959 Peter Urban introduces Goju Ryu to the United States.
1960 Anthony Mirakian brings Okinawan Goju Ryu (Meibukan) to the United States.
1961 Lou Angel (a student of Peter Urban) leaves Brooklin and starts first Goju Ryu dojo in midwest, US at Tulsa.
1963 Meitoku Yagi receives Chojun Miyagi's karate gi and belt, becoming his official successor. Gosen Yamaguchi begins teaching Goju Ryu in San Francisco. Lou Angel travels to Japan to study with Gogen Yamaguchi at Goju-Kai Headquarters--Ueno,Japan.
1964 Gosei Yamaguchi joins his brother Goshi in San Francisco. Gogen Yamaguchi helps form the All Japan Karate-Do Federation.
1965 Frank Ruiz and Harry Rosenstein (students of Peter Urban) form the Nisei Goju System
1966 Peter Urban founds USA Goju. Seiko Higa dies.
1973 Ron Van Clief (a student of Peter Urban) forms Chinese Goju
1974 Harry Rosenstein forms Kanzen Goju Ryu
1979 Morio Higaonna forms the International Okinawan Goju Ryu Karate-Do Federation (IOGKF)
1987 Lou Angel forms Tenshi-Goju Kai, in Joplin, Mo.
1989 Gogen Yamaguchi dies on May 20th.
1991 Masafumi Suzuki dies on October 11th.
1993 Masanobu Shinjo dies on October 15th.
1998 Seikichi Toguchi dies on Aug. 31st.

__________________
Daniel W. "Gigagei Waya" McCullar, 4th Dan

Oooh, look the Korean stylist used Chinese
http://www.dragonslist.com/discussio...read-ever.html

Awesome dude!!!

Very nice!

Last year I read the book "Donbas" by Jacques Sandulescu. Prior to meeting and becoming close friends with Mas Oyama, Sandulescu escaped a Soviet gulag. "Donbas" is about that experience and is pretty gritty.

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"Pain can be a great teacher of compassion and humility."~ Unkotare-san

"Whatever the case, it proves that countless disasters can be prevented by simply assuming everyone you're working with is a moron." ~ Adam Brown, 5 Tiny Mistakes...

I have a lot of stuff, it is just a matter of sorting it out. Check out the Hung Gar info in the lounge.

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Daniel W. "Gigagei Waya" McCullar, 4th Dan

Oooh, look the Korean stylist used Chinese
http://www.dragonslist.com/discussio...read-ever.html

To understand the present art of Seidokan Motobu-Ryu of Okinawa, it is necessary to examine the history of Motobu-Ryu Bu-jutsu...the 13 generation old family art of the Royal Imperial Family of Okinawa.
Motobu-Ryu Bu-jutsu (for 12 generations) was known as Go-Ten-Te (palace hand) and was based upon the "secret" Te arts of the Motobu family. For 11 generations the system was passed down through the family to Choyu Motobu. The Motobu family line can be traced back to Prince Sho Koshin, the 6th son the Ryukyuan King Sho ****su who ruled from 1648 to 1699. Throughout the history of the Motobu art, only the first born male of each generation was permitted to study.
Choyu Motobu was the Te instructor to the last of the Ryukyuan kings, the young Sho Tai who lived from 1841 to 1901 and reigned from 1848 to 1879. It is stated that some years after the kings abolition, Motobu opened a dojo at Naha and in 1924 was instrumental in forming the Okinawa Tode Research Club. The group was originated for the purpose of discussion and development of Tode and other fighting arts. Among the members were such notables as Chojun Miyagi, Kenwa Mabuni, Kentsu Yabu, Chotoko Kyan, Chojo Oshiro, and Choyu's brother, Chokki Motobu*.

Choyu's first son died at an early age. It was therefore Choyu's wish that his second son, Chomo, would follow in the Motobu tradition and become the successor to the family Te system. Chomo however, was not interested and eventually entered other endeavors. Choyu found the 13th successor in the then 20 year old tea boy at the Okinawa Tode Research Club, Seikichi Uehara. Uehara was Chomo's friend and eventually his training partner. Chomo had to plead with his father to allow Uehara to practice. Uehara had studied under Choyu for more than seven years before Chomo left and eventually was taught the entire system. The Okinawa Tode Research Club folded three years after the death of Choyu Motobu in 1926. Interest in Motobu Te was kept alive by the on-going efforts of Uehara.
In 1947 Seikichi Uehara renamed the art of Go-Ten-Te to that of Motobu-Ryu in honor of his sensei. He organized demonstrations around Okinawa to keep the system alive, and by 1964 the style was known once again. In 1969 Motobu-Ryu Bu-jutsu was formed as a branch of the All Okinawa Karate and Kobudo Rengokai.
Motobu-Ryu Bu-jutsu is still, even today, a fairly unknown style. It has long been recognized as the "mystery" art of Okinawa and, until recently, it was taught only to Okinawans. Motobu-Ryu is the oldest Karate-Jutsu art of Okinawa and is based upon the principle of "relax the body and defeat your opponent with softness". In pure Motobu-Ryu there are no kata. Shian Toma, Headmaster of Seidokan Motobu-Ryu and one of the top dan degrees(9th Dan) of the pure Motobu-Ryu Bu-jutsu art, was given permission by Uehara to add kata and teach Motobu-Ryu to the western world.
The kata that Shian Toma added to Motobu-Ryu were those of Shorin-Ryu...since he was also a high level dan degree under Zenryo Shimabuku, one of Okinawa's leading Shorin-Ryu masters. Dr. Rod Sacharnoski (and his Juko-Kai federation) was selected to teach the Seidokan Motobu-Ryu art to the western world since he holds the rank of 8th Dan, Hanshi, in Seidokan Motobu-Ryu and is considered to be one of Shian Toma's top students.
Dr. Sacharnoski was first stationed in Okinawa in 1960 at Camp Courtney with the 3rd Marine Division, FMF, and wasted no time in earning his way into the Seidokan. In 1988, he was presented his 8th Dan in Karate, Kobudo and Toide, and was appointed as the International Director of the International Okinawan Martial Arts Union, Okinawa/Japan. Major Roy J. Hobbs, 8th Dan, Hanshi, was also selected to aide in teaching Seidokan Motobu-Ryu to the west.
Some additional points of interest are that Seidokan Motobu-Ryu consists of Karate, Kobu-jutsu (weapons) and Toide (grappling arts). It houses both bladed and non-bladed weapons with the system being designed for close-in combat. Seidokan Motobu-Ryu is not to be confused with the modern day sport Karate arts.
It is rationalized that Motobu-Ryu combines the finer points of the three most acclaimed Chinese boxing systems, having within it's guises the swift and straight-lined attacks of Hsing-I, the softness of Tai-Chi, and the ever changing circular defenses of Pa-Kua. The sole aim of Motobu-Ryu is self defense.
Motobu-Ryu contains the basic closed fist punch with quick, ballet-like foot movements. The toe kick is taught, and when punching the fists are kept to the front of the body and are snapped out with a strong forward momentum as the body moves towards the opponent. Many of the striking techniques are with the tip of the thumb to vital areas, although all parts of the body are utilized in actual combat.
Once the body has been struck or kicked, a Toide throw is effected. Toide can be likened to the Aiki-ju-jutsu arts of Japan, and contains elements of Ch'In-na, the Chinese grappling and twisting system. Grappling, combined with throws, make up a large part of the art. Weapon disarming is also stressed.
Seikichi Uehara is now the senior 10th Dan of all Okinawa, and as of 1993 is close to 90 years of age. An art such as Seidokan Motobu-ryu is indeed a fantastic art to study and earn gradings in...for not only is Motobu-Ryu the oldest Karate art of Okinawa, but it is one of the few Bu-jutsu systems left!
Juko-Kai USA serves as the Western headquarters for this tremendous style, a true samurai art. The closed division of Juko-Kai contains the entire Seidokan Motobu-Ryu art as represented by Shian Toma, Soke/10th Dan. When a student earns a rank in the closed Okinawan division of Juko-Kai, they have also earned a like grading in Seidokan Motobu-Ryu.

*Editors note: Since Choyu was the first born, Chokki was therefore not taught Motobu Te. Chokki went on to establish himself by learning fighting from every Karate teacher he thought had merit and then besting every opponent save one: his brother!

Seidokan Motobu-ryu of Okinawa,Japan




Okinawan Karate has a rich heritage and is an ongoing legacy passed from the masters of antiquity to the current generation of instructors. One of the leading masters who carries on the full and total martial arts traditions of Okinawa is Shian Toma. Born in 1929, he began the study of Karate at the age of sixteen. From that time on he dedicated his life to the Okinawan martial arts.
When Toma first started training, Karate was not so definitively divided into completely distinct styles. Rather all Karate teachers were friends, with curriculum not caste in stone, but flexible, allowing creativity in the training program. Kata were still in the period of flux, when many teachers taught only one and most only taught a few.
On Okinawa he began his study with Shinato Sokishi, a student of Chojun Miyagi and Tatsuo Shimabuku. Sokishi only taught four Kata, which he had learned from his Goju Ryu instructor, Chojun Miyagi, but trained his students on them religiously. To this day Shian Toma maintains strict standards of Kata performance for his students, because of his original training from Shinjato Sokishi.
Later in his Karate development, Toma had the privilege of studying under Zenryo Shimabuku and Shigeru Nakamura, leaders of the concept of Okinawan full contact sparring in armor, and the masters of Shorinji Ryu (currently known as Chubu Shorin Ryu) and Okinawan Kempo Kai, respectively. Especially from Shimabuku, he learned the Kata of the Shorin branch, which he teaches today.
Shian Toma was a dedicated Karate practitioner, but he sought to understand the greater depths of the Okinawan martial arts, which he achieved by seeking instruction in the oldest extant art on the island. This was achieved when he began training with Seikichi Uehara in 1968. Uehara teaches the system named Motobu Ryu Kobujutsu.

Motobu Ryu Kobujutsu is the art founded by Uehara in 1947. It preserves the ancient art of the Motobu family which is also known as Gotente. The art was founded in the seventeenth century, by Sho Koshin, the sixth son of Okinawan king Sho ****su. Having learned his family’s martial art, and not being the eldest son, Sho ****su changed his name to Chohe Motobu and established his own family. He created his own particular martial art, which he called Gotente, and passed it on to only his eldest son, instructing him to do the same.
Thus Gotente was passed on from father to eldest son until modern times, when Chosho Motobu taught his eldest son Choyo Motobu. This was at the beginning of the modern era, so that the feudal age was over and the restriction to teach only the eldest son was over. Choyu Motobu accepted Seikichi Uehara as his student, hoping that it would encourage his son Chomo to train. Uehara and Chomo, whose name of youth was Toraju, were close friends, thus Seikichi was allowed to learn the complete, heretofore secret, system. While Choyu Motobu founded the Okinawan Karate Kenkyu Kai, ‘research society’, where he trained many of the leading martial arts masters of the day, it was only to Seikichi Uehara that he taught the entire system.
When Choyu died in 1926, and Chomo refused to learn the system, and then passed on himself, it left Seikichi Uehara as the last master of Motobu Gotente. What is considered by many the main principle of Gotente, and what separates it from modern Karate, is Toide. Thus the secret is the ‘taking hand’ skill, which is very similar to Aikijujutsu, but with a unique Okinawan application. The main emphasis is on Bunkai, which translates ‘analysis’ or ‘analyzation’, and refers to the interpretation of movement, which leads to typical Karate techniques having concealed within them aspects of body manipulation. This is why the throwing techniques of Toide are nearly limitless.

Motobu Ryu Kobujutsu, as taught by Seikichi Uehara to Shian Toma, includes not only the Toide, but the familiar striking art, which is practiced in the ancient manner without prearranged forms. Also taught are the full range of weaponry*, contained in the Motobu Ryu curriculum, which includes; Katana, Wakizashi, Nicho Tanbo, Yari, Naginata, Rokushaku Bo, Goshaku Bo, Uchi Bo, Jo, Nunchaku, Tonfa, Kai, Sai, Choto, and Tanto.
Out of respect for his original teachers, Shian Toma requested permission from Uehara, to add the practice of prearranged Kata to his martial arts. While Uehara maintains the purity of the Motobu family art, he does allow outlying schools to incorporate the formal Kata into their individual schools. Shian Toma calls his school and system of martial arts Seidokan. He teaches a curriculum which includes Shorin Ryu Kata and most especially Motobu Ryu Kobujutsu, which includes Toide, ancient striking skills, and ancient weaponry.
Shian Toma is the recognized Soke of Seidokan Karate, Toide, and Kobudo. All abilities, whether of the ancient warrior skills, the empty hand fighting techniques, or the weapon methods, are required to be of a high level of proficiency for any grading, but most especially in regard to master level.
Dr. Rod Sacharnoski has earned Shihan gradings in all of the aspects of Seidokan martial arts. He has kept close contact with Shian Toma, who serves as his personal instructor, so that he has traveled to Okinawa to train with him, as well as brought the great Seidokan master to the United States for personal training, and the instruction of Juko Kai students As of this writing, Dr. Rod Sacharnoski has earned Hachidan, eighth degree black belt in the Seidokan martial arts system, and serves as the international representative of Seidokan to the West.
Rod Sacharnoski is the first Occidental master to receive the rank of Judan, tenth degree black belt, and be recognized as a Soke headmaster of his own martial arts system, Juko-Ryu Bujutsu, directly from Japan and Okinawa. Juko-Ryu is the sum of his knowledge and experience, which spans the years from when he started training in 1951 until now. Juko Kai Kokusai Renmei is one of the largest martial arts unions in the world. It houses not only Juko-Ryu and Seidokan, but also the systems of Dai Yoshin-Ryu, Nihon-Ryu and Shinjo-Ryu. Among the arts taught within Juko Kai are; Aikido, Aikijujutsu, Judo, Karate, Kempo, Kenjutsu (Iaijutsu), Kobujutsu, and Toide.

*Editors note: Some speculate that close ties to the royal family initially spawned the use of such costly, non-plebeian weapons. These same ties later protected the weapons very existence and practice by the Motobu family during Japanese occupation when others had their weapons confiscated.

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Daniel W. "Gigagei Waya" McCullar, 4th Dan

Oooh, look the Korean stylist used Chinese
http://www.dragonslist.com/discussio...read-ever.html

this is great stuff h@p

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"...any theory that satisfies the facts demands assumptions which are completely absurd."

Aleister Crowley