History of Shito-Ryu
The World Budo Alliance proudly presents the History of Shito-Ryu as part of our Preservation of the History of Martial Arts program.
Karate-do has a rich and colorful history. And In popular culture it has been portrayed as a tough, rough and direct martial art. And is characterized by the white uniform and the legendary ‘black belt’.
While all of these might be true characteristics of most Karate styles, there is much more to discover about its history. Also its roots in ancient oriental culture and thought.
Most of all to properly understand its origins, it is important to look at Karate in a broader context. Much of what we now call ‘Karate’ or ‘Empty Hand’ came from China. Some time in the mid 1300's the Ryukyu, a chain of islands lying between China and southern Japan And would became a centre for trade and commerce.
Known as Okinawa today, these islands developed a distinct culture. Thus caught between the political and cultural trade routes of various cultures and peoples. Trade and intellectual life were primarily driven by the Chinese. However, until Japan took control in 1609 under the Shimazu clan and finally annexed it in 1875.
History of Shito-Ryu
And it was in this confluence that Karate and later Shito-ryu Karate were born. While Japanese culture and political influence remained paramount. Thus the old traditions were always in the background. And Chinese masters continued to travel to Okinawa on business, leaving behind a deep and significant tradition in the martial arts.
Known among Okinawans as ‘Te’, or ‘Chinese Fist’, masters would secretly pass their knowledge from generation to generation. Therefore perhaps in large part because Chinese culture and influence were not germane to the politics of mainland Japan.
By the 1800's, three distinct but closely related styles could be discerned in each of the main towns in Okinawa. These are Shuri (the old capital), Naha (the modern capital) and Tomari. And in truth, while each style or group was centered around one or two prominent teachers who would have their inevitable differences. And they were rooted in similar traditions and influences and certainly knew each other very well. All three towns were within a five kilometre radius of one another!
Kenwa Mabuni – Founder of Shito-Ryu
Thus any history of Shitoryu Karate, however, must begin and end with its founder, Kenwa Mabuni. Born in Shuri on Okinawa in 1893, Mabuni Sensei was a descendant of the famous Onigusukini Samurai family. Most of all perhaps because of his weak constitution, he began his instruction in his home town in the art of Shuri-Te at the age of 13. And this was under the tutelage of the legendary AnkohYasutsune Itosu (1813-1915).
Hence he trained diligently for several years. Thus learning many kata from this great Master. It was Itosu who first developed the Pinan kata, which were most probably derived from the ‘Kusanku’ form.
And importantly one of his close friends, Sensei Chogun Miyagi (founder of Goju-ryu) introduced Mabuni toItosu another great of that period, Sensei Kanryo Higashionna. And began to learn Naha-Te under him as well.
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While both Itosu and Higashionna taught a ‘hard-soft’ style of Okinawan ‘Te’, their methods and emphases were quite distinct. The Itosu syllabus included straight and powerful techniques as exemplified in the Naifanchi and Bassai kata.
The Higashionna syllabus on the other hand, stressed circular motion. Also shorter fighting methods as seen in the popular Seipai and Kururunfa forms. These were the two main influences on the development of Mabuni Sensei and what he would later call Shito-ryu. In fact, he derived the name for his new style from the first Kanji character in their names, Itosu and Higashionna.
History of Shito-Ryu
Although he remained true to the teachings of these two great masters, Mabuni sought instruction from a number of masters. And including Seisho Aragaki, Tawada Shimboku, Sueyoshi Jino and Wu Xianhui (a Chinese master known as Go-Kenki).
In fact, Mabuni was legendary for his encyclopedic knowledge of kata and their Bunkai applications. By the 1920's, he was regarded as the foremost authority on Okinawan kata. And also their history. Therefore he was much sought after as a teacher by his contemporaries.
And there is even some evidence that his expertise was sought out in China. This was as well as Okinawa and mainland Japan. Also as a police officer, he taught local law enforcement officers. And at the behest of his teacher Itosu, he began giving instruction in the various grammar schools in Shuri and Naha.
Thereby in an effort to popularize Karate in mainland Japan, Mabuni made several trips to Tokyo in 1917 and 1928. Important to note much that was known as ‘Te’ (Chinese Fist) or Karate had been passed down through many generations with jealous secrecy.
And it was his view that it should be taught to anyone who sought knowledge with honesty and integrity. In fact, many masters of his generation held similar views on the future of Karate. Sensei Gichin Funakoshi (founder of Shotokan), another contemporary, had moved to Tokyo in the 1920's to promote their art on the mainland as well.
And by 1929, Mabuni had moved to Osaka on the mainland, to become a full-time Karate instructor. With the support of Sensei Ryusho Sakagami (1915-1993), he opened a number of dojo in the Osaka area. Also including Kansai University and the Japan Karatedo Kai dojo. To this day, the largest contingent of Shito-ryu practitioners in Japan is centered in the Osaka area.
Kenwa Mabuni
In an effort to gain acceptance in the Japanese Butokukai. Which is the governing body for all officially recognized martial arts, he and his contemporaries decided to call their art ‘Karate’ or ‘Empty Hand’. Rather than ‘Chinese Hand’. Therefore he published a number of books on the subject and continued to systematize the instruction method.
Thus in his latter years, he developed a number of formal kata, such as Aoyagi, for example. Of which was designed specifically for women’s self defense. And perhaps more than any other Master in the last century, Mabuni was steeped in the traditions and history of Karate-do. And yet forward thinking enough to realize that it could spread Katate throughout the world.
Therefore many groups follow the tradition of Mabuni’s teachings through Grand Master Seiko Suzuki. Who was born in Chiba-ken Japan in 1936.
Thus Seiko Suzuki began his career in Karatedo in 1954 under the tutelage of Ryusho Sakagami. And while Sakagami Sensei had many good students in Osaka, Yokohama and Tokyo, Suzuki Sensei was certainly considered one of the best. Most of all he was renowned for his technical knowledge and his ability to grasp new techniques. And teach the concepts very quickly. Above all, he became known for his smooth and powerful technique. He often performed kata for Sakagami Sensei at demonstrations and workshops.
After Sakagami’s passing in 1993, Suzuki Sensei decided to found his own style. Which he called the Suzuki-ha Shito-ryu Nihon Karatedo Seiko-kai. Headquartered were located in Japan. And there are Seiko-kai dojo in Canada and the United States, Venezuela and Argentina, as well as Ghana, India, Sri Lanka, Nepal and the Philippines.
In Conclusion
The History of Shito-Ryu is very rich and seems to be well documented. Sadly there is little information about many of the martial artists listed here.
Researched by Sensei Kara Borshuk
Edited by Grand Master Art Mason