"Chubu" Shorin Ryu

Shorin Ryu is one of the Karate styles emerging from the district of Shuri Okinawa. Developing from the Northern Shaolin Kung Fu and local martial influences, Shorin Ryu has come to encompass many schools of widely varying styles, depending on the teacher and the influences from outside the traditional Matsumura line.

The formally accepted line for all Shorin Ryu schools flows from the same foundation lineage, and begins with instruction from Peichin Takahara (1683 - 1760-6) and Kusanku (?1700's - 1762?) a Chinese envoy who taught, Kanga "Tode" Sakugawa (1733 - 1815) . It was Sakugawa who combined the essence of Te and Chinese Boxing principles into his art and it became known as Tode (China Hand). Sakugawa passed his knowledge down to his son Kangi Sakugawa and Choken Makabe, who in turn taught the Tode art to Bushi Matsumura (1798-1890). Matsumura, who believed that speed is the key to power is considered founder of the use of hip rotation with techniques, which is used today in many karate styles.

Karate is a living art form and this is confirmed in the Shorin Ryu tradition with the schools that have developed since the time of Bushi Matsumura with the maturing methods or variances' that have formalized into Kobayashi, Shobayashi, Matsubayashi, Sukunai Hayashi (The style associated with Chotoku Kyan), Matsumura Seito (Fuse Kise), Seidokan, and Seibukan (now headed by Zenryo Shimabuku's son Zempo) to name a few. They are all Shorin ryu.

Another important figure is that of Yasutsune "Ankoh" Itosu (1830-1915). Itosu, a major student of Matsumura and innovator of Kata was first to teach in the local school system. The Itosu influence had a direct impact on many future styles, including the future formation of those Ryu mentioned above through his students, (Chotoku Kyan 1870 -1945 being one).

Spirit First Martial Arts follows the teaching of Chotoku Kyan who was a student of Bushi Matsumura and Itosu and he past down this heritage to many students including Zenryo Shimabukuro (1908-1969). It is through these two masters that Spirit First MA follows the Okinawan arts of Karate and the Chubu Shorin Ryu tradition.