Matsumura Seito Shorin Ryu
Soken "Bushi" Matsumura (1797-1889) was one of the most renowned martial artists of his time and is considered the founder of the Shorin-Ryu Karate tradition. Bushi Matsumura passed his Menkyo Kaiden (certificate of full proficiency) to his grandson Nabe Matsumura prior his death. Nabe held the family White Crane secrets and only had one student in Hohan Soken, his nephew, who received his Menkyo Kaiden. It was after the 1950's that Hohan Soken began calling his style Matsumura Seito (orthodox) Shorin Ryu. One of Soken's student, Sensei Kise has, over the years, taught many US servicemen while they were stationed in Okinawa and these karateka returned with the art to the West.
Matsumura Seito is a traditional style of White Crane Karate using a more upright stance and incorporating a whipping speed to techniques. It is felt that the upright stances allow the fighter to move faster than from the lower power stances. The Kata Matsumura brought back with him from China and others added by Hohan Soken make up the core of the Kata used in all Shorin Ryu styles. It is noted that variations of these same Kata have developed and are used in most styles of Shorin Ryu and can be easily recognized.
