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Shorin-Ryu
Matsumura
Seito
(Orthodox)
is one
of the
oldest
Okinawan
styles
to be
formally
organized
into a “ryu”,
or
system
to be
handed
down. As
head
bodyguard
and
martial
arts
instructor
to King
Sho Tai,
Sokon
“Bushi”
Matsumura
developed
the
system
in the
early
1800s.
He based
the
style on
the
teachings
of
“Tode”
Sakugawa,
and the
Hakutsuru
(White
Crane)
techniques
he
learned
during
his stay
at the
Shaolin
Temple
in
China.
He had
many
students,
but
reserved
much of
his
teachings
for his
grandson
Nabe
Matsumura.
Nabe in
turn
taught
these
secrets
to his
nephew
Hohan
Soken,
who
passed
them on
to Grand
Master
Kise. As
a
result,
Hanshi
Kise is
the
first
person
not of
the
Matsumura
family
to
receive
the
Menkyo
Kaiden
(certificate
of full
proficiency)
of
Matsumura
Seito.
Because
Hohan
Soken
spent
several
years in
Argentina
and
avoided
the
popular
migration
from
traditional
karate
to
sports
oriented
training,
the
techniques
he
taught
remained
pure.
We do
not use
the low
stances
and
exaggerated
motions
popular
in
sports
styles,
instead
keeping
the
shallow,
upright
stances
and
conservation
of
motion
and
effort
that
made
Bushi
Matsumura’s
style so
effective
in his
duties
protecting
the
King.
Our
kicks
are
generally
kept at
belt
level or
lower,
and our
hand
techniques
are very
quick
and
focused
on
specific
vulnerable
targets
and
pressure
points.
Because
our
stances
are more
natural
and
comfortable,
we are
able to
kick
quickly
with
either
leg, and
to
employ
“body
change”
– a
method
of
stepping
and
angling
that
maximizes
our
ability
to hit
an
opponent’s
targets
while
keeping
our own
targets
protected. |
