Origins Of Okinawan Karate
The origins of
Okinawan karate date back to the 18th and 19th
century. Literally meaning "Chinese hand or
empty hand", karate became the accepted term for
the empty-handed system of self-defense of
Okinawa. Prior
to that time period, it is believed that when
Okinawa was invaded by Japan
(they two were independent countries) there may
have been a ban on all weapons, and confiscation
of all the Okinawans? weapons. Without any
weapons to defend themselves, the Okinawans
practiced empty-handed self-defense techniques
in order to defend themselves from the armed
Japanese invaders. The self-defense system they
developed was called te, and over time
evolved into a more sophisticated form of
martial arts which is known as
karate.
On the main island of
Okinawa, karate
developed in three major cities: Shuri,
Naha, and
Tomari, which are all located within a few miles
of each other. The early styles of karate were
named after the cities where it was practiced;
Shuri-te, Naha-te, and Tomari-te. Shorin-Ryu
Shorinkan is a small branch which evolved from
the Shuri-te system of fighting.
Development of Shorin-ryu
Karate
One of the most influential karate practitioners was Ankoh
Itosu (1830-1915). Born in Shuri, Okinawa he taught karate
in the public school systems. He felt that some
of the kata or techniques were too difficult for
school children to learn, so he developed a
simplified series of katas in order to improve
the teaching of karate in a public school
setting. He also was the instructor of Chosin
Chibana.
 Chosin
Chibana (1885-1969) started his martial
arts career when he was fifteen years old. When
he began to teach, he wanted to be able to
differentiate the various styles which developed
within the Shorin-ryu system. Rather than naming
his style after himself, which was the popular
practice, he called his style
kobayashi-ryu or young forest style. He
opened his first school in 1917, and was the
karate instructor for the Shuri police
department from 1954 to 1958. Chibana?s top
student was Shugoro Nakazato
 Shugoro
Nakazato (1920- ) has been involved in
martial arts nearly his entire life. He began to
study judo at age thirteen and started his
karate instruction under Chosin Chibana in 1933.
After twenty years of training under Chibana,
Nakazato was promoted to ninth dan or
ninth degree black belt. Chibana also presented
Nakazato with his own black belt, which is one
of the greatest honors. Upon Chibana?s death in
1969, Nakazato became president on the
Shorin-ryu Shorinkan Karate association and was
promoted to tenth dan in 1980.
| 
