Sokon “Bushi” Matsumura: 1809-1901

 

Master Matsumura was a true Karate pioneer born in Shuri, Okinawa.  He started training in TODE (Chinese hand) under Master Sakugawa after a promise to Sokon’s father to take him in when he was a boy.  It was Master Sakugawa who started calling him BUSHI (warrior).   He traveled to China to study Chinese Kempo which he brought back to Okinawa to blend with Okinawan fighting techniques creating Shuri-te.  He was the head bodyguard for the Royal Okinawan family and Chief of the Military for three generations of kings. Bushi Matsumura was very instrumental in the development of “linear karate” as we know it today.  He passed on the teachings of Sakugawa’s TODE and Chinese Kempo. He developed the katas Seisan, Passai Dai, Naifanchi Shodan, and Chinto. He trained a number of top men who would take karate into the modern era.

Leave a Reply

US Branch of Japan Keishinkan Karate