Official Karate Style SHORIN RYU
History:
Choshin Chibana was a prominent student of Anko Itosu, a highly regarded master of Shuri-te.Itosu himself was a leading disciple of Matsumura Sōkon, a celebrated Okinawan warrior who served as a bodyguard to three Okinawan kings. Revered as the "Miyamoto Musashi of Okinawa," Matsumura was bestowed the title "bushi," or warrior, by his monarch.
While often credited as a key figure in the development of Shuri-te, Matsumura did not originate all of its elements. Instead, he synthesized his understanding of indigenous Okinawan martial arts with Chinese fighting methods acquired during his travels, establishing a cohesive system taught to dedicated students. These students further refined and transmitted his teachings.
In 1933, Chibana formally named his lineage Shorin-Ryū, a designation chosen to honor its Chinese Shaolin origins and to distinguish it from other styles evolving from Anko Itosu's original instruction. Notably, prior to this period, the naming of distinct martial arts styles was not customary in Okinawa, unlike in Japan. Shorin-Ryū, translating to "small forest" (from the Japanese pronunciation of the Chinese "Shaolin," with "Ryu" meaning "association"), reflects the significant Chinese influence inherent in the art. However, this naming also served to denote its distinct evolution from Shorin Chuanfa.
Shorin karate emphasized and refined linear movements and strikes, such as the oi tsuki, contributing to its enhanced effectiveness and power compared to contemporary Shaolin methods.
The superiority of this approach was demonstrated through the dominance of Matsumura and his Karateka contemporaries in individual challenges against visiting Chuan fa and Tori-Te practitioners, among others.
The superiority of this approach was demonstrated through the dominance of Matsumura and his Karateka contemporaries in individual challenges against visiting Chuan fa and Tori-Te practitioners, among others.