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SHITO-RYU
KARATE-DO
SOKE
KENWA MABUNI
Founder, Shito Ryu
Karate-do
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Shito-Ryu
is one of the four major Japanese
styles of karate in the world.
It originated on the Island of
Okinawa.
In ancient times, the art of
Karate could not be practiced openly,
so
those who chose to practice the
art did so secretly, hidden from
public
view. Lacking formal names, people
sometimes referred to the various
schools of Karate by putting
the names of Grand Masters and
the Katas
(forms) together thus creating
a label for the particular
school.
Sometimes
karate schools were known by their
districts. The three Meccas or
most famous centers
for Karate on Okinawa were Shuri,
Naha, and Tomari. One of the most
famous
Grand Masters in Shuri was Master
Itosu. In
Naha, it was Master Higaonna. These
two men were the highest Karate
authorities of their time. There
were however,
significant
differences between them. Mr. Itosu
emphasized speed where as Mr. Higaonna
placed more
emphasis on power. The Originator
of Shito-Ryu, Grand Master Kenwa
Mabuni
initially practiced under Mr. Itosu
and then went on to study under
Mr. Higaonna.
Mr. Mabuni was not only skilled
in Karate, but also practiced weaponry
such as Bo,
Sai, Tonfa, Kama and Nunchaku.
Mr.
Mabuni founded his new style of
Karate by blending
together the names of his two great
teachers and the Japanese characters
that represent
them.
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The
first character representing Itosu
is pronounced SHI (SHE) and the
first character representing Higaonna
is pronounced TO (TOW). The combination
of the two names forms the karate
style now known throughout the
world as SHITO-RYU (RYU means style).
The same idea of combining Japanese
characters is true of the term "Karate-do" itself. "Karate-do" is:
kara = "empty” - te
= “hand” - do = “way" (he
empty hand way).
Karate
tournaments did not appear in Japan
until the middle of the 1950's. Until
then, Karate techniques were thought
to be too dangerous to practice as
a sport. Small tournaments however,
allowed basics, katas and one and
three-step sparring. By limiting
the techniques allowed and by introducing
a scoring system, large tournaments
became a possibility and sport karate
was introduced in Japan, and throughout
the World. Currently, the USA National
Karate-do Federation (USA-NKF) is
the national governing body for sport
karate in America and the only karate
federation recognized by the US Olympic
Committee. The rules of international
karate competition are formulated
for use in the most prestigious tournaments
in the world, by the World Karate
Federation (WKF). |
SOKE TERUO HAYASHI
Grandmaster,
Hayashi Ha Shito Ryu Kai
Soke Teruo Hayashi
is the founder and Grandmaster of Hayashi-Ha
Shito-Ryu Kai and Kenshin Ryu Kobudo.
Soke Hayashi studied under the great
master, Kosei Kuniba, a chief disciple
of Shito-Ryu's founder, Kenwa Mabuni.
Grandmaster Hayashi studied briefly
with Master Mabuni, but his daily instruction
came from Master Kuniba. Hayashi became
famous for his practice of traveling
throughout Japan and challenging black
belts to kumite matches in their dojos.
Grandmaster Hayashi became an excellent
fighter through this experience. Many
dojos refused his challenges outright
and would not let him in. There were
some, however, that accepted. If Hayashi
was beaten at one of these schools,
he would stay and ask for training.
It was in this way that Grandmaster
Hayashi sought knowledge, and gained
respect from the Okinawans. His primary
teachers in Okinawa were Shoshin Nagamine
and Kenko Nakaima. From Nagamine he
learned both the Shuri and Tomari lineages
of kata. These kata emphasize long
linear stances and quick motion between
stances. It was from this Sensei that
Hayashi learned the white crane form,
Hakkaku.
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From
Sensei Nakaima, Hayashi learned a
family art called Ryuei-Ryu. This
style is
a southern tiger style imported from
China four generations prior to Hayashi's
arrival in Okinawa. After a year
of proving himself to Sensei Nakaima,
Hayashi was the first non-family
member
allowed to study the style. Hayashi
incorporates much of Ryuei-Ryu's
theory into his own system. Upon
returning
to Japan, Hayashi continued his study
with Kosei Kuniba. Hayashi was Kuniba's
number one student.
Before Master Kuniba passed away, he asked Hayashi to run his organization
until his young son, Shogo, reached
a level of maturity to assume leadership.
Honoring
his Sensei's wishes, Hayashi became President of the Seishin-Kai. He served
until 1970 when he relinquished his
leadership to the style's rightful
heir, Shogo
Kuniba. Teruo Hayashi then incorporated his knowledge and experience into the
style he founded, Hayashi-Ha Shito-Ryu. Grandmaster Hayashi actively taught
seminars in the many countries where
his style is represented, and his
students have repeatedly
won national and international titles in the most prestigious tournament competitions
in the world. |
SOKE YOSHIMI
INOUE
Grandmaster,
INOUE HA SHITO RYU KEISHIN KAI
Grandmaster
Yoshimi Inoue was born in Tottori,
Japan on September 27, 1946. He began
his karate-do training in the Shito
Ryu system at the Tottori University
at age 16. At age 18, Soke Inoue
traveled to Osaka to live with the
late Grandmaster Teruo Hayashi and
to train under his guidance and become
an instructor. Upon his return to
Tottori, Grandmaster Inoue began
his own karate program in the Hayashi
Ha Shito Ryu style, and remained
loyal to the Hayashi Ha Shito Ryu
Kai name throughout the lifetime
of Soke Teruo Hayashi. With great
respect for his illustrious master
and his teachings, and as an integral
part of the evolution of great karate
masters, Soke Inoue began his own
style of karate-do, Inoue Ha Shito
Ryu Keishin Kai. He is one of the
most sought after karate competition
coaches in the world and has trained
15 world champions from a variety
of karate styles. His dojo is home
to the 3-time world champion kata
gold medalist, Sensei Mie Nakayama,
one of the most highly accomplished
female karate competitors in the
world. Grandmaster Inoue, 8th Dan,
is a Senior Coach of the Japan National
Karate Competition Team and serves
on the Japan Karate Federation Board
of Examiners.
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SHIHAN
CARLOS QUINTERO
Regional Director, INOUE HA SHITO
RYU KEISHIN KAI
Shihan
Carlos Quintero is a 7th Degree
Black Belt in INOUE HA SHITO
RYU KEISHIN KAI. He began
his karate career in Venezuela
and is a six-time Venezuelan
National Champion, three-time
U.S.A. National Individual
Kumite (Sparring) Champion,
and member of the 2004 USA-NKF
Gold Medalist Florida Karate
Team. He owns the Classic
Karate Family Fitness Centers
in two locations, and serves
as Director of the Kobushi
Dojos, which consists of Inoue
Ha Shito Ryu Keishin Kai Schools.
He presides over rank promotions
and advanced instructor training
programs for all five dojos.
Shihan Quintero is the Head
Coach of the Kobushi Florida
Karate Competition Team which
has overwhelmingly won state,
regional, national and international
recognition through its participation
in U.S.A. National Karate-do
Federation events. Shihan
Quintero served as Co-Host
of the 2006 USA-National Karate-do
Federation National Championships
and USA National Team Trials
in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. |
SENSEI STAFF
KOBUSHI DOJOS
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Martial
Art History