Lineage List

 

The history of the naihanchi kata is that of karate itself.  The Naihanchi Shodan kata is considered to be a kata of the Shuri Te lineage of karate.  Shungo Sakagawa is considered to be the first true practitioner of karate, particularly Shuri Te.  His art was a mixture of Shuri Te, the native Okinawan fighting art, and Chinese Kempo.  Shungo Sakagawa was a student of a Chinese military envoy Kusanku.  After training with Kusanku, Sakagawa also became known as Tode Sakagawa, Tode
referring to Chinese Kempo.

Shungo Sakagawa became the teacher of Soken Matsumura. SokenMatsumura became a well known and highly skilled martial artist.  So revered for his skill was Matsumura that he served as the personal bodyguard for the 17th, 18th and 19th Kings of the Okinawan Islands and as the Chief Martial Arts Instructor as well. Matsumura was also called Bushi Matsumura. Bushi meaning warrior.

Matsumura studied with other martial of the day as well.  This included Chinto, Iwah & Wai Shin Zan all Chinese martial artist living on Okinawa.  Matsumura also  travelled to China and studied martial arts in the city of Foochow, in the Fukien province.  It is from here he brought back the Naihanchi Shodan kata which is believed to be from the Shouting White Crane style of Kung Fu.

Soken Matsumura passed on the Naihanchi Shodan kata to his grandson Nabe Matsumura and Chomo Hanishiro. Although Nabe Matsumura was probably the major teacher of Hanishiro.  Nabe was also later known as Old Man Nabe.

Chomo Hanishiro then passed the Naihanchi Shodan kata to his student Shigeru Nakamura.  Nakamura was founder of the Okinawan Kempo Association.  It was while studying with
Nakamura that Taika Seiyu Oyata learned this kata.

The Naihanchi Shodan kata was then passed from Taika Oyata to Dr. John Shaw and then to Livingston Shihan.

 

 

 

Okinawan's formidable array of Kobudo weapons complements there array of empty-hand techniques.

                KOBUDO

Bo Staff                                                                               The bo is a wooden staff 5 to 6 Feet long.  The
width of the bo tapers from about 1 inch In
diameter at the center to about 3/4 inches at each end.  The length of the bo is usually made to fit the user; however, the average length is 6 Feet.  The bo is manipulated with both hands and is used to smash, slash, poke and entrap.  The length of the bo makes it one of the most effective weapons.

Jo Staff

The jo is wooden staff 50 inches In length and tapering like a bo.  Sometimes a jo has a reverse taper, being larger at both ends. The jo is normally manipulated with both hands; however, it is sometimes used with one with one hand.  The jo is a close quarters combat weapon, where a bo may be too long.

Tanbo

The tan bo are 2 sticks about 24 inches long and 1 to 1 1/4 inches In diameter.  Normally used In pairs, but useful as a single weapon, the tan bo has many applications today, especially In Police work.  The single tan bo is similar to the police baton.  The tan bo can be used to strike, poke, and entrap.

Tonfa

The tonfa, used In pairs, are wooden
weapons 18 to 24 inches long.  Handles
mounted about 4 inches from the end allow
the tonfa to spin, extending the length and
adding momentum to the strike.  The shape
of the tonfa varies from round, half-round,
square or a combination.  The tonfa can be
reversed so that the handles can be used to
strike or hook.

Nunchaku

The nunchaku are  two sticks, usually hexagon In shape, tied together with rope at one end. The nunchaku is used as a flail or the two sticks, one In each hand, can be used to entrap and entangle limbs and weapons. The nunchaku is usually 12 to 14 inches long.

Kama

The kama is a steel bladed weapon that is used
In pairs.  The blade is 6 to 8 inches long and the oval shaped handle is 12 to 18 inches long.  The handle is used for blocking and poking and the blade to cut.  The kama is normally held with the blade away from the user, but can be flipped so that the handles are forward.

Sai

The sai is a metal weapon 18 to 24 inches long.  Protruding above the handle are prongs used trap the hands or weapon of the attacker.  The sai is manipulated by flipping from the handle to the point.  It is used to poke, Punch, strike and trap.

Manji Sai             

The manji sai is a metal weapon much
like the sai, except that prongs Face In
opposite directions and the handle is also pointed.  The manji sai is used In much the same way as the sai.

Chizi Kun Bo

The chizi kun bo are two small sticks
about 6 inches long and 1/2 inch In
diameter.  They are held In each hand
with a string that is attached to the middle
finger.  Being a small weapon, it is used to
enhance striking techniques and tuite
techniques.

Eku 

The Eku is simply a boat oar.  The length of
the eiku is about 5 Feet and about 1/2 of its
length is flattened to form the paddle surface.  The eiku is manipulated similar to the bo that
the flat surface can be used to slash much like
a bladed weapon.

Nunte Bo

The nunte bo is simply a bo with a manji
sai attached to one end.  It is manipulated In much the same manner as the bo, except that only the manji sai end is used. The manji sai allows stabbing and hooking with the point and prongs

                         Dojo Kuns

Strive for a good moral character.

Keep an honest and sincere way.

Cultivate perseverance or a will for striving.

Develop a respectful attitude.

Restrain my physical ability through spiritual attainment.

 

        

 Meet Our Instructors

 

    
         

               

                  GiShin Kan                  

Ronald Livingston "Shihan"

  37 years Western Boxing ,  2Yrs Wrestling,           27 yrs  Okinawan Te  -  Livingston Shihan and Stanley Sensei

                 Stanley Sensei

 

12 years Shorei-Ryu, 3 years jujitsu, 4 years Okinawan Te Stanley Sensei and Shihan

 

Payne Sensei

                        


  

              4 years China-te    

      5 years Okinawan Te 

      Shihan and Payne Sensei

     Payne and Stanley Sensei

Nakamura,                         Okinawan Kempo   Karate Dojo, Feb.15, 1964