Isshin - Concentration the Art

Tuesday, February 3, 2026

SunNuSu (Sunsu) Kata – a derivative analysis

This analysis is only what I see, not necessarily as other would see it.

I don’t see these videos as end points, rather glimpses of stages where they were at that time.

As kata SunNuSu (Sunsu) as the creation of Shimabuku Tatsuo

I am going to show kata which inspired sections of his creation.

Some are from his Isshinryu, meaning studies with Kyan and Motobu. As he was a senior to Nakazato Joen, I am going to use the Shiornji Ryu kata for the Kyan example of Patsai For the Gojushiho I am going to show the Nakama Haruku version, his instructor was also a student of Kuan.

For the opening he began with his own version of Sanchin.

The next session came from the Kyan form Patsai.

Patsai Shorinji

Gojushiho

Haruku Nakama demonstrates the kata he learned from Okuhara Bunei student of Chotoku Kyan.

Useshi (Gojushiho) begins at 6:40 on the video.

Kusanku – I am using the Shimabuku 1958 video, which shows the section he used in SunNuSu

I am using the Hiagonna Morio Seisan Bunkai video

to show a likely source for the various kicking techniques in the Goju Seisan.

or he man have incorporated the elbow parry as in Itosu Pinyan San Das as in Matayoshi Ryu.

Again IMO the rest of the kata represents the ideas of Shimabuku Tatsuo.

1958

early 1960s

1966

Charles Murray Sunsu in Agena

during his Chinkuchi training 1972

Charles Murray Sunsu 1980

Charles Murray Sunsu 2016

Andrew Ware 1980

Young Lee SunNuSu 2012

Kusanku Kata - a study in derivative variation

Nishime Kusanku

Kosokon Dai Shito Ryu

Shobayshi Kusanku Dai Kata

Nakazato Shūgorō 仲里周五郎 - Kusanku Dai kata

Zenpo Shimabukuro, Kusanku

Shorinji Kusanku

Toshiaki Gillespi Shorin Ryu Kusanku

Shimabuku Tatsuo Kusanku

1958

1964

Kusanku Kata Angi Uzeu

Kusanku kata from Kaneshi Eiko via Shimabuku Tatsuo Sensei

Charles Murray 1980

Charles Murray 2014

Michael Cassidy 1991

Young Lee Kusanku 1992

Young Lee Kusanku 2014

Young Lee and Charles Murray 2015

Monday, February 2, 2026

Chinto Kata - a study in derivative variation

Soken Hohan Chinto

Eizo Shimabuku Chinto Kata

Nakazato Shūgorō 仲里周五郎 - Chinto kata

Shorinji Chinto

Kata CHINTO (Old style) - Okinawa Kôkôsei Taikai 2009

Toshiaki Gillespi Shorin Ryu Chinto

note the kata is performed on a north-south embusen

Tomari Chinto Shimabukuro Sensei 島袋先生泊チントー

note the embusen goes east to west

(Tomari) Chinto Kata. Karate. Matsubayashi-ryu. Shinzato sensei. ( 泊 ) チントウ型. 松林流空手

Shimabuku Tatsuo Chinto

Chinto Kata Angi Uzeu

Eiko Kaneshi Students Sunsu Chinto kata

Karl Hovey 1998

Tom Lewis Chinto

Charles Murray 1980

Charles Murray 2012

Young Lee Chinto 1990

Mike Cassidy Chinto 1992

Young Lee Chinto 2016

Chinto – Chinto 1990

Wansu Kata – a study in derivative variation

Shorin Ryu footage of Kyan-style Wansu

performed by Nakama Haruka
seisan at 5:41

Seibukan Wansu

Shorinji Nakazato Wansu

Wansu kata (Shorin ryu) Arakaki sensei

Wanshu Kata - Nagamine Shoshin

Funakoshi Empi (wansu) kata

Shimabuku Tatsuo Wansu kata

Angi Uezi Wansu kata

Wansu kata by students of Tokumura Kensho Sensei.

Josh Normandin Wansu

Young Lee 1990 Wansu

Andy Sloane Wansu kata

A personal note I imaging (with no documentation behind this) that Wansu kata was Tatsuo Shimabuku's first effort to expand the kata he learned adding other material he felt expanded his art.

February 28, 2021 at 2:59 PM

Sunday, February 1, 2026

Time for a good Isshinryu story, this one about Sherman Harrill

When I first met Sherman at a clinic Garry Gerossie hosted, I partnered with a Shorin Ryu Black Belt who was there. Turns out he was a friend of Garry’s, and he was at clinics Garry hosted, then at later one’s we hosted together.

Then he hosted clinics in Rhode Island with Sherman too. I attended about 4 of them there.

But this occurred at the first one.

Almost all of those attending were from Rhode Island including local Isshinryu. Several of them were adult black belts from another Shorin Ryu group there.

After a while through Sherman’s presentation that day one of the adult young black belts (of course young to me about 25 or so) asked Sherman how those techniques would work in a real kumite.

Sherman explained “I do not teach kumite.”

That floored the black belt who asked “You do not teach kumite, then what do you do”

Sherman explained that he would just stand with his hands hanging at his side.

That black belt was incredulous and didn’t believe that was possible. “Well is someone attacked what would you really do?

Sherman just gave the same answer. Then when he observed the black belts inability to believe what he heard, Sherman added, “Why don’t you just attack me with full speed any way you like and I will respond but I add, I will only use 50% power in my response.” After saying that Sherman just stood there with his arms at his side.

That black belt just gathered himself together, then suddenly he lunged forward with a lead punch towards Sherman face.

Then just before he was at his half way point of his attack Sherman responded.

What Sherman did was pivot counter-clockwise and while doing so his right arm rose and then fell in an arc, very quickly. Sherman’s arm just cut across that punching forearm, striking through that forearm with a crack.

You just heard the strike and observed the young black belt's arm falling as he dropped to his knees in pain.

Sherman moved over and helped that black belt to his feet.

And as he did so Sherman explained to him. “If you want we can do that again. But as I am getting older I do not have as much in me, so next time I will have to use 75% power, “ in a straight face.

That black belt declined the offer.