Clearing the Air About Choiki Motobu

from my archived records an article Joe Swift made in 2001
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Clearing the Air about Motobu

 1. The Origins of the Motobu Family

The Motobu family beloged to the Udun class, those related to the Royal family, during Okinawa's old Ryukyu Kingdom. They actually trace their lineage back to King Sho Shitsu, who reigned from 1648-1668. Sho Shitsu had six sons, namely Sho Koshin (Prince Osato), Sho Kojin (Prince Nago), Sho Kosai (Prince Hokudai), Sho Kotoku (Prince Tofu), Sho Koshin (Prince Motobu Chohei) and Sho Kozen (Prince Gino). Sho Koshin, aka Motobu Chohei, then, is the first generation of the Motobu clan, a familial line that continues to this day [1].

2. Motobu Udundi

This alleged family art was, according to the oral tradition, formalized by Prince Motobu Chohei, and subsequently taught to the first sons of the Motobu clan, in order to increase their knowledge of the arts of the Pen and the Sword [2]. The technical make up of the Motobu Udundi (note: Goten-te is the standard Japanese pronunciation) system is as follows:

A. Kihon Taijutsu - Basic Empty Hand Techniques Also called Goken (hard fist), this aspect focuses upon punches and kicks. At this level, the kata Mutudi (1&2) and Kasshindi (3-5) are taught as basic conditioning of the body, hand and foot motions necessary for the advanced techniques.

B. Buki-jutsu - Weaponry
Upon mastering the basic hard-fist techniques, the student then moves onto a study of classical weaponry. The major weapons in the system are include a variety of swords, spears, halberds, staves of varying lengths, wooden flails, boat oars, wooden handles, iron truncheons and others. The secrets of Ryukyu Oke Hiden Bujutsu are said to be found in the sword arts, the pinnacle of which is found the Uzumaki no Ken (whirlpool sword) and Tatsumaki no Ken (Tornado Sword).

C. Tuidi - Grasping Hand
Also called juken (soft fist), this is the pinnacle of the art, in which one is able to control an adversary without causing serious injury, by placing him in so much pain that he looses his will to attack. Often used in conjunction with the dance-like movements of Mai no Ti (dance-hand).

Many have noted Udundi's similarities to Aikido. It is a known fact that Uehara Seikichi has a masters licence in Hakkoryu Jujutsu (a Daitoryu derivative) [3] and he is also rumoured to have trained with Ueshiba Morihei during the latter's visit to Okinawa [4]. One can speculate that these had a profound impact on Uehara's interpretaion of the Motobu arts.

3. A Capsule Biography Motobu Choyu

Although perhaps not as well known as his younger half-brother Choki, Motobu Choyu nonetheless played an important role in the development of the Okinawan martial arts in the early days of the 20th century. Just who was this man, and what were his contributions?

Unfortunately, the answers often do not come as easy as the questions, and Motobu Choyu has remained shrouded in mystery.

This section will attempt to create at least a little better understanding of the man and his art by reviewing some historical testimonies, mostly the recollections of his student Uehara Seikichi, among others.

First of all, there are no clear birth and death dates known for Motobu Choyu. Noted martial arts historian Patrick McCarthy gives the dates as 1865-1929 [5], whereas noted karate author Mark Bishop gives the date of death as 1926 with no date of birth offered [6]. Iwai Tsukuo, a noted Japanese Budo historian tells us that Choyu lived from 1857-1927 [7].

The following information on Motobu Choyu was translated and compiled from Uehara Seikichi's 1992 book "Bu no Mai."

Although the Motobu family had lived in a palatial estate, when Uehara Seikichi first met Motobu Choyu, he was living in Shuri's entertainment district of Tsuji-machi. He was only about 5 feet 2 inches in height, but he always had a freindly smile on his face, and stood with his back straight. He always wore traditional Ryukyu clothing and the topknow with a hairpin as fitted his station.

He was well versed in Ryukyuan poetry and music, and was very friendly with Tamaki Jushin, the last of the Ukanshin Udui dancers. When talking of classical dances, Motobu would always play the classical song Ufubushi on the Sanshin (Okinawan shamisen) while Tamaki performed the dance.

Choyu was also very strict about courtesy, and he never receive d a standing bow. Even his younger brother Choki would kneel and bow upon entering the room, and use polite language when speaking to Choyu. Even so, even during the Taisho era (1912-1926), when many were still clinging to  old Ryukyuan status and the like, Choyu was very friendly to anyone he met.

Being a kind and benevolent man, he gave most of his belongings to his close neighbors, and often loaned money to those in need. He never forced people with nothing to pay him back, saying "whenever you have it is fine." He was liked by many, judging by the feasts the people in Yomitan prepared for he and Uehara whenever they went there for horse-riding practice.

The Okinawa Wakasa Club (Okinawa Karate Club) was made up of prominent teachers like Kyan Chotoku, Miyagi Chojun, Mabuni Kenwa, Gusukuma Shinpan, Yabu Kentsu, Teruya Kamesuke and Hanashiro Chomo, but it was Choyu who taught the principles of the martial arts to the members. In this regard, Choyu was highly respected in the Okinawan martial arts circles. In those days, all of the martial arts teachers were from the upper classes, but Choyu was by far the highest. He was never called by his name, but rather by the title "Aji-ganashimei."

Choyu taught rope-tying techniques to law enforcement officer Mabuni Kenwa, as well as a special fist for smaller people to Kyan Chotoku. His kicking techniques were very respected, earning him the nickname "Mutubu nu Hisa (Legs Motobu)" and "Mutubu Umei nu Kirichi (Kicking Motobu)." However, he rarely ever showed the family techniques in front of people, and never taught them when others were around.

He also seemed to know well over 30 karate kata, which he taught to 3 or 4 students at night. He told Uehara to never practice kata, and never said when, where or from whom he learned such kata. Higaonna Morio tells us that Kina Sensei was told by Miyagi Chojun to learn Unshu from Motobu Choyu as well [8].

4. A Capsule Biography of Motobu Choki

When compared to his elder half-brother Choyu, there seems to be no shortage of historical information on Motobu Choki. Let us take a brief look at Choki's life now. The following biography is translated from Iwai Tsukuo's [9] 1992 book "Koden Ryukyu Karatejutsu" suppleemented with pertinent information from alternative sources annoted by footnotes.

Motobu Choki was born on April 5, 1870, the third son of Motobu Choshin of Akahira in Shuri [10].

His father Choshin was known as Motobu Aji, and the home in which they lived was known as Motobu Udun. The Motobu family was descended from the 6th son of King Sho Shitsu, namely Prince Sho Ko, a.k.a. Motobu Chohei. They ranked at the top of the keimochi families (tr. Note: Keimochi were those with blood relations to the King).

Before the Meiji Restoration, the class system in Ryukyu was divided into 4 classes: the Royal Family, the Lords, the Aristocrats, and the "Peasants". The Motobu family ranked in the Lord class, and were next in rank from Princes. Choki, as he 3rd son of the Motobu family, along with his eldest brother Choyu and his second brother Choshin, started punching the makiwara and practicing karate by imitation from the time they were very small children. At first, a Kobujutsu master known as Ufuchiku (old police term), who was also a relative, came by the house. Choki would always greet him by saying "Let's practice Ti."

Upon reaching his teens, Choki began practicing under Itosu along with his brother Choyu, but Choki always lostin Hindi (called Kumite in modern times) to his brother. Always thinking how he could beat his brother, Choki threw himself into his training. Realizing the limitations of self-training, Choki went on to study under Sakuma from Gibo, Matsumura Sokon, and Matsumora Kosaku of Tomari. After his 20th birthday, Choki finally gained the confidence that he could beat his brother, and even Itosu was forced to re-examine Choki's abilities.

Choki, as an outlet for his strong will, and his physical strength heightened by his training, looked for real fights, under the pretence of practice. In those days, Tsuji-machi in Shuri was known as the place to go for a night on the town. There, local tough guys and karate practitioners also gathered.

On a nightly basis, Choki went to Tsuji and challenged strong-looking men or those who appeared to have martial arts training.

This kind of challenge match was called Kake-dameshi, and was practiced when students grew tired of kata training and wanted to test out their skills in a real fight. Choki, with his natural strength coupled with his training, was undefeated in these matches. However, as there is always someone out there stronger, Choki was soundly trounced one night.

His opponent was a man named Itarashiki Choyu, a well-known karate expert. That night Choki could not sleep. He kept replaying the match over and over in his mind, and again threw himself into his training.

Choki, who practiced karate centered around Kake-dameshi, was known for his martial expertise and his naturally strong legs and hips as well as his lightness of body. He often jumped over the fences between Shuri and Naha, like a monkey swinging tree to tree. His ability in fighting coupled with his research and study into kata made him known as the fighter "Mutubu nu Saru Umei" (Motobu the Monkey). His name was known throughout Okinawa. Even 3-year old children knew of his exploits.

His karate became known as "kenka karate" (karate for brawling) and earned him the disdain of the karateka of his time, but it is said that no one of his generation While they disdained his methods, many karateka of that time were also respectful of his actual technique.  It is often said that while it is true that Choki was strong and a brilliant fighter, his karate was his own made-up style, and he only knew the Naifuanchi kata. However, this is because Choki was trying to keep people from stealing his "Ti" and thus did not take on many students, and of those, he only taught kata to the most trusted. Even when he did take on a student, he would keep them on makiwara training, Naifuanchi no Kata, and Yakusoku Kumite for several years. It is not that he did not know kata.

Choki himself had said that kata are the kihon of karate, had studied under several of the karate masters of his time, in an age when karate practice was centered upon kata. In fact, reading his two books that he published shows his deep knowledge of the kata of Shurite, Tomarite, and Nahate.

In 1923, Choki moved to Osaka on the mainland. In November 1924, Choki worked as a security guard at a factory. One day, on his day off, he went into Kyoto with the landlord of his apartment. There they say a sign announcing challenge matches with boxers, so they went in to watch.After several matches, the announcer said that they would welcome all comers. Choki entered into a match with a Russian boxer, in an event that would go down in history.

In the second round, Choki felled the giant Russian with his one-knuckle fist, thus showing the world the power of Okinawan karate. His story was told by the newspapers and magazines of the time. He had many come to his apartment seeking instruction, and as a result of his victory over the boxer, established a Karate Promotion Society in Osaka.

Choki was 52 at the time of the bout.

Choki formulated the Karatejutsu Fukyukai or the Society for the Promotion of Karatejutsu in Osaka. In the spring of 1924, was requested to teach karate at the Mikage Teacher's College and Mikage Police Force in Hyogo Prefecture, where he demonstrated the practical applications of karate and taught the basic principles of the art. In 1926, he published "Okinawa Kenpo Karatejutsu:  Kumite-hen," a small book that shines brightly in the history of karate. He was very successful in developing the art of karate in the Osaka and Kyoto area.

In 1922, Funakoshi Gichin introduced karate as a Budo for physical education in Tokyo, and clamored for the support of university students. At the same time, Motobu was demonstrating the effectiveness of the art in Osaka. The fact that both of these great masters were so active shows the fortune of karate.

In 1927, Choki left his wife and children in Osaka, and moved to Tokyo, where he opened the Daidokan Dojo in Koishikawahara-machi. The name he had used for his "style" since his Osaka days was Nihon Denryu Hyoho Motobu Kenpo, but his students and outsiders called it simply Motoburyu  Karatejutsu.

Choki, who had opened his dojo in Tokyo, was invited to teach at the Ministry of Railways and Toyo University, but due to his strong Okinawan dialect and his brutal training methods, these positions did not last long. However, Toyo University Karate Club members Takano Genjuro and Higaonna Hiroshi, as well as Waseda University Karate Research Society member Marukawa Kenji understood Motobu's karate and stayed on at his dojo as students until he returned to Okinawa.

Motobu enjoyed contact with many karate exponents in Tokyo who were sympathetic to his methods, including Otsuka Hironori of Wadoryu, Konishi Yasuhiro of Shindo Jinenryu and Ueshima Sannosuke of Kushinryu.

There are many tales of Choki's exploits in Tokyo, one of the most famous being when he sparred with the Oriental Boxing Champion "Piston" Horiguchi, who was unable to land a single punch on Motobu. Motobu's karate provided a great stimulus to the Tokyo karate world. In 1932, he published another book, entitled "Watashi no Karatejutsu." Unfortunately, most copies were destroyed during WWII, and only a handful of former students of Choki retain copies. If modern karate researchers could see the contents of this book, they would be watering at the mouth [11].

In the fall of 1936, he returned to Okinawa and reported to his seniors on the present situation of karate in Tokyo. He also made a study of the classical kata and kobudo before returning to Tokyo.

When he visited Okinawa, many martial artists visited him, because they knew his reputation. The fact that Sodeyama Hosaku came all the way from Japan to study under Motobu in Okinawa shows how widespread his fame was.

Although Motobu's karate earned a bad reputation in hisday, he was actually very strict about courtesy. He was always deadly serious about karate, and demanded perfect manners in his students. Because he did not teach for money, he only took on people who he liked as students.

Even Motobu's supporter Konishi Yasuhiro tells us that although Choki's karate was rough, he was very polite and quiet.

In any reason, those who pull ahead of the pack are bound to be criticized to either extreme. Choki, however, paid such matters no mind.

Upon returning to Okinawa, Choki had contact with many other karate experts. He passed away on 15 April 1944, at the age of 74. Choki's karate (kumite) had influenced many modern styles, and his son Motobu Chosei along with other students carried on his work, forming the Nihon Karatedo Motobukai.

Motobu Choki (1870-1944), earned a reputation as a fighter, but his serious attitude, influence on many modern karate styles and efforts at spreading the art of karate remain as his legacy.

5. Motobu Choki's Karate

If there ever was an Okinawan martial artist who knew how to "use his stuff" in a real confrontation, it must have been Motobu Choki. Although often decried as an uncouth brawler by those who do not know the details of his life, by looking at his writings, we can see that he had a deep appreciation for kata and their defensive applications.

Motobu Choki is often decried as having only known the Naifuanchi Shodan kata. However, this seems not to be true. Nagamine Shoshin, in his publications, notes that Motobu had learned Passai, in addition to Naifuanchi, from Matsumora Kosaku. Motobu fs books also give us a hint that he may have known a lot more about kata than most give him credit for.

In his books, Motobu refers to kata as "types" or "kinds" of karate, and lists several of the kata passed down in old Okinawa. These were: Sanchin, Gojushiho, Seisan, Seiyunchin, Suparinpei, Naihanchi (3), Passai (Dai/Sho), Chinto, Chinte, Wanshu, Rohai and Kushanku. Now, the question begs to be asked, would he have put these kata down into writing unless he had at least a passing familiarity with them? That, I shall leave up to the reader to decide.

Iwai Tsukuo, in a personal communication to this author, also stated that the kata used in the Motoburyu Karatejutsu are Naifuanchi, Shiraguma (Channan or Pinan), Seishan, Passai, Chinto, Chinti, Wankan, Kushanku etc. He further stated that it is believed that Kushanku was taught to Motobu by Yabu Kentsu, as they both used closed fists for the entire kata (no open hand blocks, etc.) [12]

Motobu himself tells us that he learned the Channan, the early version of the Pinan, from Itosu himself [13].

Although it has been said that Motobu had a "special" version of Naifuanchi, replete with "ti-like grappling techniques," [14] from the photographic records, one can immediately see that other than personal quirks (higher chamber, etc.), Motobu fs kata varies very little from the mainstream varieties.

Finally, Motobu's karate can said to be exemplified by his mastery of the Meotodi or "husband and wife hands," a classical kamae of old-style karate. Those who would understand Motobu, would do well to study Naifuanchi, his 12 kumite sets and strive to master the Meotodi.

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Footnotes:

[1] See, for example, Matsuo K. (1990) "Ryukyu Oke Hiden Bujutsu" (Secret Royal Martial Arts of Ryukyu) Tokyo, Baseball Magazine; also Uehara S. (1994) "Bu no Mai" (Martial Dance). Tokyo, BAB Japan Co.

[2] Matsuo, 1990; Uehara, 1994.

[3] Kinjo A. (1999) "Karate Den Shinroku" (True Record of Karat's Transmission). Naha: Okinawa Tosho Center.

[4] McCarthy, P. (1998) Personal Communication.

[5] McCarthy, P. (1999) "Ancient Okinawan Martial Arts, Vol. 2" Boston: Tuttle.

[6] Bishop, M. (1999) "Okinawan Karate, 2nd Ed." Boston: Tuttle.

[7] Iwai T. (2000) "Motobu Choki to Ryukyu Karate (Motobu Choki and Ryukyu Karate)" Tokyo: Airyudo.

[8] Higaonna M. (1993) "History of Karate, Okinawa Gojuryu" California: Dragon Associates.

[9] Iwai Tsukuo is one of Japan's most noted Budo historians and a teacher of Motobu's karatejutsu under the
auspices of Motobu Chosei, Choki's son.

[10] It should be noted that Nagamine Shoshin gives the  date February 1871 in his 1975 book "Okinawa no Karatedo" and his 1986 book "Okinawa no Karate Sumo Meijin Den," both published by Shin Jinbutsu Oraisha in Tokyo.

[11] This book has since been re-published in Japanese, and Patrick McCarthy will be releasing his English translation soon.

[12] Iwai T. (1997) Personal communication: Motobu Ryu Kata.

[13] For a translation of this account, see "Channan: The Lost Kata of Itosu?" by J. Swift.

[14] Bishop, 1999, ibid.