Tuesday, April 4, 2023

Haruku Nakama's shorin-ryu - descended from another Kyan student

 

This rare footage shows an old version of Kyan Chotoku/ Chan Migwa Karate. It shows many differences from the modern versions of Shorin Ryu, Matsubayashi Ryu, and Isshin Ryu, passed down through Kyan Chotoku.

 

I particularly like the footage as it shows variations from modern standardized Karate, and gives a glimpse to old one on one type teaching, where variations exist, but one is still practicing essentially the same thing.

 

As I've had experience with Chinese arts, this is no big deal, but in Japanese arts, this could be frowned upon. The old Okinawans of two - three generations ago seemed very flexible in their teachings and transmission of Kata.

 

Many of the Kata are easily recognizable- Seisan, Ananku, Wanshu, Gojushiho, Passai, Chinto, Kusanku, but with variations from the modern institutionalized Ryu. It is a glimpse of old Okinawan Karate.

 

For discussion, those who are descendants of Kyan, what are your thoughts?

 

Haruku Nakama's shorin-ryu

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SABs0ErM2nQ



 

 

Robert Chu

Notice the Kusanku Kata doesn't have the deep pose as found in many Shorin Ryu versions and the many drops to a crouching and kneeling stance, reflecting night fighting. It makes sense. Also notice the many follow throughs, whereas modern Ryu's have only one Uke, showing use of momentum.

 

Bradley Ryan

First of, thanks Robert Chu for posting this. I only wish the quality was better! My primary background is in Shotokan and Seibukan Shorin Ryu and I learned all of these kata (and more). The differences are minor, mainly the stances. Seibukan has a lot...S

 

I would also add that I don't think any of the "versions" are any better or worse, just "different".

Robert Rivers

The bo kata looks like shobayashi's sakugawa no kun. Sai kata is definitely seiyinchin. Cool stuff.

 

Dan Smith

I have seen this video over a number of years and have observed the performance of being like the old Okinawan kata but Bunei Okuhara was not much older than several of the best known students of Kyan and their kata performance has little resemblance to the kata in this video. My teacher was not more than five years junior to Bunei so the kata would have to had changed dramatically in that short of time or my teachers changed the performance dramatically from what he learned from Kyan. Perhaps I am mistaken but I do not see how the kata methods could have changed that much. I think the question would be of the skill level of those that pass the kata forward.

 

Robert Chu

 My thought is like many Chinese martial artists, Kyan Chotoku taught according to ability, personality, background, and perhaps taught different things at different times in different juxtapositions. For example, notice in Kusanku, there are foot stomps in the beginning, no artistic poses after Shuto Uchi, and a lot of crouching and kneeling than other renditions of the same kata found in Shorin Ryu Seibukan, or Matsubayashi's version. It is closer to Tatsuo Shimabuku's, or even Joen Nakazato's version

 

Robert Chu

These indicate there was no "one" way to do the kata, and all the elements are contained within one set.

 

Dan Smith

 Bunei Okuhara may have studied with Kyan for a short time. His line of movement of Seisan and Ananku are similar but his kihon is obviously very different. Perhaps after his short study and moving to mainland Japan affected his training methods?

 

Robert Chu

That's speculation. His Chinto, Seisan, Ananku, Gojushiho have Kyan's unmistakable signature, without the Japanese rigidity, and his Passai and Kusanku have a soft, flowing nature, unlike some of the "Nipponized" hardness prevalent in some streams of Shorin Ryu today.

 

Dan Smith

Robert Chu, I agree with your assessment that Bunei Okuhara's kata resembles Tatsuo Shimabuku's more than that of Joen Nakazto and even less than of Zenryo Shimabukuro's. Having studied with Zenryo Sensei and Zenpo Sensei and observed Joen Nakazato and Tatsuo Shimabuku's kata first hand on Okinawa each had their own signatures on Seisan but all three had a significant difference in balance, speed, agility and focus. Kata kihon may be changed but the execution of the precious characteristics would not.. Obviously, I never saw Bunei Okuhara perform but I personally watched the other three and their is no comparison. A few years difference in age would not have made Okuhara's methods old Okinawan kata different than the three pillars of the Kyan lineage.

 

Robert Chu

 I see you're having trouble with my term "Old". What I mean is that Okinawan Karate, before it became institutionalized, standardized, formalized after Japanese Ryu Ha, with uniforms, ranks, and titles was taught more like Chinese martial arts. For example, Kyan Chotoku went to learn several kata from sifferent sources and collected them to be more of a formal Ryu. Another example is Miyagi Chojun, he learned Sanchin, then Suparunpei... he certainly didn't have to learn standardized kata in an "orderly" fashion compared to today's Ryu. Another important difference is the stiffness, no fluidity, and rigid stances found in Japanese Karate, which have now been institutionalized and flavored in some versions of Okinawan Karate.

 

Dan Smith

 Kyan only learned from his grandfather and father until the age of 16. By his own writing he gave this account of his father taking him to study with Matsumura Solon and he studied with him for two years learning only Gojushiho. He then left for Japan with his father when the Japanese Emperor brought the Ryukyu King to live in Japan. Chotoku (Motonaga) accompanied his father and remained in Japan for 10 years. He did not mention going to other teachers to learn other kata in his history. We know he did learn additional kata but do not believe it was to create his own ryu ha but due to associating with the Ryukyu Research Society. You mention Chatan Yara Kusanku and while we know the kata came from the Chatan area where Kyan (Motonaga) lived the source of him learning Kusanku could not have been the Yara of Chatan as he had been deceased for many years.


Trying to find how these fighting methods were practiced 100 years ago can only be accomplished by imagination since there is no source on Okinawa that knows. Traditions are passed down from generation to generation but time and societal living has a chance effect regardless of the participants. If you are on Okinawa go to Moon Beach on Sunday morning at 8am and you will a handful of men training that will give you a possible glimpse.

 

FightingArts.com - Kyan, Chotoku (1870-1945)

Biography of Chotoku Kyan the early 20th…

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