Karate originated on Okinawa which is the largest Island of the Ryukyu Archipelago. It was a product of the ancient Okinawa culture. The center of the RyuKyu Kingdom was Shuri Castle. The ShuriTe (now called Okinawa Shorin-Ryu) which became the premier style of karate.

Okinawa Shorin-Ryu is the oldest karate fighting style. Its founder Grandmaster Sokon Matsumura was the only person in history of karate who was awarded the honorary title of “Bushi” by the King of Ryukyuan Dynasty. Sokon “Bushi” Matsumura called his fighting style ShuriTe. Grandmaster Anko Itosu, his most famous discipline gave the style its present shape. Anko Itosu called “The Genius of karate” was the first to introduce karate info schools (1901). He was the creator of the most popular kata Pinan. His successor Choshin Chibana changed in 1933 the name ShuriTe into Okinawa Shorin-Ryu and he founded Okinawa Shorin-Ryu Karate Do Association (1948).

Okinawa Shorin-Ryu Karate Masters

Grandmaster Choshin Chibana was the first stylist of Okinawa Shorin-Ryu Karate with the rank of 10th dan. He was awarded for his contribution of Shorin-Ryu Karate by the emperor of Japan Hirohito. Among the best Chibana’s students were Katsuya Miyahira – 10 dan and Shuguro Nakazato – 10 dan. Kenyu Chinen – 10 dan is hanshi Miyahira’s and hanshi Nakazato’s disciple. Hanshi Kenyu Chinen is a continuator of the traditional Okinawa Shorin-Ryu. The basic kata of Okinawa Shorin-Ryu Karate is Naihanchi. Other main katas are Pinan, Passai, Kushanku, Chinto and Gojushiho.