The History of
Isshin-Ryu
About 400 years ago, the first forms of what was later to be called Karate were introduced to Okinawa. These forms were of the Shorinji Kempo of China. The basis for these forms was the form Naihanchi, which also became the basis for the Okinawan Shorinryu. Later, another style and theory was introduced by Master Nigaonna Kwaka, who had journeyed to China to study. Soon his teachings were to become the style known as Gojuryu.
About
28 years ago, a new style was developed by Sooki Shimabuku Tatsuo and called
Isshin-Ryu. This style was based on both the principles of Naihanchi and Sanchin
forms. The characteristic of Isshin-Ryu is the development of rapid techniques.
Shimabuku began his study of the Karate Art approximately 50 years ago. He
studied the Shorinryu system under Master Chotuku Kyian. He also studied the Kumite
forms and the Shorinryu system with Master Choki Motobu. And he studied Gojuryu
from Master Chojun Miyagi.
Shimabuku
felt the systems could be more in keeping with natural reactions and movements.
He combined the principles of Naihanchi and Sanchin forms and changed the
blocking positions of the arms to be more natural as he did with the use of the
vertical punch. He then incorporated the Kumite techniques and principles of
Master Choki Motobu along with the forms of the Shorinryu system with slight
improvements to coincide with the combined basic theories. Thus, the Isshin-Ryu system
was formed.
Master Shimabuku considered the Shorinryu as the mother, the Gojuryu as the Father, and the Isshin-Ryu as the children. Master Shimabuku set his karate style apart from the others in another way. He developed the form Sunsu, in which he combined techniques and other forms which he felt were the best he had developed.
TATSUO SHIMABUKU
For about four years Shimabuku was privileged to study karate in the dojo of his uncle, each day after completing the most menial domestic chores. Having achieved a certain degree of skill in Shuri-Te karate, Master Shimabuku went on to formal training in Kobayshi-Ryu. He met Chotoku Kiyan, who was already famous throughout Okinawa, and became one of Kiyan’s leading pupils.
He also studied with Chojun Miyagi.
Master Shimabuku again took up Kobayshi-Ryu, this time under Choki Motobu, who was a legend on Okinawa. At a large martial arts festival in the village of Fatima, Shimabuku finally blossomed. He won recognition through a very fine performance of the Kata's.
Shimabuku went on to study the art of the Bo and the Sai as well as the Tee-Faa forms. His instructors, Taira Shinken and Yaby Ku Mo Den were responsible for providing Okinawa’s instructors with these particular skills.
Shimabuku’s
reputation throughout Okinawa had reached its peak when World War II struck, and
during the early part of the war he did his best to avoid conscription into the
Japanese Army by escaping into the countryside where he worked as a farmer. As
the situation grew more and more desperate for the Japanese and as the need to
press the Okinawa’s into the service became urgent, he was forced to flee.
As
his reputation in karate spread among the Japanese, many soldiers began a
thorough search, as they wanted to study karate
-under
him. The officers who finally caught up with him agreed to keep the secret of
his whereabouts if he would teach them karate; it was in this manner that
Shimabuku survived the war.
After
the war he returned to farming and practiced karate privately for his own
spiritual repose and physical exercise, but as the island’s leading
practitioner of both Shorinryu and Gojuryu styles of karate, he felt a strong
need to combine the two styles into one. After consulting the aged masters and
the heads of schools, Shimabuku Tatsuo founded one of the world’s major styles
of karate, the Isshin-Ryu system.
Master Shimabuku died May 30, 1975 at the age of 72, in Okinawa.
Angi Uezu was born January 3, 1935, in Chiyaranka City on the island of Saipan. His father was 6th generation Okinawan of Sumarai lineage from Shuri, his ancestors served under the King of Okinawa in the city of Gushikawa. In the 1930’s work on Okinawa was hard to find, so as a young man his father traveled to Saipan to find work in the sugar cane fields and start a better life. While in Saipan his father found his first wife and the mother of Angi Uezu who was the third of four brothers.
Angi’s first involvement with martial arts came in junior high school where the schools curriculum included Gojo-ryu. He didn’t like Karate because he was very much against fighting of any sort. He thought why train in Karate and get beat-up everyday learning to defend yourself when the likelihood of getting in a fight was so remote.
In 1956, he met Yukiko Shimabuku, the third daughter of Master Tatsuo Shimabuku, the well known karate master. After a short courtship and Yukiko’s prodding to get married Master Uezu went to the Kyan dojo to ask Master Shimabuku for his daughter in marriage. Master Uezu tells the story of his first meeting with the Master, "As I approached Master Shimabuku’s house I could hear some very loud pounding. I walked around the corner up to the fence gate and saw Master Shimabuku punching the makiwara, he wasn’t smiling and was very intense, I thought he was getting ready for me."
He said, "I stopped at the gate and saw the master hitting the makiwara, I turned and ran, I was very scared, I thought he was mad at me and was going to hurt me." Later his mother took him over to Master Shimabuku’s and found out that the Master was pleased to have me as his son-in-law and agreed to the marriage. In 1957 after Master Uezu and Yukiko married he moved into the Master’s house, but he didn’t start karate, instead he was working many hours at one of the military bases to make money for his new family. Master Uezu recalls that Master Shimabuku was always after him to start training. Master Uezu said he always told Master Shimabuku he didn’t like karate and stayed busy working late hours at his job so he’d have a excuse not to train.
It was around this time a good friend of his, Taba Seichi, who was training, asked him to teach him the Bo kata, Tokomine no kun. Master Uezu told his friend that he didn’t know the kata because he wasn’t training with Master Shimabuku. His friend Taba said him "you live with Master Shimabuku and don’t train in karate? "Why don’t you train in karate? Master Shimabuku is your father-in-law you must respect him. You have to help him teach in the dojo".
That evening Master Uezu thought about what his friend had said and realized he was right. Master Shimabuku had given him his daughter, a house and helped him in many ways, it was his duty to respect and help the Master. The next day Master Uezu and Yukiko’s older sisters husband started training. Master Uezu said he found that he really enjoyed karate and the rigorous training and easily remembered all of the basic exercises.
Due to his loyalty and dedication he soon became one of Master Shimabuku’s top students. During the early sixties as his skills improved he became one of the top competitors on Okinawa winning many competitions and became highly regarded as an outstanding martial artist on Okinawa. He was an excellent counter fighter with an array of techniques that he worked until he considered them perfect for all types fighting.
Later, Master Shimabuku sent him to teach at many of his outlying military dojos because of Master Uezu’s English skills and teaching ability. Master Uezu taught many Marines at Camps Hansen, Courtney and Foster. In 1967, as a Yon-Dan, he took over as Master Shimabuku’s representative to go to the United States and conduct training and seminars, a yearly tradition he has kept for the past 30 years. The only time he interrupted his schedule was after his stroke in April 1994. After his recovery he resumed his seminar circuit and having people come to Okinawa to train in 1996.
In May 1975, Master Shimabuku passed away at the age of 68 starting off a chain of events that almost destroyed Isshin-Ryu on Okinawa. This along with other internal conflicts began the downfall of the largest style of karate on Okinawa at the time. Many of Isshin-Ryu’s top people went to other styles because of internal disagreements and beliefs leaving only seven senior students to include Master Uezu to carry on. This would begin the hardest test of his loyalty and dedication to his Master and Isshin-Ryu for the next 21 years.
He recalled a time after the Master’s death when he was approached by three former friends and students of Isshin-Ryu who came to his house to get him to switch to Shorin-Ryu. The three begged him to join them, to which Master Uezu again replied "I have a duty to Master Shimabuku and must remain loyal to my family". Master Uezu realized he had many people around the world that needed him to keep Isshin-Ryu alive. He knew that he must teach good Isshin-Ryu and respect Master Shimabuku because it was his duty. Master Uezu took to this challenge by going to the states for extended periods to teach and spread the word about Isshin-Ryu wherever and whenever he was asked.
Master Uezu has said on many occasion, "I always look straight ahead and ignore the comments that could distract me from practicing good Isshin-Ryu". Through his efforts, he gathered a large following of supporters, many skeptics and critics who met him have found him to be a genuine, and honest person who is always smiling and will talk to everyone no matter of their rank or status.
Master Uezu follows his Master’s beliefs in that one must be a gentleman or lady at all times and never worry about the negative influences that can harm oneself. Through all of this Master Uezu never struck out at his detractors, to do so would have taken a way from everything he believed in. If others didn’t like what he had to offer that was okay, he respected them for their beliefs and willingness to follow their chosen path. He truly believes that you must remain focused and have a big heart to accept others for what they believe.
Master Uezu says Karate is the tool that helps reach people reach their goals by training them to be strong mentally and physically. Isshin-Ryu means "The One Heart Way", as Master Shimabuku truly believed karate should be used for bettering oneself. In 1987, a disagreement between the remaining top Okinawan leaders of Isshin-Ryu almost put the final nail in the coffin on Okinawa. While the others went their own ways to different styles, Master Uezu started the Okinawan Isshin-Ryu Karate Kobudo Association (O.I.K.K.A.) to keep Isshin-Ryu alive on Okinawa and support his many followers around the world.
Master Uezu’s persistence and dedication to his master paid the ultimate dividend by becoming the only Isshin-Ryu association now recognized by the Prefectural government and asked by it to perform at all major karate demonstrations. The crowning achievement of his efforts to promote Isshin-Ryu came when his association was asked to perform at 1995 World Okinawan Karate Championships here on Okinawa.
In 1996 Master Uezu finally retired and passed the torch on to Sensei Tsuyoshi Uechi, who is now the leader of Isshin-Ryu on Okinawa and the President of the O.I.K.K.A. after having trained directly under Master Uezu for over 25 years. Even in retirement Master Uezu is still constantly receiving letters from people wanting to join the O.I.K.K.A. and has never denied anyone admission to his association unless they were proven to be less than respectable.
Today he resides quietly in Gushikawa City with his wife Yukiko and his son. Even though he’s retired he isn’t far away from the dojo. Master Uezu is a frequent visitor at Sensei Uechi’s dojo to watch, however he with his enthusiasm and drive still strong he usually ends up teaching the class. Master Uezu says "My wife won’t let me teach at home and is always telling me to rest. I am a karate man and this is my life I can’t rest, I have a duty to Master Shimabuku to spread his art of Isshin-Ryu".
Being the ultimate Bushido man he still practices karate everyday in his dojo, (while his wife is taking a nap), he walks 5 miles, and tells anyone who will listen the benefits of karate. This man will never rest, "One day I’ll die and there will be plenty of time to rest, right now I’m too busy".
Courtesy of the Isshin-Ryu Hall Of Fame, Inc.
created by Angi Uezu