| History of Okinawa Kenpo |
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| THE EVOLUTION OF A TRADITIONAL SYSTEM Early reference to the term �Okinawan Kenpo� dates back to the early 1900s. In 1922, Gichin Funakoshi, considered the � Father of modern karate�, published his first book, RYUKYU KENPO; KARATE - Ryukyu being the ancient name for Okinawa. Choki Motobu used another form of the term in his 1926 book, OKINAWA KEMPO KARATE - JITSU ON KUMITE. During this period, the term Okinawa Kenpo or Kempo served the same function as the term Okinawa-Te, that is, a generic name for all Okinawa Karate. It was not until the early 1950s that the term shifted to describe a particular karate system taught by Master Shigeru Nakamura (1894 - 1969) A MASTER�S BEGINNINNGS Master Nakamura was born on January 20, 1894. He lived in the city of Nago, Okinawa, but as the son of a wealthy merchant family, he was able to travel more widely than many of his contemporaries. During the early 1900�s, karate classes were integrated into the Okinawa educational system, not unlike the physical programs found in the western school systems. As a result, Nakamura�s introduction to karate resulted from his attendance at Icchu Middle School in Shuri, where both Kanryo Higashionna (1845-1915) and Chomo Hanashiro (1869-1945) were the karate instructors. Yasutune Itosu (1830-1915) and Kentsu Yabu (1863-1937) also made periodic visits to the school. Upon graduation from middle school, Nakamura returned to Nago where he continued his karate training under Shinkichi Kuniyoshi, who had recently moved to Kumoji Village, Naha. Kuniyoshi Sensei was the successor to the legendary Kitoku Sakiyama of Wakuda Village, Naha, who was also known as Naha �Bushi� Sakiyama and had a reputation throughout Okinawa, coming to be known as the �IRON FIST WARRIOR�. |
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