Okinawa Kenpo
沖縄拳法Okinawan karate style of Nakamura Shigeru, who according to Ryukyu Shimpo promoted fighting in protective gear and a knockdown system of bouts.
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Training
Organisation & Competition
What the style is built from
Editorial rating on a 0–3 scale, based on how much room each area gets in ordinary training.
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About Okinawa Kenpo
Okinawa kenpo is an Okinawan karate style that, according to the Okinawa Karate Information Center (OKIC), was named by Nakamura Shigeru and spread mainly in the north of the island. OKIC gives his years as 1891 to 1969, Ryukyu Shimpo as 1894 to 1970. Japanese Wikipedia says he chose the name because, in his view, Okinawan karate has no original school. Ryukyu Shimpo wrote in 2023 that Nakamura promoted fighting in protective gear and introduced a knockdown system of bouts, and his merits are now recalled by a panel at the Okinawa Karate Kaikan. The IKKF website states that in the early 20th century the name Okinawa kenpo was used generally for Okinawan karate and only in the early 1950s began to denote Nakamura's system. The founding dates differ between sources. IKKF gives his own dojo in Nago in 1953 and the Okinawa Kenpo Renmei from 1955, which Nakamura founded with Zenryo Shimabuku. The Oki-Ken-Kai school gives a dojo from about 1950 and the Okinawa Kenpo Karate-do Renmei association from 1960. After Nakamura's death, according to IKKF the style was led by Seikichi Odo, while Oki-Ken-Kai names a different man as the successor Nakamura appointed in 1969.
History
Japanese Wikipedia states that Nakamura was born in present-day Nago and that his father and uncle taught him martial arts and Ryukyu kobudo. OKIC names two teachers he studied under, Japanese Wikipedia others, among them Chotoku Kyan. According to Japanese Wikipedia, an Okinawan branch of the Japanese karate federation was formed in January 1960 in a Shorin-ryu dojo and Nakamura became its highest instructor. Green in Martial Arts of the World lists Nakamura Shigeru among the Okinawan supporters of Taira Shinken's kobudo movement.
Technique
The Oki-Ken-Kai school states that from about 1950, according to another version from 1940, Nakamura promoted fighting in protective gear and sought to spread it. Japanese Wikipedia counts him among the first to practise karate in protective gear in postwar Okinawa, and IKKF writes he was known for developing bogu equipment for contact fighting. From a teacher IKKF names as Shinkichi Kunioshi, he took over, according to Oki-Ken-Kai, tomari-te with the kata Naihanchi, Seisan, Niseishi, Passai and Kusanku.
Ranks and progression
The Oki-Ken-Kai school says the Japanese karate federation gave Nakamura the title of 10th dan hanshi on 5 February 1960. We have not found an Okinawa kenpo grading system in reliable sources.
Competition
Ryukyu Shimpo wrote in 2022 about a found cassette with audio of the first all-Okinawa karate championship, organised by the headquarters of the Okinawa kenpo association and attended, according to the paper, by about 300 people. The paper gives 1973 as probable. The Oki-Ken-Kai school states that an all-Okinawa championship in fighting in protective gear has been held since 1990.
Today
IKKF states that after Nakamura's death in 1969 the Okinawa Kenpo Renmei appointed Seikichi Odo master of the style, and Odo added weapons training. In the mid-1970s, according to IKKF, he founded the Okinawa Kenpo Karate Kobudo Association, renamed the Okinawa Kenpo Karate-Kobudo Federation in 1983 and the Ryukyu Hon Kenpo Kobujutsu Federation in 1998. Odo died on 24 March 2002. Ryukyu Shimpo states that Nakamura's grandson is director of the Okinawa Karate Kaikan in Tomigusuku.
Did you know
The Oki-Ken-Kai school states that Nakamura died suddenly of influenza and that the appointed successor then continued teaching at home. According to Ryukyu Shimpo, the Okinawa Karate Kaikan displayed a panel on Nakamura's merits in 2023.
Frequently asked questions
Who founded Okinawa kenpo?
Nakamura Shigeru, who according to OKIC named the style and spread it in northern Okinawa. OKIC gives his years as 1891 to 1969, Ryukyu Shimpo as 1894 to 1970.
Why is Okinawa kenpo associated with fighting in protective gear?
Ryukyu Shimpo writes that Nakamura promoted fighting in protective gear and introduced a knockdown bout system. Japanese Wikipedia counts him among the first to practise karate in protective gear in postwar Okinawa.
Who led Okinawa kenpo after Nakamura?
Sources differ. IKKF names Seikichi Odo, the Oki-Ken-Kai school a different man whom Nakamura appointed successor in 1969.
Similar styles
Selected by overlap in the style profile, not by historical lineage.