Shorin-ryu Shorinkan
小林流小林館Okinawan karate branch founded in 1975 by Nakazato Shugoro, a student of Chibana Choshin from the Kobayashi Shorin-ryu line.
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About Shorin-ryu Shorinkan
Shorin-ryu Shorinkan is an Okinawan karate branch established in November 1975 by Nakazato Shugoro after he left the Okinawan Shorin-ryu association. According to Wikipedia he was born on 14 August 1920 in Shuri, another source gives 1921, and he died on 24 August 2016. He was a student of Chibana Choshin, helped him open a dojo in 1951 and received a shihan license from him in 1955. After Chibana's death in 1969 he became vice-chairman of the Okinawan Shorin-ryu association. The roots of the style reach through Kobayashi Shorin-ryu to Shuri-te, the old tradition of the city of Shuri. According to the portal Okinawa Karate Navi, the main dojo in Naha teaches the katas Naihanchi, Pinan, Passai, Kusanku and Gojushiho, plus Okinawan kobudo with bo, sai, kama, nunchaku, eku and tonfa. Nakazato studied kobudo from 1935. Nakazato held the tenth dan hanshi, and the newspaper Ryukyu Shimpo confirms that he was a holder of the Okinawa Prefecture intangible cultural property. In the early 1960s Americans trained with him and brought the style to the United States. After his death the Shorinkan is led by his son Nakazato Minoru.
History
According to Wikipedia, Nakazato Shugoro was born on 14 August 1920 in Shuri, another source gives 1921. He was one of Chibana Choshin's leading students, helped him open the Dai Ichi dojo in 1951 and received a shihan license from him in 1955. After Chibana's death in 1969 he became vice-chairman of the Okinawa Shorin-ryu Karate-do Association. In November 1975 he left the association and founded the Okinawa Karate-do Shorin-ryu Shorinkan Association. Already in the early 1960s the Americans Noel Smith and Eddie Bethea trained with him, and seven of his black belts, known as the Original 7, spread the style in the United States. Nakazato died on 24 August 2016 at the age of ninety-six.
Technique
Shorinkan derives from Shuri-te. Per portal Okinawa Karate Navi, the Naha main dojo teaches katas Naihanchi, Pinan, Passai, Kusanku and Gojushiho.
Training
Besides karate, the main dojo practises Okinawan kobudo with bo, sai, kama, nunchaku, eku and tonfa. The website The Karate Page lists the bo katas Shushi nu Kun and Sakugawa nu Kun and the sai series Sai Ichi, Ni and San. Nakazato began learning kobudo in 1935 under Tonaki Seiro and continued after the war under Chinen Masami.
Ranks and progression
Nakazato Shugoro held the tenth dan hanshi, according to one club's website since 1980. The newspaper Ryukyu Shimpo confirms that he was a holder of the Okinawa Prefecture intangible cultural property, and Wikipedia gives the appointment as 2000. It was not the national title of living national treasure.
Today
The Okinawa Karatedo Shorin-ryu Shorinkan Association is seated in Aja in Naha and, since his father's death in August 2016, led by Nakazato Minoru. He is also chairman of the Okinawa prefectural karate federation.
Did you know
According to one club's website, Nakazato performed the kata Gorin at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta. Wikipedia states that in November 2007 he received the Order of the Rising Sun, fifth class.
Frequently asked questions
Who founded Shorin-ryu Shorinkan?
Nakazato Shugoro, a student of Chibana Choshin, in November 1975 after leaving the Okinawan Shorin-ryu association.
Which katas are practised in Shorinkan?
Naihanchi, Pinan, Passai, Kusanku and Gojushiho, plus kobudo with bo, sai, kama, nunchaku, eku and tonfa.
Was Nakazato Shugoro a living national treasure?
No. He was a holder of the Okinawa Prefecture intangible cultural property, which is a regional, not a national title.
Similar styles
Selected by overlap in the style profile, not by historical lineage.