SHITO RYU KARATE-DO Shito-Ryu Karate-Do is one of the main karate styles today. It was founded by Kenwa Mabuni (born 14th November 1889 in Shuri on the island Okinawa), the 17th descendant of the prince Onigusuki, a legendary war lord of the Ryukyu kingdom (old Name of Okinawa). Kenwa Mabuni started the study of Shuri-te, also known as Shorin-Ryu, with the famous Master Yasutsune (Anko) Itosu (1830-1915) of Shuri, a student of Master Sokon Matsumura (1792-1887), with the age of 13. Another famous student of the Itosu school was Gichin Funakoshi (1886-1957), the founder of Shotokan Karate-Do. At the age of 20, Kenwa Mabuni started with the study of Naha-te, also known as Shorei-Ryu, with the other great famous martial artist of this time, Master Kanryu Higashionna (Higaonna) (1853-1915), to whom he was introduced by his close friend Chojun Miyagi (1888-1953), the later founder of Goju-Ryu. After finishing his education and military service, Kenwa Mabuni joined the okinawan police force. This occupation allowed him to visit the different regions of Okinawa and learn many of the classical martial arts of the island, known as Ryukyu-Kobudo. For a longer time, he was a student of Master Seisho (Kamadeunchu) Aragaki (1840-1918), who taught a similar style to the Naha-te of Master Kanryu Higashionna. From master Aragaki he learned several karate and and Sai-Jutsu by Master Tawada. In the 20 of this century he taught together with Chojun Miyagi (Naha-te), Choyu Motobu (Shuri-te and Gotende, the combat system of the old okinawan royal house), Chomo Hanashiro (Shuri-te) and Juhatsu Kiyoda (Naha-te) in the famous Ryukyu Tode Kenkyu-Kai (Okinawan Karate Research Club). Here, he learned some Fukien 'White Crane Fist' and Pangai Noon (hard and soft) forms from the chinese trader Master Wu Xian Gui (Go Kenki). After Master Gichin Funakoshi introduced karate to Japan in 1922, Kenwa Mabuni gave several exhibitions of his art on the japanese main islands. Most of this time he stayed in Osaka, where he taught karate do in several dojo. In 1929, he finally moved to Osaka and opened his own dojo to teach his version of karate do. Master Mabuni founded his method on the teachings of his 2 main teachers, Master Yasutsune (Anko) Itosu from Shuri and Master Kanryu Higashionna from Naha. In the name he choose for his new art, Shito-Ryu, he used the initials of these great Masers: "Shi" which is a variation in the pronunciation of "Ito" in Itosu, and "To" is a variation in the pronunciation of "Higashi" in Higashionna (Higaonna). By combining the two styles of Shuri-te and Naha-te together and through systematize their approaches he created the basis of what Shito-Ryu is today: A style based on a systematic training methods, combining the concepts of Shuri-Ryu and Shorei-Ryu to a logical unit. The symbol of Shito-Ryu is the family coat of arms of the house Mabuni This Symbol of Shito-Ryu was the coat of arms of the house Mabuni for many centuries. The circle is a symbol for peace and harmony (Wa). The vertical and horizontal lines represent the calligraphy for "human being" or "human beings". Thus, the symbol signifies "human beings working in peace and harmony". After the move to Osaka (1927-28) Soke Kenwa Mabuni started to teach Shito-Ryu Karate Do full time as his main profession. During the next years Soke Mabuni tried to develop his Shito-Ryu Karate-Do and to spread it the region of Osaka. To proof the effectiveness of his martial art, he gave many demonstrations and taught free self defense classes in police stations all over western Japan. Due to his success in 1931 the DAI NIHON KARATEDO KAI was founded. This group was the predecessor of the "World Shito-Kai Karatedo Federation". Shito-Ryu Karate-Do was now widely accepted and Soke Mabuni started to teach many students at his home and at different universities. Amongst his many students were his 2 sons, Kenei Mabuni and Kenzo Mabuni, Chojiro Tani (the founder of Tani-ha SHUKOKAI), Ryusho Sakagami (the founder of Shito-Ryu Itosukai), Yoshiaki Tsujikawa, Ken Sakio, Jun-ichi Inoue, Manzo Iwata, Toshiyuki Imanishi, Kazuo Kokuba, Tokio Hisatomi and Ryusei Tomoyori. Soke Kenwa Mabuni died on March 23rd 1952 aged 64. His oldest son, Kenei Mabuni, became his heir and successor as head of Shito-Ryu. He heads the central school of Shito-Ryu, the Yoshu-Kan in Osaka, and also the Union Shito-Ryu Europe, since its foundation in 1990.

This page was created by Glenn Perry, Goshin Goju Ryu.

Masutatsu Oyama, Sosai (1923 - 1994) Masutatsu Oyama, the founder of Kyokushin Karate was born on July 12, 1923 in Korea. He lived on his sister's farm in Manchuria from infancy until age 12, during this time he studied Kung-Fu. Returning to Korea, he continued his martial arts training, then travelled to Japan in 1938. He trained in various martial arts disciplines in Japan earning his second degree (nidan) black belt in karate at age 17, and fourth degree (yondan) at age 20. The progress he made in his studies of Judo were equally astounding, achieving the rank of yondan in less than four years. One of Mas Oyama's instructors in Karate, So Nei Chu, was to have a profound influence on Mas Oyama, when he advised him to make a firm commitment to dedicate his lifeto the martial way. Heeding his words to "seek solace in nature", Mas Oyama subjected himself to the rigours of daily training in the mountains of Chiba prefecture in order to strength his own body and spirit. He was accompanied by one of his own students, but after six months of isolation, the student secretly fled, leaving Mas Oyama to continue his vigourous training alone. Returning to civilization after one year of solitude, he tested his abilities in the karate division of the first national martial arts championships, and won. Mas Oyama then imposed on himself a further period of solitary training, again in the mountains, and upon his return, demonstrated his remarkable ability by fighting bulls. He fought a total of 52 bulls, killing three and breaking the horns off 49 others. His fame as a karateka spread rapidly as his feats were unparalled and in 1954 he opened his first dojo in Tokyo, Japan. This dojo was the beginning of the Kyokushin KaiKan. In 1964, the Tokyo Honbu (headquarters) was officially opened and the International Karate Organization (IKO) was established. Today, the IKO, headed by Kancho Shokei Matsui, is the largest karate organization in the world with over twelve million members in 135 countries. Kanku: The symbol of Kyokushin Karate is the Kanku, which is derived from Kanku Kata, the Sky Gazing Form. In this kata, the hands are raised and the fingers meet to form an opening through which the sky is viewed. The top and bottom points of the Kanku represent the first fingers of each hand touching at the top and the thumbs touching at the bottom, symbolizing the peaks or ultimate points. The thick sections at the sides represent the wrists, symbolizing power. The center circle represents the opening between the hands through which the sky is viewed, symbolizing infinite depth. The whole Kanku is enclosed by a circle, symbolizing continuity and circular action. Kyokushinkai: The kanji (Japanese characters) calligraphy, worn universally on the front of the gi, simply means "Kyokushinkai", which is the name given by Sosai Mas Oyama to the karate style he created. It is composed of three characters: Masutatsu Oyama, the founder one of the largest Karate organization started and established Bare-knuckle, Full-contact tournament system one of the top authoritative and influential figures in the world of Martial Arts history one of the pioneers in spreading the Asian Martial Arts to the West and to all over the world ever pursuing, ever a practitioner, he is recognized to be reached to the level of the true Mastery. Kyoku - meaning "Ultimate". Shin - meaning "Truth" or "Reality". Kai - meaning "Society" or "Association" Kan = Building, School

This page was created by Glenn Perry, Goshin Goju Ryu.

Miyagi Chojun, Sensei: The Founder of Goju Ryu Karate-Do Chojun Miyagi was born April 25th 1888 in Higashi-Machi (Naha-shi) Okinawa. When Miyagi Sensei was 11 years old, his mother took him to a karate master named Aragaki Ryuko. At the dojo of Aragaki Sensei, he trained mainly on makiwara, chishi, and nagiri-game, which were used to strengthen and develop the muscles.Later he introduced the young Miyagi to Higaona Sensei. After watching the young Miyagi carrying out all of the chores around the house (the traditional way of being accepted by an instructor), Higaona Sensei decided to have him as a personal disciple, and started to teach him his art. Miyagi Sensei's training was not confined just to the dojo. He ran every day from his High School, where he had enrolled previously, and a few times he was seen at the harbor as well. Miyagi did a lot of body conditioning before he went to Higaona's dojo, but still found the training extremely hard and demanding. Higaona's training was exhaustive, and Miyagi would pass out many an evening. Although the training was very hard, Miyagi was enthusiastic about his karate, and Higaona Sensei was already thinking of him as his successor. Both were already working on the practice of kata and on the improvement of Naha-te. They stayed together for 15 years. After training with Higaonna Sensei, Miyagi sailed to China in May of 1915 in search of his Higaonna's teacher. This was one of three trips he made to China during his lifetime. During his quest he studied Chuguko Kempo (Chinese Fist) in Fouchow, Fukien Province, from 1915 to 1917. He studied not only the building blocks of his teachers art Hung Gar-Shaolin Chuan Chi-Chi, but also I-Chuan, Pa Kua Chang and Tai Chi Chuan. All of these were softer however highly skilled and effective styles. It was at this time he learned the Kata Rokkishu, which later became the building block on Kata Tensho. With this additional martial art training Okinawa-te, Naha-te and the Chinese arts, Sensei Miyagi developed a refined form of empty hand, and even today its Whooping Crane Chinese Kung Fu roots can still be seen in its forms or Kata. In early 1917, Higaonna Sensei died, and Miyagi returned to Okinawa. After he buried his beloved teacher, he began to teach his Karate at a number of places in and around Naha, and to lecture and demonstrate throughout Japan. Chojun Miyagi's students primarily studied four Kata: Sanchin, Sesan, Seiunchin and Tensho. These Kata are called the Kaishu forms but the Kata Sesan and Seiunchin were actually considered the training Kata of Goju-Ryu Training by himself now, Miyagi decided to approach his karate in a more "natural" way. He worked out in the forests and on the beaches. Sometimes he even practiced in the snow for long periods of time, as to bring his karate closer to nature. Miyagi spent most of his time practicing practicing karate and studying everything that could be related to Martial Arts. Miyagi-Sensei subjected the art of Naha-te, as received from Kanryo Higashionna, to scientific examination. He studied the basic Go (Sanchin) and the six rules and created the Ju (Tensho) form, combining soft and hard movements. Later, he created the katas Gekisai Ich and Ni. He also organized the auxiliary movements to strengthen the body through calisthenics. He organized these exercises in preparation for practicing the classical Kata. It can be said, he formulated the theory for the practice of Karate and organized it as an educational subject, an art of self-defense, and as a spiritual exercise. During this time he also becomes a permanent officer of the Dai Nippon Butokukai (Great Japan Martial Virtues Association). By 1936 Mr. Chojun Miyagi was truly recognized by the Government of Japan with being awarded the medal for "Excellence in the Martial Arts" from the Japanese Ministry of Education. That same year he went to train at the Chinese martial arts in Shanghai at the Seibu Dai Iku Kai or Great Gymnastic Association - Pure Martial Spirit. On May 5th, 1937 - Miyagi Chojun Sensei performed Kata at the Butoku Sai for the Dai Nippon Butoku-kai. To describe his system, Miyagi compared it to a willow tree standing against the wind, remaining stable because of its strong roots, while the branches flow and give with the force.With this concept he envisioned a new approach to Karate, combining it with hard and soft techniques to be used in countering hard blows and kicks. The naming of Goju-Ryu came about more by accident than design. In 1929 one of Chojun Miyagi Sensei disciples, Jinan Shinzato, was in mainland Kyoto, Japan for a large martial arts convention to demonstrate Naha-te. After the performance he was asked to what school of karate he belonged. As Naha-te had no formal name he could not answer this question (styles were only known by the area in which the art was practiced. Feeling his art would be looked down upon he answered "Hankry-ryu", which means the Way of Half Hard. Unable to accurately reply he returned to Okinawa and consulted Miyagi Sensei. He chose the name"Goju Ryu" (the hard-soft style), inspired by the "Eight precepts" of Kempo, written in the Bubishi. Quoting from the third verse of a Chinese Bubishi poem, Eight Poems of the Fist: "The way of inhaling and exhaling is hardness and softness." It is from this that the art Miyagi studied and taught got its name. Goju-Ryu, the way of hard and soft. Following what is now known as the Meeting of the Masters, Mr. Miyagi along with others who attended formed the 'Great Japan Martial Arts Karate Teachers Association' or 'Dai Nippon Butokukai Karate Jutsu-Kyoshi'(1937). Before the Second World War, Chojun Miyagi traveled widely and was involved in many projects to spread karate throughout mainland Japan and the rest of the world. However, from 1948 until 1953 he remained in Okinawa. Before the war he had been dedicated to his own training and research, to further develop the art of Goju Ryu Karate, but his purpose in life had now changed. He was intent on passing on Goju Ryu, and the "gokui" (secret principles) of Goju Ryu to the next generation. Master Miyagi taught at his home, outside in his Garden Dojo. But he didn't teach regularly outside his own personal students other than his municipal duties (Police and education Miyagi Sensei's instruction was not limited to physical training. He also lectured his students on history, culture, society, human relations as many senior Sensei of today do. During these 'sessions' Miyagi Sensei would teach the kata (forms) in great detail and explain the "bunkai" (kata applications) thoroughly. Miyagi was content promoting and teaching his art. He felt no need to wear a uniform, a patch, create ranks, and soon. Miyagi never awarded a Black Belt to any of his students. Miyagi believed himself unworthy of granting a black belt and that a black belt should be awarded by a member of the emperor's family or a sanctioning body such as the Butokukai. He was in the process of formulating requirements for the Black Belt however he died before this was completed. Chojun Miyagi passed away October 8th, 1953. He had not conceded a successor at the time of his death. Leaving an unprecedented mark in the world of Karate-do and from his famous Garden Dojo and enough legendary students to carry his name into the history books of Martial Arts as the 'Master". He predicted that during the twentieth century karate would spread throughout the world. Today we can see that this prediction has been realized, karate is not only practiced in Japan, but it can be found throughout the world. Karate can no longer be referred to as a solely Okinawan or Japanese martial art, it has become an art with no boundaries, an art for all people all over the world.

Glenn Perry, Goshin Goju Ryu.

Choki Motobu Choki Motobu (1871-1944) was born in 1871 in Akahira village in the Shuri region of Okinawa. He was the third son of Motobu Udun, a high ranking aji or lord. The Motobu family were skilled at the art of Ti (a grappling art of the Okinawan nobility). Motobu did learn some of the techniques of his family's fighting system, but because of Okinawan tradition, only the first son, Choyu, was educated and choose to carry on the family's martial tradition. Because of this situation, he went looking for instruction elsewhere. Choki began training extensively with makiwara and lifted heavy rocks to gain strength. He endeavored to become as strong as possible and trained with ferocity. He became known as Motobu zaru or Motobu the monkey because of his agility and speed. Eventually, Motobu became the student of Anko Itosu (one of Mabuni's sensei). Now a young man, Choki spent a lot of time seeking out strong looking men to challenge on the street. He won most of his fights and learned much from these encounters. Itosu sensei was not impressed by the young man's bullying and promptly expelled him form the dojo. Motobu's aggressive behavior soon earned him a bad reputation and many sensei would not teach him. Once man, however, liked the spirit he showed and accepted him as a student of karate. This man was Kosaku Matsumora of Tomari. It was from Matsumora that Choki learned many Kata. Motobu still challenged others to fights often and was eager to develop and improve his fighting skills. He eventually asked Matsumora to teach him kumite, but Matsumora told him to continue to learn on his own. Motobu, however, was persevering and is said to have watched the kumite training through holes in the fence around Matsumora's dojo. Motobu's street fighting served him well (to the detriment of many). He formulated his own formidable style of kumite and began to get much attention in Okinawa and in Japan on his trips to the islands. One day while in Kyoto he witnessed a contest where people were asked to match skills with a foreign boxer. A friend coaxed Motobu to give it a try. The boxer was arrogant and goaded Motobu constantly. For two rounds Motobu just avoided the boxer's attacks. In the third round he had enough. He used a practiced technique and promptly knocked the boxer out. The crowd was quite taken aback. They had never seen this kind of fighting. Motobu had simply struck his opponent with a fore knuckle in the temple; a basic technique. Needless to say, Motobu quickly gained a reputation as a master and many curious people came to learn this mysterious new art. Soon, Motobu became a full time teacher. During this time, Motobu gained great respect for his fighting ability. He was hailed as the greatest fighter in Japan. Many sensei advised their students to go and train with Motobu and learn his kumite techniques (for obvious reasons). He was also asked to teach at several universities. Because of this, many of today's great instructors of various styles had the benefit of his instruction, so it is clear that his was a large influence in karate. Motobu usually only taught naihanchi kata to his students and it was his own version with many Ti-like grappling and throwing techniques. However, it was his kumite that had the greatest impact on karate. Oddly enough, there is a story of Choki, full of confidence, challenging his brother Choyu to a fight. It is said that Choyu threw Choki around like a rag doll. After the experience, Choki is said to have humbled himself and adopted more of his family's Ti forms. In 1922, Master Motobu helped Master Funakoshi start the teaching of Karate to the Japanese. Filled with a new outlook on his life, Master Motobu returned to Okinawa in 1936 and began training with Master Kentsu Yabu. Master Yabu was only man to have ever defeated Master Motobu. Later in life, Motobu seemed to stress the importance of tradition in training. He strongly stressed the importance of makiwara training and became as enthusiastic about kata as he had always been about kumite. In 1936, at the age of 65, Motobu left Tokyo and went back to Okinawa to visit his instructors to talk about the state of karate in Japan and to make sure that he was teaching the kata and techniques in their originally, unaltered form. Subsequently, he returned and continued teaching in Tokyo. Shortly before World War II, he returned to Okinawa and died in 1944 of a stomach disease at the age of 73. It is obvious that Choki Motobu was very instrumental in the development of karate and that he was the inspiration for many who trained in the art. It is good to see that, today, millions of people still keep the art alive and strive to keep the fighting spirit of karate which Sensei Motobu so dearly loved.

This page was created by Glenn Perry, Goshin Goju Ryu.

IF THERE IS ONE MAN WHO COULD BE CREDITED with placing karate in the worldwide position it enjoys today, it is Gichin Funakoshi.

Gichin Funakoshi, meijin (master), was born in Shuri, Okinawa in 1868. As a boy, he was trained by two famous masters of that time. Each trained him in a different Okinawan martial art. From Yasutsune Azato he learned Shuri-te. From Yasutsune Itosu, he learned Naha-te. It would be the melding of these two styles that would one day become Shotokan karate. Funakoshi-sensei is the man who introduced karate to Japan. In 1917 he was asked to perform his martial art at a physical education exhibition sponsored by the Ministry of Education. He was asked back again in 1922 for another exhibition. He was asked back a third time, but this was a special performance. He demonstrated his art for the emporer and the royal family! Atfer this, Funakoshi-sensei decided to remain in Japan and teach and promote his art. Gichin Funakoshi passed away in 1957 at the age of 88. Aside from creating Shotokan karate and introducing it to Japan and the world, he also wrote the very book on the subject of karate, "Ryukyu Kempo: Karate-do". He also wrote "Karate-Do Kyohan" - The Master Text, the "handbook" of Shotokan and he wrote his autobiography, "Karate-Do: My Way of Life". These books and his art are a fitting legacy for this unassuming and gentle man. Funakoshi's story is very similar to that of many greats in karate. He began as a weakling, sickly and in poor health, whose parents brought him to Itosu for his karte training. Between his doctor , Tokashiki, who prescribed certain herbs that would strengthen him, and Itosu's good instruction, Funakoshi soon blossomed. He became a good student, and with Asato, Arakaki and Matsumura as his other teachers, expertise and his highly disciplined mind. When he finally came to Japan from Okinawa in 1922, he stayed among his own people at the prefectural students's dormitory at Suidobata, Tokyo. He lived in a small room alongside the entrance and would clean the dormitouy during the day when the students were in their classes. At night, he would teach them karate. After a short time, he had earned sufficient means to open his first school in Meishojuku. Following this, his shotokan in Mejiro was opened and he finally had a place from which he sent forth a variety of outstanding students, such as Takagi and Nakayama of Nippon Karate Kyokai, Yoshida of Takudai, Obata of Keio, Noguchi of Waseda, and Otsuka, the founder of Wado-Ryu karate. It is said that in his travels in and around Japan, while giving demonstrations and lectures, Funakoshi always had Otsuka accompany him. The martial arts world in Japan, especially in the early Twenties and up to the early Fourties, enjoyed ultra-nationalists were riding high, and they looked down their noses at any art that was not purely called it a pagan and savage art. Funakoshi overcame this prejudice and finally gained formal recognition of karate as one of the Japanese martial arts by 1941. Needless to say, many karate clubs flourished on mainland Japan. In 1926, karate was instirudes in Tokyo University. Three years later, karate was formally organized on a club level by three students: Matsuda Katsuichi, Himotsu Kazumi and Nakachi K.,Funakoshi was their teacher. He also organized karate clubs in Keio University and in the Shichi-Tokudo, a barracks situated in a corner of the palace grounds. Funkoshi visited the Shichi-Tokudo every other day to teach and was always accompained by Otsuka, reputed to be one of the most brilliant of his students in Japan proper. Otsuka's favorite kata was the Naihanchi, which he performed before the royalty of Japan with another outstanding atudent named Oshima, who performed the Pinan kata (Heian). One day, when Otsuka was teaching at the Shichi-Tokudo, a student, Kogura, from Keio University who had a san-dan degree (3rd-degree black belt) in kendo (Japanese fencing) and also a black belt in karate, took a sword and faced Otsuka. All the other students watched to see what would happen. They felt that no one could face the shinken (open blade) held by a kendo expert. Otsuka calmly watched Kogura and the moment he made a move with his sword, Otsuka swept him off his feet. As this was unrehearsed, ot attested to the skill of Otsuka. It also bore out Funakoshi's philosophy that kata practice was more tah sufficient in times of need. In 1927, three men, Miki, Bo and Hirayama decided that kata practice was not enough and tried to introduce jiyukumite (free-fighting). They devised protective clothig and used kendo masks in their matches in order to utilize full contact. Funakoshi heard about these bouts and, when he could not discourage such attempts at what he consedered belittling to the art of karate, he stopped coming to the Shichi-Tokudo. Both Funakoshi and his top student, Otsuka, never showed their faces there again. When Funakoshi came to mainland Japan, he brought 16 kata with him: 5 pinam, 3 naihanchi, kushanku dai, kushanku sho, seisan, patsai, wanshu, chinto, jutte and jion. He kept his students on the before they progressed to the more advanced forms. The repetitious training that he instituted paid divedends; his students went on to produce the most precise, exact type of karate taught anywhere. Jigoro Kano, the founder of modern judo, once invited Funakoshi and a friend, Makoto Gima, to perform at the Kodokan (then located at Tomisaka). Approximately a hundred people watched the performance. Gim, who had studied under Yabu Kentsu as a youth in Okinawa, performed the naihanshi shodan, and Fuankoshi performed the koshokun (kushanku dai). Kanso sensei watched the performance and asked Funakoshi about the techniques involved. He was greatly impressed. He invited Funakoshi and Gima to a tendon (fish and rice) dinner, during which he sang and made jokes to put Funakoshi at ease. Irrespective of his sincerity in teaching the art of true karate, Funakoshi was not without his detractors. His critics scorned his insistence on the kata and dectied what they called "soft" karate that wasted too much time. Funakoshi insisted on hito-kata sanen (three years on one kata). Funakoshi was a humble man. He preached and practiced an essential humility. He did not preach the is rooted in the true perspective of things, full of life and awareness. He lived at peace with himself and with his fellow men. Whenever the name of Gichin Funakoshi is mentioned, it brings to mind the parble of "A Man of Tao (Do) and a Little Man". As it is told, a student once asked, "What is the difference between a man of Tao and a little man?" The sensei replies, "It is simple. When the little man receives his first dan (degree or rank), he can hardly wait to run home and shout at the top of his voice to tell everyone that he made his first dan. Upon receiving his second dan, he will climb to the rooftops and shout to the people. Upon receiving his third dan, he will jump in his automobile and parade through town with horns blowing, telling one and all about his third dan". The sensei continues, "When the man of Tao receives his first dan, he will bow his head in gratitude. Upon receiving his second dan, he will bow his head and his shoulders. Upon receiving his third dan, he will bow to the waist and quietly walk alongside the wall so that people will not see him or notice him". Funakoshi was a man of Tao. He placed no emphasis on competitions, record breaking or championships. He placed emphasis on individual selfperfection. He believe in the common decency and respect that one human being owed to another. He was the master of masters. Written by R. Kim The memorial to Gichin Funakoshi. It was erected at the Enkaku-ji Temple in Kamakura in 1968. The calligraphy at the right is by the master; that at the left is by Asahina Sogen, chief priest of the temple, and reads, "Karate ni sente nashi" (There is no first attack in karate).

This page was created by Glenn Perry, Goshin Goju Ryu.