Master Sokon Matsumura
There is a school of thought which likes to trace all modern Shorin-ryu back to Matsumura, but I think this is pushing things a little too far. Matsumura was not the only expert in "te" in the early 19th century, and of the thirty or so kata practiced in Shorin and Shorin-related styles, only a few modern kata can be traced back to him.
Until this century hardly any records were kept on karate's development and this makes any biography of Matsumura extremely difficult. He was born in Yamagawa, Shuri in ... well, here you can take your pick. His date of birth has been given by various writers as 1796, 1798, 1800, 1806 or 1809. The last date was given by Shoshin Nagamine in his book "Okinawa-no Karate-do." The most likely date would be 1798, because this date would have given Sokon Matsumura the time to learn and absorb knowledge from Satunuku "Tode" Sakugawa. It is believed that Sakugawa Sensei imparted on Matsumura Sensei the desire to search out and learn the Chinese arts.
Similarly, uncertainty surrounds his teachers. Gichin Funakoshi stated that he studied with the Chinese attache Iwah, but Nagamine wrote that we have no information on who his teachers were. Still others have written that he was a student of Kusanku. Instruction must have been available from Okinawan teachers and since he was associated with the Royal Palace through his position as guardian of the King it is quite possible that he learned something from Chinese officials during their tour of duty there. In an official capacity he visited China (twice) where he was reported to have studied the legendary Lohan arts of the Shaolin, and Satsuma in Japan. It is said that he visited Satsuma in 1832 and may have stayed there as long as two years. If so this could have been a strong formative influence on his development as a bushi. It is believed that he studied Jigen-ryu, the fencing style of the Satsuma clan, under Yashichiro Ijuin. However, Hoshu Ikeda could find no trace of Matsumura's name in the records of Jigen-ryu. This may have been because Matsumura, who was half Chinese and half Okinawan was not of Japanese blood.
Sokon Matsumura was of noble birth (Shizoku). He passed the examinations to become an official of the old Ryukyuan Government and he was skilled in literature. He was best known as a bodyguard to three kings of Ryukyu: Shoko, Shoiku and Shotai. He first became the bodyguard of Shoko, the 17th king of the Ryukyu Dynasty, when the latter retired to a palace in Minatogawa. That was in 1827 so Matsumura would have been quite young when he was first selected for this responsibility.
We do not know for sure what Matsumura's "te" looked like – as the art has changed considerably since his time, we do know that Matsumura Shorin Ryu is believed to have a direct lineage to Matsumura and is also the only system to do the Channan kata mentioned by Choki Motobu and other Chinese influenced kata.
Matsumura was normally known as Bushi (warrior) Matsumura, and he sometimes called himself Bucho. He once put down some notes for one of his students Ryosei Kuwae. These have been handed down by the Kuwae family and published in several Okinawan karate books.
The Precepts of Sokon 'Bushi' Matsumura
You must first resolve to study if you wish to understand the truth of martial arts. This resolve is very important.
Fundamentally, the arts and the martial arts are the same. Each has three fundamental elements.
As far as Art is concerned they are Shisho-no-Gaku, Kunko-no-Gaku and Jussha-no-Gaku.
Shisho-no-Gaku is the art of creative writing and reading - in a word, literature.
Kunko-no-Gaku means to study the past and gain an understanding of ethics by relating past events to our way of life.
Both Shisho-no-Gaku and Kunko-no-Gaku are incomplete until supplemented by Jussha-no-Gaku, (the study of the moral aspects of the teaching of Confucius).
Have a tranquil heart and you can prevail over a village, a country, or the world. The study of Jussha-no-Gaku is the supreme study over both Shisho-no-Gaku and Kunko-no-Gaku. These then are the three elements necessary for the study of the Arts.
If we consider Budo, there are also three precepts. They are Gukushi-no-Bugei, Meimoko-no-Bugei and Budo-no-Bugei.
Gukushi-no-Bugei is nothing more than a technical knowledge of Bugei. Like a woman, it is just superficial and has no depth.
Meimoko-no-Bugei refers to a person who has physical understanding of Bugei. He can be a powerful and violent person who can easily defeat other men. He has no self-control and is dangerous and can even harm his own family.
Budo-no-Bugei is what I admire. With this you can let the enemy destroy himself - just wait with a calm heart and the enemy will defeat himself.
People who practice Budo-no-Bugei are loyal to their friends, their parents and their country. They will do nothing that is unnatural and contrary to nature.
We have "seven virtues of Bu". They are:
1. Bu prohibits violence.
2. Bu keeps discipline in soldiers.
3. Bu keeps control among the population.
4. Bu spreads virtue.
5. Bu gives a peaceful heart.
6. Bu helps keep peace between people.
7. Bu makes people or a nation prosperous.
Our forefathers handed these seven virtues down to us.
Just as Jussha-no-Gaku is supreme in the arts, so Budo-no-Bugei is supreme in the martial arts.
"Mon-Bu" (Art and Martial Arts) have the same common elements. We do not need Gukushi-no-Bugei or Meimoko-no-Bugei - this is the most important thing.
I leave these words to my wise and beloved deshi Kuwae.
- Bucho Matsumura
Kata of Matsumura Shorin Ryu (Ti Suidi)
Nishime Junji
Naihanchi
Channan (2)
Seisan
Passai/Bassai
Chinto
Chinte
Kushanku
Useshi
Chinsu
Notable Instructors of Matsumura Ryu (Shuri Lineage)
Ushi Sakugawa Lineage
Alton Martin Sr.
Avery Wax
Cecil Peek
James Tyler
Maxwell D. Keller
Joe Spriggs
John Spriggs
Steve Bagwell
Marvin Tatum
Carl Hollloquist
Jerry Atkins
Donald Walker
Walter D. German
Norman Leonard
Hobart Copeland
Bill Clark
Earl Chastain
Bill Bruceton
W. Steve Dyer
Homer Welch
Tom Coker
Ben Grimes
Tom Bennett
Thomas Martin
Alton Martin Jr.
Chosuke Sakugawa Linage
Hansel Kaneshiro
Kenji Yamashiro
Paul Freeman
Chosuke Sakugawa has asked that before I post the names of his students, I request permission from them. In honor of that request I will not post the names until approval is granted.
*Since this is the Sakugawa Family art there are certainly other relatives that have taught and passed on this system of Okinawan Karate. The Sakugawa Family is not named in this list except those that has a specific linage starting with them. This list is by no means complete and if you have training in this style please contact me through this website and let me know and we will endeavor to research and post your name and teachers name.