Shōrinji-ryū

Not to be confused with Shorinjiryu Kenkokan Karate.

Shōrinji-ryū (少林寺流) (also known as Sakugawa Koshiki Shōrinji-ryū Karatedō) is a form of karate derived from the teachings of Kanga Sakukawa.

History

The name Sakugawa Koshiki Shorinji-Ryu Karatedo reflects both its orthodox transmission of Sakugawa's techniques and its descent from the original Shaolin system.

Sakugawa's student Sokon Matsumura served as security agent for the Okinawan royal family until his retirement, when he began to conduct karatedo classes at Shuri. Among his students were Anko Itosu and Chomo Hanashiro. Hanashiro instructed Jiro Ogasawara.

Thomas Cauley, hachidan, received instruction from the Ogasawara family during many tours of military service in Japan and brought the art to the United States.

Renshinkan Federation Japan

The late Soke Isamu Tamotsu founded the Shorinjiryu Karate-do Renshinkan.

In his childhood, he was introduced to coaching Karate by fisherman who lived near his house in Okinawa.

He visited to Taiwan when he was seventeen years old. He learned Kodokan-jujutsu from the late master Tadao Nakahara, and southern Chinese martial arts from the late master Chin who is expert of Chinese martial arts.

After the World War II, he decided to form human-beings through Bu-do because he grieve desolation of people’s mind. Therefore, he came back to Okinawa, and learned Okinawa-Karate from Zenryo Shimabkuro who was the disciple of the late Chutoku Kyan. Chutoku was famous master of Okinawa Karate.

Isamu mastered not only Karate-do but also Kodokan-jujutsu, Hoen-ryu Taijutsu, Kenso-ryu-jujutsu, Hakko-ryu-jujutsum, bo-jutsu (martial arts of using stick), Jo-jutsu (martial arts of using short staff), Sai-jutsu (martial arts of using a dagger-shaped truncheon), and so on. It took half of his life. He coordinated these martial arts and produce new techniques with quite strict practice. In 1955, he founded Shorinjiryu Karate-do Renshinkan at Kagoshima. The history of Renshinkan was started from small Do-jo.

• World Shorinji-Ryu Karate Do Renshinkan Federation

Shorinjiryu Karate-do Federation Renshinkan Soke

Iwao Tamotsu - 10th Dan Master

Shorinji Morimasa All Japan Shorinjiryu Karate-do Federation chairman Internarional Shorinjiryu Karate-do Federation chairman Kagoshima Prefecture Karate-do Federation chairman Soke Iwao Tamotsu, 10th Dan Master, was born in Kagoshima in 1948 as eldest son of the late Isamu Tamotsu. He became Soke of Shorinjiryu Karate-do Renshinkan in June 2000.

After cumulative trainings and tutelage by his master and father, Iwao Tamotsu mastered the ultimate techniques of Kata and Kumite. His special Embu of Kushanku-no-Kata is the highest summit of Shorinjiryu Seiryu Shichiho (Shorinjiryu Genuine Seven Methods). It is demonstrated ad annual All Japan Championships, and is evaluated as a Kata that has been completed with flamboyance in fierceness. In Kumite, Iwao Tamotsu has mastered various techniques such as: Ushiro-Mawashi-Geri (Back Round Kicks), Renzoku-Mawashi-Geri (Continuous Round Kicks), Nidan-Maswashi-Geri (Two-Step Round Kicks), Sokuto-Kuno-Ji-Geri (Sowrd Foot Kick with Dogleg Jump), Rasen-Shuto-Uchi (Spiral Hand Sword), and Gyappu-Sokuto-Geri (Backlash Sword Foot Kick). These techniques have been feard in the Karate world as ultimate techniques that cannot be defended against.

In 1967, Iwao Tamotsu won the 1st All Japan Shorinjiryu Karate-do Championship, and then began missionary activities. In 1969, at the age of 19, he traveled to the Philippines to coach at the University of Baguio. He also coached in Taipei as the head of the delegation to Taiwan in 1971, as well as coaching in the Dominican Republic and other Central American countries in 1981. Thus he created the basis for the affiliation with Taiwan, Puerto Rico, the Dominical Republic, Panama, Chile, Brasil and other fine countries.

Meaning of Sakugawa Koshiki Shōrinji-ryū Karatedō

Sakugawa

After "Karate" Sakugawa, an 18th-century Okinawan martial artist.

Shōrinji-ryū

"Shaolin temple stream," reflecting the descent of the art from the physical and spiritual exercises taught by the Zen patriarch Bodhidharma to his disciples at the Shaolin Temple in China.

External links

• World Shorinji-Ryu Karate Federation
• All India Shorinji-Ryu Karate Federation
• World Shorinji-Ryu Karate Do Renshinkan Federation
• International Martial Arts Federation - Shorinji Ryu
• Shorinji Ryu - School of Jean Chalamon - Student of Master Richard Kim