Martial Arts Of The World - Webs

234 Karate, Japanese
where he received his menkyo (teaching certification) in Jigen-ryû kenjutsu
from Ijûin Yashichirô. Matsumura combined Toudi and Jigen-ryû
into an eclectic combative style that eventually became known in Okinawa
as Shuri-di (Shuri hand), so called because it was practiced in and
around Shuri.
Matsumura’s disciples included Ankô Itosu (Yasutsune) and Ankô
Asato. As well as being superb Karateka (practitioners) and sensei (instructors)
in their own right, Itosu and Asato were the primary instructors
of Funakoshi Gichin, the single most influential figure in the development
of Japanese karate.
In 1917, Funakoshi was invited as a representative of the Okinawa
Prefecture to perform karate at the Butokuden in Kyoto. This was the first
public demonstration of karate on the Japanese mainland. In March of
1921, Funakoshi demonstrated karate for the Crown Prince Seijô (Hirohito)
in the Great Hall at Shuri Castle. In the spring of 1922, the Okinawan
Department of Education requested that Funakoshi arrange an exhibition
of karate for the Ministry of Education’s First National Athletic Exhibition
in Tokyo. After the exhibition, Funakoshi was persuaded to remain in
Japan and disseminate his knowledge of the art of karate. This resulted in
the publication of Ryûkyû Kenpô: Karate, in the fall of 1922, and a revision
of the work, Retan Gôshin Karate-jutsu (Strengthening of Willpower
and Self-Defense through Karate Techniques), in 1923.
In 1924, the karate clubs Keiô Gijuku Taiikukai Karatebu, Tokyo
Teikoku Daigaku Karatebu, Daiichi Kôtô Gakkô Karatebu, Waseda Daigaku
Gakuyûkai Karatebu, Nihon Daigaku Karate Kenkyûkai, Takushoku
Daigaku Karatebu, Nihon Daigaku Ikka Karate Kenkyûkai, and Shôin Jôgakkô
were established in the Tokyo area. In 1930, the Kansai Daigaku
Karatebu, Kansai Daigaku Senmonbu, Ôsaka Kôtô Yakugaku Senmon
Gakkô, and Ôsaka Kôtô Igaku Senmon Gakkô were established around
Ôsaka.
The All Japan Martial Arts Demonstration was held in Tokyo on May
5, 1930, to celebrate Hirohito’s succession to the throne. Shinzato Jinan attended
the event as the representative of Okinawan Naha-di (Naha hand)
master Miyagi Chôjun. In 1932, Miyagi Chôjun was invited to participate
in the Sainen Budô Taikai in Tokyo and the Butokusai (Martial Arts Festival)
in Kyoto. In 1935, a prospectus was submitted for the Karate
Kenkyûkai (Karate Research Club) at Ritsumeikan Daigaku (University),
with Miyagi as the honorary master instructor (meiyô shihan).
By 1936, many Okinawan instructors had migrated to Japan and
were teaching karate. Among those instructors were Funakoshi Gichin,
Mabuni Kenwa, Motobu Chôki, Sawada Masaru, Sakae Sanyû, Yabiku
Môden, Miki Nisaburô, Kunishi Yasuhiro, Satô Shinji, Mutsu Mizuhô, Hi-