HISTORY
Shorin Ryu Matsumura Orthodox
The Matsumura legacy began with a man named Kiyo Sokon.  Born in the year 1809 in Yamagawa Village of Shuri, Okinawa, Kiyo began his study of the martial arts under an old master named Satunuky "Tode" Sakugawa when he was fourteen years old.  Oral tradition has it that Sakugawa was asked by Kiyo's father to train his son.  Kiyo trained under Sakugawa until the old masters death.  Reportedly this was for a period of approximately four years.

   Later on Kiyo was recruited into the service of the Sho Dynasty and was given the title "Satunuky" then "Chikutoshinunjo" or "Chikudon".  Of course he was also given the title"Bushi" (warrior or gentleman warrior).  These were all titles given to Okinawan Samurai for their services to the king.  Upon Kiyo's recruitment King Sho Ko wanted him to change his name (this was customary back then, especially if something notable happened to you) and suggested the name "Muramatsu" (Village Pine).  Kiyo requested that he be allowed to change the name to "Matsumura" (Pine Village).  The King agreed and so the Matsumura name was born.


 
Matsumura is said to have traveled to China and trained in the Shaolin temple.  He is also said to have trained with other Chinese masters such as Iwah, Wai Shin Zan and Chinto, all of whose teachings influenced the developement of his system and did much to further the development of Shuri-te.  Keeping with tradition, a close family member was to be selected to carry on the teachings of Matsumura's personal system.  His grandson Nabi Matsumura was chosen to be his successor.  Bushi died in the year 1901 (some sources say that Matsumura was actually born in 1797 and died in 1889).   His exact birth and death dates are not known for sure.  Some say Soken Sensei recalled meeting the old man a few times, which would support the theory about the later birth and death dates.  Others say that Soken had said that he was born in the same year as Matsumura died.

   Not much is know about Nabi Matsumura.   It is said that he was responsible for bringing the old Shorin secrets into the modern age.  His name doesn't appear on most lineage charts, possibly because he was known as a very strict teacher and preferred to teach mainly family members.  Nabi is the most enigmatic of all the masters of this system.  It is said that he wanted it to be that way.  He was content to let others have the glory while he remained in obscurity.  Nabi's wife and children had died so he chose as his successor his nephew, Hohan Soken.

   Hohan Soken was born in the year 1889 and died in the year 1982.  He was born a Samurai and was known for many years as the oldest living karate master.  For this reason he was known  as "The Last Samurai".  During the Meiji Restoration Period Okinawan's Samurai Class fell upon hard  times.  Despite their noble heritage Soken and his family were forced into manual labor along with the commoners.  Nabi kept a close eye on young Soken, however, seeing his potential told him that if he could demonstrate the patience and discipline befitting of his Samurai hertiage, he would train him in the family art of te.  Young Soken quickly accepted and Nabi began training him in the fundementals of the Matsumura system.  This was around 1902 or 1903, when Soken was around fourteen years old.  This basic training went on for the next ten years until finally Nabi was convinced that Soken was ready to begin his training in Hakutsuru (around 1913).

   In 1924, Soken Sensei left Okinawa and went to Negro, Argentian to "find his fortune".  He renained in Argentina for nearly thirty years, during which time he gained a mastery of the Spanish language.  He worked as a photographer and in the clothes cleaning business.  It is known that he had several students there although it is not known who they were. He returned to Okinawa in 1952 to find that in the nearly thirty years that had passed, karate had greatly changed.  The old way that he was taught and practiced had been replaced with soft sport style karate.  He refused to change his karate as he valued himself as the last of the Old Masters.  He refused to join the fashionable karate organizations that had left the old ways behind.  At first he didn't have any students, but eventually opened a small dojo.  Originally he called his system Machimura Suidi (Matsumura Shurite),  but around 1956, he offically changed the name to SHORIN RYU MATSUMURA ORTHODOX KARATE-DO.  He retired from formal teaching in 1978.

   There are many styles today that have roots in the Matsumura system, but the only style that has remained the closest to the original Matsumura karate was, the Matsumura Orthodox, as taught by, Soken Hohan Sensei.