Master Sokon "Bushi" Matsumura
Matsumura Sōkon was born in Yamagawa Village, Shuri, Okinawa. Matsumura began the study of karate under the guidance of Sakukawa Kanga.[3] Sakukawa was an old man at the time and reluctant to teach the young Matsumura, who was regarded as something of a troublemaker. However, Sakukawa had promised Matsumura Sōfuku, Matsumura Sōkon’s father, that he would teach the boy, and thus he did. Matsumura spent five years studying under Sakukawa. As a young man, Matsumura had already garnered a reputation as an expert in the martial arts. More...
Matsumura Sōkon was born in Yamagawa Village, Shuri, Okinawa. Matsumura began the study of karate under the guidance of Sakukawa Kanga.[3] Sakukawa was an old man at the time and reluctant to teach the young Matsumura, who was regarded as something of a troublemaker. However, Sakukawa had promised Matsumura Sōfuku, Matsumura Sōkon’s father, that he would teach the boy, and thus he did. Matsumura spent five years studying under Sakukawa. As a young man, Matsumura had already garnered a reputation as an expert in the martial arts. More...
Master Nabe Matsumura
Nabe Mastsumura, born 1860, was the grandson of Matsumura Sōkon, who founded the Shōrin-ryū style of karate. Being related to Sōkon meant that Nabe was privileged to extremely thorough training from his grandfather in the family's style, as well as the secret White Crane system that was only taught to immediate family members.[1]
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Nabe Mastsumura, born 1860, was the grandson of Matsumura Sōkon, who founded the Shōrin-ryū style of karate. Being related to Sōkon meant that Nabe was privileged to extremely thorough training from his grandfather in the family's style, as well as the secret White Crane system that was only taught to immediate family members.[1]
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Master Hohan Soken
Hohan Sōken (祖堅 方範 Soken Hōhan?) was an Okinawan martial arts master who founded the Shōrin-ryū Matsumura Seito Okinawa Karate Kobudo Association.[1]
He was born May 25, 1889[2][3] (although at least one text puts his birth year as 1891[1]) in Nishihara, Okinawa. He died November 30, 1982 in Nishihara, Okinawa.
He was the nephew of Nabe Matsumura (who was the grandson of Matsumura Sōkon). More...
Hohan Sōken (祖堅 方範 Soken Hōhan?) was an Okinawan martial arts master who founded the Shōrin-ryū Matsumura Seito Okinawa Karate Kobudo Association.[1]
He was born May 25, 1889[2][3] (although at least one text puts his birth year as 1891[1]) in Nishihara, Okinawa. He died November 30, 1982 in Nishihara, Okinawa.
He was the nephew of Nabe Matsumura (who was the grandson of Matsumura Sōkon). More...
Master Yuichi Kuda
Grand Master Yuichi Kuda was born in Chinen Village on the southern tip of Okinawa in 1928. He was descended from a line of Okinawan samurai. His family genealogy dates back over five hundred years to one of the early Okinawan kings of the Sho Dynasty (1407-1477). More...
Grand Master Yuichi Kuda was born in Chinen Village on the southern tip of Okinawa in 1928. He was descended from a line of Okinawan samurai. His family genealogy dates back over five hundred years to one of the early Okinawan kings of the Sho Dynasty (1407-1477). More...
Master Phillip W. Koeppel
The year was 1956 and the Korean War was recent history when Phillip Koeppel enlisted in the United States Navy. He was just 18 years old and stationed in Yokohama, Japan when his interest in martial arts drew him to start karate lessons not far from his base.
Mr. Koeppel took his first karate lesson from Yoshio Kawaguchi, a Wado-ryu stylist on 4 1/2 Street, Yokohama, Japan. After studying for several months he heard of another sensei, Richard Kim, now a well-known martial arts author and sensei. Mr. Kim was an U.S. Army Intelligence Officer who was teaching Shorinji-ryu at Friers Gym, also in Yokohama. More...
The year was 1956 and the Korean War was recent history when Phillip Koeppel enlisted in the United States Navy. He was just 18 years old and stationed in Yokohama, Japan when his interest in martial arts drew him to start karate lessons not far from his base.
Mr. Koeppel took his first karate lesson from Yoshio Kawaguchi, a Wado-ryu stylist on 4 1/2 Street, Yokohama, Japan. After studying for several months he heard of another sensei, Richard Kim, now a well-known martial arts author and sensei. Mr. Kim was an U.S. Army Intelligence Officer who was teaching Shorinji-ryu at Friers Gym, also in Yokohama. More...
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Sensei Matthew Schell
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