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| Version | User | Scope of changes |
|---|---|---|
| Nov 5 2008, 12:28 PM EST (current) | sez69sez | 1 photo added |
| Nov 5 2008, 12:13 PM EST | sez69sez | 7 photos added |
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Lineage of Karate, Shotokan and ESKA
Bodidharma
Indian - Bodidharma was an Indian monk (son of King Sugunda), who in the 6th Century travelled from Indian to China to set up the first Zen school of Buddhism. He stayed at a sholin monestory and taught the monks a form of training called Shorinji Kempo or Shaolin fighting which would train both their minds and bodies in the way of the Buddha.
Kusanku
Chinese - He was a skilled Kempo master. He was taught Ch'uan Fa from a Shaolin monk. Chinese Sifu (Teacher) who immigrated to Okinawa where he served as a chinese Military Attatche. He taught Chinese boxing to Tode Sakugawa. The first record of karate (EMPTY HAND) in Okinawa dates back to the end of the 18th century. It is recorded that in 1761 a chinese man known as Kusanku displayed Chinese boxing to a delighted audience in Okinawa. Kusanku is also known by his chinese name, Kong Su Kung. In some writings, Kusanku is also under various names including Kushanku, Kouh Shang Kouh and Ko Sokan. NO PHOTO OR KNOWN ACCURATE LIKENESS OF THIS ANCESTOR EXISTS.
Chinese - He was a skilled Kempo master. He was taught Ch'uan Fa from a Shaolin monk. Chinese Sifu (Teacher) who immigrated to Okinawa where he served as a chinese Military Attatche. He taught Chinese boxing to Tode Sakugawa. The first record of karate (EMPTY HAND) in Okinawa dates back to the end of the 18th century. It is recorded that in 1761 a chinese man known as Kusanku displayed Chinese boxing to a delighted audience in Okinawa. Kusanku is also known by his chinese name, Kong Su Kung. In some writings, Kusanku is also under various names including Kushanku, Kouh Shang Kouh and Ko Sokan. NO PHOTO OR KNOWN ACCURATE LIKENESS OF THIS ANCESTOR EXISTS.
Tode Sakugawa
Okinawan - Born in 1733 in Shuri Okinawa and died in 1815 at the age of 82. He came from a samurai family. He was taught by mater Kushanku. He became his teacher when as a joke he tried to push Kushaku off of a bridge into the river. Kushanku stepped a side with power and speed. Sakugawa created the kata Kusanku (we know as Kanku) in honor and memory of his teacher. He combined Ch'uan Fa and Tode which became known as the matial art Okinawa-te. He is generally acknowledged as the founder of Okinawan martial arts. He was considered a pioneer in the development of karate (EMPTY HAND). He studied under Kusanku. Sakugawa is known to have made several trips to china, where he combined Chinese kempo (FIST LAW) with Okinawa Te (OKINAWA HAND). Also, Sakugawa introduced the Kusanku kata (FORM). Other important innovations were the Sakugawa Bo Kata (STAFF FORM) and Dojo Kun (TRAINING HALL ETIQUETTE). Sakugawa is known to have studied the bo (STAFF) in China and later lived in Akata village, Shuri, Okinawa.He taught the use of the bo (STAFF) to his most significant student Sokon "BUSHI" Matsumura.
Sokon 'Bushi' Matsumura
Okinawan - Born in Shuri Okinawa in 1796 and died in 1893. He was a military chief and the teacher of Azato and Itosu. He was the forefather of Shorin Ryu and was the bodyguard for the king. He began his training in karate-do under the chinese millitary attache "KUSANKU". Matsumura served as chief of the millitary and as court retainer for the king of Ryukyu (OKINAWA) islands. Matsumura originated the kata (form) "CHINTO" and created the karate (EMPTY HAND) style of "SHORIN RYU". Among his noteworthy students were Yasutune Azato, Yasutune Itosu, Chosin Chibara, Choki Motobu and Chotoku Kyan. Matsumura travelled to Fuchou and Satsuma as an envoy on affairs of state. In Fuchou he visited several Chinese boxing schools and studied under millitary attaches. In Satsuma, Matsumura trained in the Jigen Ryu sword fighting system under Master Yashuchiro Ijuin. Bushi was his nickname and means warrior. After retiring, Matsumura taught karate (EMPTY HAND) in Sakiyama village in Shuri, Okinawa.
Yasutune Anko Azato & Yasutune Anko Itosu
Azato was Okinawan - Born in 1828 and died in 1906. He was the advisor to the king & an expert in horseriding, kendo & archery. He was a brillany swordsman. He taught Shuri-te. Beacme well known politician and had position of 'Minister of state'.
Itosu was Okinawan - Born in 1830 and died in 1915. He was the secretary to the king of Ryukyu. He had superior strength in his arms, legs and hands. He created the heian katas. Taught Naha-te
Gitchin Funakoshi
Okinawan - Born in 1868 and died in 1957. He was a teacher and also a medical student. Known as the modern day father of karate. He established karate in Japan by performing it to the emporer and the prince and created his own style of karate called Shotokan. He devised the Dojo Kun and ranking system and formed the JKA (Japanese Karate Association).
Masatoshi Nakayama
Japanese - Born in Yamaguchi in Japan in1913 and died in 987 in Tokyo at the age of 74, as a 10th Dan. He studied in depth about the human body, anatomy and psychology. He was a Kendo master before he took up karate and became the chief instructor from 1955 until his death.
Kanazawa & Enoeda
Kanazawa is Japanese - Born in Iwate Japan in 1931. He is the only person to have won the 'All Japan Karate Championships' 3 times, even with a broken wrist. Origionally learnt Judo but took up karate at university unde. Awarded 10th Dan in Bali 2000.
Enoeda was Japanese - Born on the island of Kyushu in Japan in 1935 and died in 2003. He was awarded his 9th Dan after he died. His nick name was Tora (Tiger) and was head of the KUGB. Is said to be the one to bring karate to Britain with the JKA World Tour Team, which included Kanazawa.
Michael Randall
Sesnsei Michael Randall was born in 1944 and began Shotokan Karate under Jimmy Neal and Terry Wingrove in 1964, atfter applying for a place in their class. He is one of the very few people still training who has been taught by Masters Murakami and Mochizuki. As an origional disciple of Master Kanazawa, he was the 4th person in Britain to obtain a black belt, by Sensei Kanazawa in 1967. Randall was very well known for being one of the seven Samurai and his kumite fighting where he represented Great Britain against the Japanese. He was given the position of joint chief instructor of ESKA in 1979 but then left in 1984 to create his own acssociations (SKA and STKO). He currently holds the rank of 8th Dan.
Michael Nursey
Sensei Michael Nursey was born in 1949 and his interest in martial arts began at the age of 14, practising Judo and Ju-Jitsu under John Hawkes. He started training in Shotokan Karate in 1967 under Sensei Enoeda. After fourth Kyu, he continued under Senseis Kanazawa, Asano and Randall and became Sensei Randall's first black belt, awarded by Master Kanazawa in 1971. Throughout the 1970's he toured the UK and Europe competing against the top teams in the World in both Kata and Kumite and helping to establish English Karate on the World stage.
In 1998 along with Sensei Randall and Dr Clive Layton he produced and co wrote the excellant book "THE SHOTOKAN BOOK OF FACTS I", which was followed a year later with "THE SHOTOKAN BOOK OF FACTS II".
He is a England Referee (having been one of the first qualified National Referees with Peter Spanton) and is one of the first NVQ City & Guilds qualified Assessors in Karate.
Sensei Nursey is Chief Instructor to the English Shotokan Karate Association and currently holds the rank of 8th Dan which was awarded in 2007 and presented along with a certificate ratified by the World Union of Karate Organisation by Nick Lower and Mick Billman at that years ESKA Dinner & Dance
