• Cover Story: BUGEISHA volume 4

THE KOBUDO LEGACY OF MATAYOSHI SHINPO
by Franco Sanguinetti

In 1960, Matayoshi Shinpo Sensei founded his kobudo dojo in the city of Naha, and he called it the "Kodokan" in memory of, and as a dedication to his teacher and mentor Matayoshi Shinko Sensei. The significance of "Kodokan" is based on the kanji "Ko" (meaning"Light"), and is a tribute to the "Ko" from Shinko; for what Kodokan translates to the "Hall of the Enlightened Way". Once Matayoshi Sensei opened his dojo, he focused on contacting Kobudo instructors and students all over Japan. His intention was to unite Kobudo practitioners under one goal; to not only spread the art of Kobudo, but to try to maintain the traditions that had been passed down from Kobudo Senseis of earlier days.

MEMORIAL: NAGAMINE SHOSHIN
by Charles Goodin

Nagamine Sensei greatly valued the Okinawan history and culture. He was highly accomplished at Okinawan dance and calligraphy. In his early years, he also studied Judo and Kendo, earning black belt ranks in both. Zen was also an integral aspect of his life.

• FEATURES

SEITO SHITO RYU KARATE: The Legacy of Mabuni Kenwa
by John Sells and Gary McGuinness

Mabuni Kenwa was born in the Aka Hira Cho section of Shuri City, Okinawa in 1889. He started his training with Itosu at age 13 and continued until Itosu's death in 1915. Over this 13 year period Mabuni learned 23 of the Shuri-Te forms (kata) from Itosu. According to his third son, Mabuni Kenzo, after only one and a half years of intense training with Itosu, Itosu recommended that Mabuni seek out Higaonna for additional knowledge.

INDIAN CULTURE MEETS OKINAWAN KARATE
by Alan Dollar

While some believe the martial arts of both India and China were developed by watching the defensive methods of animals, others contend that Indian monks crossed the highest mountains on earth and introduced their martial art and religious teachings to China.

SHINJO MASANOBU AND YAKUSOKU KUMITE
by Glenard Grabow

Yakusoku kumite (promise or pre-set sparring) is an important part of any Okinawan Goju-ryu dojo's curriculum. Masa had three yakusoku kumite, following the rule of three (mittsu no horitsu): three pre-set sparring exercises are sufficient; more become redundant.

PERPETUATING THE LEGACY OF MIYAGI CHOJUN
by Pat McCarthy

Miyagi Chojun spent the rest of his life pursuing the very deepest understanding of karate through the many students he taught in the garden dojo of his Naha residence. Among the most well known of those students were: Higa Seiko (1898-1966, who originally learned under Higashionna), Shinzato Jinan (1901-1945), Yagi Meitoku (1911, Meibukan) and Miyazato Eiichi (1921, Jundokan,) etc.

WEIGHT TRAINING THE OLD FASHIONED WAY
by Angel Lemus

It is conventional martial wisdom that true power lies in the joints of our bodies and the connective tissues. It is therefore logical to conclude that mass and bulk is not necessary to achieve this power. Chishi training is an art all unto itself but it can be very easy to train with given some initial advice and supervision.

OKINAWAN KOBUDO: Metal Weapons (bladed) Part 1
by Mark Bishop

All evidence indicates that generally the Okinawan sword for personal use and self protection was fully curved and mainly short-handled, with a blade length of about 60 cm. - a full 15 cm. shorter than the conventional long-handled Japanese swords, or their reproductions, we see today.

SANCHIN KATA
by Chris De Blaise

Sanchin kata if performed correctly, and with the original purpose kept in mind, provides the practitioner with the necessary training to advance to the more complicated and physically demanding endurance and conditioning aspects of Gojuryu.

LINKS WITH THE PAST: The Kusari in Self-Defence
by John Porta

Chains were used in ancient China as weapons, and were often integral parts of larger military equipment, such as cannon and guns. In hand-to-hand combat, the chain proved its worth at long or close range, mostly being used in lengths of ten feet or more with weights at each end.

Maniwa Nen-Ryu & Yagyu Shinkage-Ryu:
A Field Guide to the Classical Japanese Martial Arts
by Diane Skoss

Nen-ryu is one of the oldest surviving traditions of swordsmanship in Japan. Initially formulated by Nen Ami Jion in the fourteenth century, Higuchi Kaneshige took this art back to his hometown of Maniwa in 1494.

SIGHTING THE GRIZZLY:
Understanding Abuses of Japan's Classical Martial Traditions
by Dave Lowry

Let me begin to explain this by providing at least a bare-bones background of our subject. By "koryu" (literally, "old traditions"), we are referring to those Japanese combative arts that originated before the end of the feudal era in Japan, ca. 1867. In a broader sense, these are arts meant for use on the battlefield, which were practiced by and intended for the professional warrior class.

DEPARTMENTS

• THE PATH .....Thoughts from the Editor
• AS I SEE IT .....Your views
• REVIEWS ..... Product Reviews
• BUDO ON LINE ..... News from the WWW
• LEGAL SIDE ..... Martial Arts & the Law
• EMPTY CUP .....Life, Learning & the Martial Arts
• YIN ..... Women in the Martial Arts
• TO THE POINT .....Aspects of Vital Point Techniques
• MEMORIES ..... A Meeting with the Master
• QUESTIONS ..... and Answers
• PROFILES ..... Great Contributors of the Past & Present

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