| Okinawa Karate-Do Chintokai |
CHINTOKAN KARATE DO - Hand of Okinawa
“Tii” – Te The origins of Chintokan Karate Do are found in “Kyan Te,” which was Chotoku Kyan’s version of Shorin ryu Karate. Kyan Te is a blend of several classical Okinawa fighting disciplines, including Tomari Te, Shuri Te and Bojutsu, and consists primarily of 8 carefully selected kata (see list A). *Naifanchi from Sokon Matsumura is a topic of our discussions. Te, pronounced as “tii” in Okinawan, was the term used for these fighting disciplines at the time, and literally translates as “hand.” Te is, of course, one of the two root words that comprise “kara te.” Tomari, Shuri and Naha are names of a village, an ancient and current capital of Okinawa.
Kyan Te In the early 1900’s on Okinawa, it was common to learn karate from several different masters, and Chotoku Kyan chose the styles of five Te masters and one bojutsu (long staff) master as the foundation for his system of karate (see list B). Although his father Chofu Kyan, who also learned Te from Sokon (Bushi) Matsumura, is said to have been Chotoku Kyan’s first Te teacher, in our Chintokan style it is hard to tell if there is kata that represents Chofu Kyan’s teaching. It could be Seisan or Gojushiho.
Shorin Ryu dojo(s) Chotoku Kyan was an essential figure in Okinawa karate in his time and many of his students established their own styles from Kyan Te and became masters of their own schools. One of these students was Hanshi Zenryo Shimabukuro, who founded the “Seibukan” school. It was during this time Shorin(ji) Ryu style name was first introduced by its originators Zenryo Shimabukuro, Juen Nakazato and Isamu Tamotsu. This pact was suppose to represent the main voice of Kyan Te line. However, shortly after that Hanshi Zenryo Shimabukuro decided to resolve this pact, drop the ji and change his style name to Shorin Ryu, subsequently Juen Nakazato became new So Honke of Shorinji Ryu. Hanshi Zenryo Shimabukuro is said to have been the student who trained Chotoku Kyan’s for the longest time, and the one chosen to demonstrate kata on his behalf on many occasions. Soke Masaharu Sakimukai, the founder of our “Chintokan” Karate Do, had the great privilege to learn from Hanshi Zenryo Shimabukuro, and benefitted greatly from his extremely rigorous training. BIRTH OF CHINTOKAN Soke Samkimukai’s relationship with the Shimabukuro began with Hanshi Zenryo Shimabukuro’s nephew Shihan Zenji Shimabukuro, who first introduced Kyan’s Seibukan style of Shorin Ryu Karate to Soke. In the early 1960’s, they rented a house in Jyusho, Osaka, and trained together around the clock, at home and also throughout the neighborhood, for four years. During this time, they shared another responsibility together, which was the opening of a dojo. Their goal was to bring Seibukan Karate to the mainland of Japan, starting with Osaka. Permission to open the Shorin Ryu Kansai Dojo (Honbu) was granted to Soke Sakimukai, Shihan Zenji Shimabukuro, and Shihan Koriyama by Hanshi Zenryo Shimbakuro in 1962. To Soke Sakimukai’s surprise, they were not given permission to use the Seibukan name for their dojo. This fact makes the Shorin Ryu Kansai Dojo stand out as the very beginning of what would become a Chintokan legacy distinct from Seibukan. Within a few years of its founding, Shihan Zenji Shimabukuro returned to Okinawa and Shihan Koriyama also left the dojo, leaving Soke Masaharu Sakimukai exclusively in charge of the Osaka dojo. Upon his return to Okinawa, in February 1969, Shihan Zenji Shimabukuro recommended a new name for the dojo. It was to be called “CHINTOKAN.” In October 1969, Hanshi Zenryo Shimabukuro unexpectedly passed away, which left Soke Masaharu Sakimukai to follow a path of his own making. Just two months earlier, in August, Soke was granted permission to register his Chintokan dojo with the original Zen Nippon Karate do Renmei (All Japan Karate Do Federation, or “presently Zen Nippon Karate do Renmei / Renbukai).” During the 70s with this organization, Soke Sakimukai served as the Chief Director for the Kagoshima prefecture of Japan until he moved to the United States with his family in 1980. Soke remained connected with Renbukai via current Zen Nippon Karate do Renmei (All Japan Karate Do Federation: JKF) until he passed away in 2010.
Additionally, he incorporated Strength and the Gentleness of other Japanese traditions such as Nihon Buyo (Japanese Dance), Sado (Tea Ceremony) and Kado (Flower Arrangement), as well as other budo including Iaido, Jodo and Okinawa Kobudo into every aspect of his life and training, thus ultimately this life lead to the BIRTH of another Distinctive Kyan's Te Shorin-Ryu Karate-Do, the way of CHINTOKAN. Today In 1973, Takako Sakimukai (Soke's wife) at Kaseda Shibu dojo, Kagoshima, and Yoshihito Sakimukai (Soke's son) at Makurazaki dojo, Kagoshima, they both began Karate-do training under Soke M. Sakimukai. In 2010, Dojocho Takako Sakimukai received 8 Dan and Hanshi and SoShihan Sakimukai received 7 Dan and Kyoshi and those were Soke M. Sakimukai's last promotions. When Soke M. Sakimukai passed away, the lineage was passed on to his widow Dojocho Takako Sakimukai and his son SoShihan Y. Sakimukai. Soke M. Sakimukai had told his son to support Dojocho Takako Sakimukai and the dojo. "JKF" is exclusive National Governing Body for the sport Karate-Do organization in Japan, formed primarily by the 4 Major Japanese Karate-do organizations known as Wado-Kai, Shito-Kai, Shoto-Kai and Goju-Kai as well as Renbukai and additional minor Japanese/Okinawa Karate-Do organizations in 1962, but reestablished in 1964. Soke Masaharu Sakimukai supported JKF since 1969 but its former organization since 1962. Soke Sakimukai JKF-RENBUKAI The origins of this organization date back to shortly after World War II (Sen Go - 戦後). In this period, there were many different Karate groups which hosted independent tournaments in Japan, and many of these tournaments were called National, International, or World championships. Since each tournament was organized and run by a different independent organization, each had its own rules and practices. In 1959, however, a new organization called the “All Japan Karate Do Federation” (Zen Nippon Karate do Renmei), was formed, led by Kanken Toyama’s group. This group evolved from a prior organization known as “Renbukan” which had previously been known as “Kanbukan,” and was established by Kanken Toyama’s students In Hey Jin and Kinjo Hiroshi. In 1959, the All Japan Karate Do Federation was established by Chairman Sai Choko, Vice Chairmen Yasuhiro Konishi (Shindo Jinen Ryu) and Kinjo Hiroshi (Kanbukan), and advisors Hironori Otsuka (Wado Ryu), Yamada Tatsuo (Nippon Kenpo), and Gima Makoto (Shotokan Ryu). The Federation therefore represented many of the major styles of Karate of the time, and this was a beginning of Bogu (protective gear) full contact karate competition. In 1962, Soke Masaharu Sakimukai received 4th Dan from this All Japan Karate Do Federation. Note that this is not the same organization as the Japan Karate Federation (JKF) mentioned above. When the Japan Karate Federation (JKF) was reestablished in 1964, the older group yielded the name and renamed their organization as the All Japan Karate Do Federation / Renbukai. |
