is a branch of the Kobayashi Shōrin-ryū style of Okinawan karate, developed by Shūgorō Nakazato, Hanshi 10th Dan. Nakazato was a student of Chōshin Chibana.Choshin Chibana Lineage After Chibana's death in 1969, Nakazato assumed the title of Vice President of the Okinawa Shorin-Ryū Karate-do Association. In November 1975, Nakazato resigned from this association and formed the Okinawa Karate-do Shorin-Ryū Shorinkan Association.Shorin-Ryu Shorinkan Association
In the United States the senior teachers are Noel SmithNoel Smith. Virginia, USA (8th dan) and Eddie Bethea.Eddie Bethea. Indiana, USA Both Smith and Bethea trained directly under Nakazato in the early 1960s, and have first-hand knowledge of his teachings, philosophies and concepts of karate. In the early years, seven of Nakazato's black belts returned to the US to spread Okinawan Shorin-ryu to the States; they are referred to as the Original 7.North America Shorin-ryu Shorinkan lineage chart
North America Shorinkan lineage This lineage only reflects the Original 7 black belts from Shugoro Nakazato and their Kyoshis: Tadashi Yamashita, Nabil Noujaim, Eddie Bethea, Pat Haley, Noel Smith, C.D. Williamson, Neil Stolsmark, Sean Riley, Sam Ahtye, David Rogers, Robert Rowley, Claude Johnson, and Harunobu Chiba.
References
External links United States Shorin-ryu Shorinkan website (Official North American Website. Senior North American Kyoshi Noel Smith Shorinkan