Okinawa Shōgen-ryū Karate-Dō, also called, familiarly, Shōgen-ryū, is an offshoot of the Matsubayashi-ryu style of Okinawan Karate. Shogen Ryu was officially founded in 1999 by Taba Kensei after stepping down as the first President of the World Matsubayashi-ryu Karate-Do Association (WMKA).
History In 1999 after stepping down as the first president of the World Matsubayashi-ryu Karate-Do Association (WMKA) Taba Kensei would found Shōgen-ryū. Shōgen is made up of two kanji Sho (昭) in honor of his primary karate teacher Shōshin Nagamine and Gen (源) meaning a return to origin which together gives the meaning returning to the roots of Shoshin's karate. Taba would remain the head of Okinawa Shogen-Ryu Karate-Do Association, the official organization for Shōgen-ryū, until his death 7 July, 2012. Following his passing one of his primary students Kiyomasa Maeda would be recognized as the new head of the association. The World Headquarters for the Okinawa Shogen-Ryu Karate-Do Association is located in Itoman, Okinawa, Japan. Recognised international branches are also present in Canada, Europe and India .
Training methodology Shōgen-ryū, created by Taba Kensei, follows many of the principles and kata of Matsubayashi ryu, but the mechanics and bunkai of Taba. Taba sensei greatly emphasized the use of koshi (hip) in generating power, he also changed several of the kata to better fit Ikken hissatsu which is best demonstrated in his version of wankan kata. This emphasize has led to the styles division from Matasubayashi ryu and its practice to this day.
Kata Kata are sets of moves in Karate and are considered the most important part of the Shōgen-ryū style . Shōgen-ryū has 18 kata in the system, namely:
Fukyugata series (1-2) Pinan series (1-5) Naihanchi series (1-3) Ananku Wankan Taba Wankan Rōhai Wanshu Passai Gojūshiho Chintō Kusanku
Okinawan Kobudō legacy Shōgen-ryū also has a Yamane Ryu Bōjutsu legacy since some of Taba's students studied Bōjutsu with Chogi Kishaba, who was a student of, Masami Chinen, Sanda Chinen's son, and Chinen Pechin's grandson.Okinawan Karate, Second Edition, by Mark Bishop, p. 120, Yamane-ryu practice is also encouraged in many Shōgen-ryū dojos.
See also Okinawan martial arts Matsubayashi-ryū Shōrin-ryū Karate
References
External links Matsubayashi Shogenryu Karate and Yamane Kisabaryu Kobudo Kokusai Shogen Ryu Karate Do Kyokai Okinawa Shogen-Ryu Karate-Do Association Europe