Sokon Matsumura (1790-1887)
Note that I use the term Tou di instead of Karate. When O-Sensei began training in martial arts, the word Karate had barely been invented yet and Tou di was the common term in Okinawa. "Tou di" literally means "China-hand" and refers to any martial art passed from China to Okinawa, and more commonly refers to an eclectic blend of many Chinese styles.
Matsumura was recruited into the service of the Sho family (Royal family
of Okinawa) and eventually became the chief martial arts instructor and
bodyguard for the Okinawan King. At some point in his career, approximately
1830, he went to China and studied the Shaolin style of Chinese Kenpo (fist
method) and weaponry. It is also known that he traveled to Foochow in Fukien
province, China on numerous occasions as an envoy for the Okinawan King.
After his return from China he organized and refined the Shorin Ryu system
of Okinawan Karate.
Matsumura is credited with passing on the kata or formal exercises of Shorin Ryu Karate known as Naifanchi I & II, Bassai Dai, Seisan, Chinto, Gojushiho (fifty-four steps of the Black Tiger), Kusanku (the embodiment of Kusanku's teaching as passed on to Tou Di Sakugawa) and Hakutsuru (white crane).
The Hakutsuru kata contains the elements of the white crane system taught within the Shaolin system of Chinese Kenpo. Another set of kata, known as Chanan in Matsumura's time, is said to have been devised by Matsumura himself and was the basis for Pinan I and II. Matsumura's Ryu has endured to the present day and the above mentioned kata are the core of Shorin Ryu Karate today.
Matsumura was given the title "Bushi" meaning warrior
by the Okinawan King in recognition of his abilities and accomplishments
in the martial arts. In fact, Matsumura fought many times but was never
defeated. His martial arts endeavors have been the progenitor of many contemporary
karate styles, Shorin Ryu, Shotokan Ryu, and Shito Ryu, for example. Ultimately
all modern styles of karate that evolved from the Shuri-Te lineage can be
traced back to the teachings of Bushi Matsumura.
The following was written by Sokon Matsumura in a letter he presented to his student, Ryosei Kuwae, (exact date unknown) it reads:
If you want to practise fighting arts, you must know the true meaning of them, therefore I have resolved to state the facts; please examine them closely.
So, the way of learning and the way of fighting arts have one and the same purpose. There are respectively three kinds of learning and fighting arts. The three kinds of learning are namely:
1. Reading, writing and arithmetic - the three R's,
2. Exegetics,
3. The study of Confucianism.
The three R's include calligraphy, composing words into sentences and being able to calculate the totals of rice stipends required by important people. Exegetics is the teaching to people the sense of duty ascertained through the Chinese classics, having the way of profound knowledge and teaching by example. Both the former schools of learning are distinctive as being just literary arts, however Confucianist learning brings about sincerity, pureness of heart and a sense of propriety in all things. Hence the governing of one's house (and even one's country) well, will result in world peace. This is true knowledge, Confucian knowledge.
The three kinds of fighting arts are:
1. Those of court instructors,
2. Nominal styles,
3. The true fighting arts.
The court instructors' styles are practised in a very unusual way; movements are never the same, formless and light, becoming (like women) more and more dance-like as the proponents mature. The exponents of nominal styles do not practise regularly, they come and go here and there, contriving how to win, quarreling with and perhaps inconveniencing people. Most serious of all they cause bodily harm, making their parents and family ashamed of them. With the true fighting arts you will not be distracted, so contrive for achievement, govern your own heart and wait for your enemy to be disarrayed; quieten yourself and wait for your enemy to become agitated; snatch your enemy's heart and you will conquer him. As your proficiency increases distinctiveness will come, you will be capable of everything, you will not be disorientated, you will know the place of filial piety. The spirit of a ferocious tiger and the speed of a flying swift will develop naturally so that you will be able to overpower any aggressor.
A wise sage wrote in the Chudokansha the following so called 'Seven Martial Virtues': Martial artists are forbidden to act in an unruly manner; soldiers should practise admonition, help people, distinguish themselves and safeguard the people so that the populace can live in peace and have abundant wealth. Therefore learning and fighting arts have the way of truth. Court instructors' styles and nominal styles are useless, so consider the true fighting arts carefully. I think you should seize the opportunity to act accordingly with restraint, so that if you practise with the previous mentioned facts in mind, it has been said that, the lower abdomen will become the storehouse of one's energy.
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