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Friends in the Martial Arts:
Shorin Ryu and Goju Ryu
Written by Roger Sheldon. 1991
Here is an article that I
wrote in 1991, before the OMAA was founded. It gives a small insight into
the dreams and aspirations Rick Woodhams and I had and why the OMAA was
ultimately born. It was written from my Shorin Ryu perspective for
my students.
Friendship and integration The student will perceive in the following notes, a common trait in Okinawan karate practitioners, and the fact that it is accepted as the norm to train and associate with other individuals and groups around the island. Master Higa states that kobudo (ancient warrior arts) started over 1000 years ago. Over time, each instructor developed things differently. Mr. Higa believes that there is now a real need to preserve the old kata (a formal series of techniques) for future generations. Little more than a hundred years ago in Okinawa, Karate was Karate - Tudi (the old name) - it did not matter what it was called, it was all the same. Now there are many different styles: Kobayashi ryu, Goju ryu, Uechi ryu, Motobu ryu, Shoto, Okinawan Kenpo, Matsubayashi ryu, Ryukyu Shorin ryu, Kojo ryu, Kushin ryu, Matsumura Seito Shorin ryu, Shorinji ryu, Jukendo, Ryuei ryu, Kojo ryu, Pangai-noon ryu, Ishimine ryu, Shito ryu, Tozan ryu, and others. Master Higa is familiar with the basics of all the Okinawan schools of thought and expert in several. Today he is deeply involved in his own Seido system. As time passes the practitioners of the Okinawan arts in this country are establishing friendly links with their counterparts where an interchange of ideas and principles can take place. Students will benefit from such an unbiased and open-minded approach. It is still early days and the pressure of work and lack of time for most busy teachers makes it very difficult to maintain such ties on a regular or frequent basis. However I am optimistic, and think the future will bring about greater and more frequent communication between the styles of Okinawa in this country.
Master Higa Seitoku Higa Seitoku is one of Okinawa's most highly respected Karate and kobudo masters. At the time of writing, he was the president of the All Okinawa Karate Kobudo Rengo Kai. Master Higa was born in Naha City, Okinawa on January 20th, 1921. He began his training in Karate in 1931 at the age of 11 under Kishimoto Kijun sensei (teacher) and later in 1932 he studied with Kishimoto Koro soko (founder) sensei (teacher). Kishimoto had studied under a Shurite (boxing methods of Shuri) master named Takemura. In 1937 after five years intensive training Higa Seitoku was ready to start teaching Karate (he was 16). In 1940 Mr. Higa participated in a demonstration in Kawasaki, Japan with Master Toyama Kanken and later journeyed to Mt. Fuji to practice. In 1943 he received the menkyo kaiden (certificate of full proficiency) from Kishimoto sensei and in 1945 received the Shihan menko (master's certificate) from Toyama sensei in Tokyo. Later we find the master pursuing his fondness for yagai renshu (outdoor training) in Sumatra practising in the mountains and teaching. Master Higa is much involved in the organisational aspects of Karate and in 1947 received his 7th dan (degree) from the All Japan Karate Association. In 1948 he learned from Hanshi Chotoku (Sento Ryu) the (form) kata Seisan and opened a training hall in Kumamoto, Japan. At this time he was Vice President of the Nippon Karate Do Fuku Kai. In 1950 Master Higa's students began teaching in Shuri, Okinawa. It was at this time that the master learned Pai Sai no kata from Chiko Choshin Hanshi (master professor) and later in 1951 he opened a training hall in the Naha Shuri area From 1956 he began studying Bo jutsu (staff fighting techniques) under Soke Chinen Masame Hanshi of Yamane ryu and in 1960 he was awarded the menkyo kaiden (certificate of full proficiency) of the Yamane ryu school of Bo jutsu. In the following year Master Higa formed the Okinawa Kobudo Kyokai and began Bo jitsu training with Uehara Sekichi sensei of Motobu ryu Uehara sensei had learned his art from Motobu Choyu, the brother of the well known Motobu Choki. Master Motobu Choyu had been a student of Machimura Bucho (the first important family connection). In 1962 Master Higa learned two new kata. From Nakama Chosu sensei he learned Gojushiho (Useishi) and from Nakamura sensei he learned Pin-An kata. In 1963 he visited Kumamoto, Japan with members of his Association. Master Higa became a Hanshi in 1964 and in 1966 he received the menkyo kaiden in Hiden Bu Jitsu and also received his Ku dan (9th degree). In 1967 he became the first president of the All Okinawa Karate Kobudo Ren go Kai and in 1968 changed his dojo name to Bu Gei Kan (Warrior Art House) and became President of the association. Through a series of coincidences, Master Higa had purchased the land for his Bugeikan dojo in Shuri where Okinawan Te (ancient indigenous fighting arts) had been originally taught back in AD 650. In 1973 he became president of the Motobu Ryu Kobujutsu Kyokoi and in 1975 was awarded the Ju Dan (10th degree). One of Master Soken's senior students, Yuichi Kuda studied in comparatively recent years by working not only under Master Soken and his successor Seiki Arakaki (who died in 1986) but also under Master Seitoku Higa. Thus, we have a second important relationship with that system. Until quite recent times Master Higa taught many Kata, among these were Naihanchi, Pln-An, Seisan, Sochin, Jitte, Neiseishi, Chinto, Pai Sai Sho, Pai Sai Chu, Pai Sai Dai, Kusanku (Ko ryu), Kusanku (Bu Mura Ito), Gojushiho, Motode San Sen, Matsu San Sen, Jissen, Suchin, Rufa, Ni Dan Bu, Sanpa Bu Ryuha, Jion and Ananku. His kobudo kata include the following: Bo (staff): Ogushiku no Bo, Chikin no Bo Chikin no Bo Dai, Shushi no Kun, Sunakake no Kun Dai and Sho Sakugawa no Kun. Tonfa (side handle baton): Tonfa San no Dai, San no Sho. Nunchaku (flails): Nunchaku Dai, Nunchaku Sho, Ni Cho Nunchaku, Shakunote. Bugeikan kata are similar to other forms taught within Okinawa. Master Higa believes the most important item is spirit and good attitude. Today, Master Higa's son, Kiohiko is 8th dan headmaster of the Shuri Bugeikan.
Bugeikan in the UK Bugeikan in the U.K. is a comparatively small but strong group of some 150 practitioners based in Hampshire. It was founded by Rick Woodhams sensei. He was the first Westerner to be awarded a Headmaster of a branch of the Bugeikan certificate. The Bugeikan Association of Japan presented this to him in 1978 during a visit to Okinawa. The kata of the U.K. Bugeikan group are not the same as those taught at the Okinawan hombu (headquarters), this because of Woodhams sensei's previous connections with Goju ryu. Woodhams sensei first studied Jujutsu during his initial visit to the Far East in 1955 and in 1957 he studied Fei Lung Ch'uan (a Chinese martial art) under Lee Yung in Hong Kong. His Karate training and interest has taken him to numerous countries. He has been fortunate to train with Higa Seitoku and other masters of the Bugeikan in Okinawa. Other masters under which Woodhams sensei has studied have been Miyazato Ei'ichi of Goju ryu, Mark Bishop formerly of Goju Ryu, Bugeikan in Okinawa, Paul Larson, Steve Dukas and Stan Wilks, all of Goju Ryu / Bugeikan in the United States, B Cousins, Chief Instructor for Goju ryu International in France and other respected practitioners of the martial arts. Woodhams sensei was formerly a national kata competition judge. Rick Woodhams and Roger Sheldon have been good friends for many years now and for long expressed the mutual wish to help create a more friendly and integrated approach to the Okinawan martial arts where we can all learn from each other and pass on the old ways to the following generations. Note: Since this article was written, Rick has retired. OKINAWAN SAYING: Be kind to your body, exercise it in conjunction with your mind, and your only competitor is yourself. |