Okinawan Martial Arts Association

Shorin Ryu

(Old style village karate of Ryukyu)

An authentic system, retaining reliable self-defence applications (jutsu) and also personal development (do), leading to self realisation and harmony with others.  

A way of life providing a true sense of purpose.

Roger Sheldon and Tony Asquith

"No matter how you may excel in the fighting traditions and in your scholastic endeavours, nothing is more important than your behaviour and your humanity as practiced in daily life."    

Tejunsoku 17th century

Shorin Ryu (Small forest stream of thought), formerly known as Shurite (Head village hands) describes the methods practised in the royal village of Shuri, Ryukyu, during the nineteenth century. 

Today, there are several distinct branches of Shorin Ryu Karate.  They are all descended from one man – Matsumura Sokon (Bushi)  who lived in Shuri, Ryukyu c.1797-1889.  Our own Shorin Ryu stream of thought is derived directly from the Matsumura family lineage that came down from Matsumura Sokon (Bushi)  to his grandson Matsumura Nabe (Tanmei)  (2nd head) and then to Nabe Tanmei’s nephew Soken Hohan (1889-1982, third lineage master). 

Matsumura Sokon (Bushi)

We regard the art that comes directly from Soken Hohan and his student and family member Nishihira Kosei as the most authentic Shorin Ryu in existence today, primarily because its stylistic looseness and economy has been retained in the old way without succumbing to militaristic demonstrativeness and rigid form as embraced by many contemporary Ryukyu Shorin Ryu derivatives.

Soken Hohan shihan

However, he quickly began to develop a deep interest in the origins of his art, and a burning desire to know and understand the nature of the old style karate and so in 1976 he embarked upon a quest to identify the oldest extant forms. 

Jon Alexander sensei

In those days, there was no World Wide Web, and no easy way of penetrating the cloak of secrecy surrounding the old systems.  The result was that it took Sheldon sensei ten years to identify, and locate the old Matsumura lineage.  Living in England was not like living in the USA.  The mindset here was that old style karate had died when the so called 'father of karate', Funakoshi Gichen formulated his system.  The governing body of the time told him bluntly, "You don't need to look for something that is not there, the old karate was crude and undeveloped."  He wrote hundreds of letters to authorities around the world, patiently consolidating material and working towards realising his aim to train in very authentic Ryukyu classical karate.  It was through Sheldon sensei’s efforts that the Matsumura Shorin Ryu system was first introduced into the UK in 1985.  Matsumura Seito is the orthodox system disseminated by the third grandmaster of the system, Soken Hohan.

 Kosei Nishihira sensei

Sheldon sensei wrote to, and worked with some of the most prominent teachers of the Matsumura system in the world, and drew lessons from all of them.  They became his lasting friends in the Way and he remains grateful to them all.  Since then he has been pursuing a quest to perpetuate old style karate in as traditional manner as is possible, remembering that we live in another age, a different culture, with different needs and different perceptions.  

Sheldon sensei’s quest for over thirty two years has led to the evolution of a system that is second to none in its depth of understanding and knowledge.

            Mike Flanagan and Tony Asquith

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Sheldon sensei trained within the associations of Kenshin Kan (Kise Fusei sensei), Matsusokan (Yabiku Takaya sensei), Matsumura Kenpo (Kuda Yuichi sensei), and Matsumura Seito (Nishihira Kosei sensei) before creating an autonomous group dedicated to researching and perpetuating the old ways.  He has worked closely with a number of prominent Matsumura Seito Shorin Ryu teachers. 

                                       Mike Flanagan and student

Mr. Sheldon has also gained enormous practical experience through providing management of violence courses to professionals for thirty years and working closely with people who display violent behaviour.

Roger Sheldon has had the support of the leading authorities in the world for over thirty years.  They have recognised his sincerity and dedication and acknowledged him as a capable and responsible teacher in his chosen field.  He is eminently qualified to deliver this rare and old martial arts system.