The Unknown Masters of the Known Masters! Who Are They?

[sensei8]

Most, if not all, Japanese/Okinawan Karate-Do are linked someway/somehow to one of the legendary Masters of yester-year. Whom without, no style exists, both Japanese as well as Okinawan.

We're indebted to these Masters for their foresight as well as to their unmatched skills of Karate-Do. Some of these great Masters are known to everyone within the Karate-Do world. Masters such as: Master Sokon

Matsumura, Master Kosaku Matsumora, Master Higaonna Kanryo, Master Anko Itosu, Master Choki Motobu, Master Chotoku Kyan, and Master Choshin Chibana, Master Gichin Funakoshi, Master Kenwa Mabuni, Master Chojun Miyagi, Master Motobu Choki, Master Kanken Toyama, and Master Kanbun Uechi.

These prominent Master's of Japanese/Okinawan Masters are responsible for the spreading of Karate-Do. There are many, many noted yester-year Karate-Do Masters, this is without question. Today's Masters are direct lineage of the aforementioned founding legendary Masters. Whether alive or dead; these modern-day warriors forged a path that can't be denied by any Karateka worldwide. Masters like: Master Masatoshi Nakayama, Master Hidetaka Nishiyama, Master Hirokazu Kanazawa, Master Hironori Ohtsuka, Master Shimabuku Tatsuo, and Master Masutatsu Oyama.

These legendary Masters had the entire world as its stage in which to showcase their particular style/brand of Karate-Do. The stars upon the worldwide stage are the very students of these same said Masters. These same students became Masters in their own right.

Whom? For example, Master Fumio Demura, Master Morio Higaonna, Master Ed Parker, Master Takayuki Kubota, Master Peter Urban, and Master Gordon Doversola. Some of these noted Masters founded their own style of Karate-Do, while some chose not to. Either way, their lineage must point back to the Masters of Old.

IMHO, every Karateka is linked together, one way or another. Whether one likes to admit it or not; we're nothing without each others paths intertwining harmoniously, one path, one course, one unity...one Karate-Do.

Some Masters are well known while some Masters aren't. This can be also said for styles of Karate-Do; some styles are well known while some styles aren't. Does the unfamiliarity lessen their own greatness within Karate-Do and within the plethoria of Martial Arts spanning the world over? No!

We can't be expected to know about them all. Especially when one realizes and accepts that the world is a very big place, and in that, nobody can know everything/everybody involved in Karate-Do/Martial Arts. That's impossible!

After all, modern-day Karate-Do isn't that old. History informs us that modern-day Karate-Do came about in 1901 when Itosu helped to get Karate-Do introduced into Okinawa's public schools. Here it is 2009, therefore, modern-day Karate-Do is only 108 years old. That's infancy compared to history informing us that the Martial Arts was birthed as a common fighting system known as "ti" or "te" among the pechin class of the Ryukyuans in 1372. How much further back does the Martial Arts travel to its very beginning? There's speculations, at best, but, nobody truly knows with any certainity. For the exact date to be known, accurate record keeping would've had to have been created and obtained way back to the beginning of time...good luck with that!

My own style; Shindokan Karate-Do has its own lineage/history. Briefly, My Soke, Master Fuyuhiko Saitou Sensei, was a student of Master Shigekazu Ishikawa who was a student of Master Anko Itotsu who was a student of Master Sokon Matsumura; my Dai-Soke is Master Yoshinobu Takahashi Sensei who was a student of my Soke Master Fuyuhiko Saitou Sensei, therefore, I'm a student of my Dai-Soke Master Yoshinobu Takahashi Sensei. My Soke was also deeply immersed as a young lad into Okinawa-te as well as Shuri-te, both taught to my Soke by his father, Choshu Saitou as well as Master Shigekazu Ishikawa.

Out of the listed names above within the Shindokan Karate-Do lineage/history, only two are well known; Master Sokon Matsumura and Master Anko Itotsu. The others listed within the lineage/history of Shindokan Karate-Do aren't as well known, if at all, outside of the Shindokan Karate-Do circle, yet, this doesn't discredit and/or lessen their accomplishments, nor does this change the known facts found within the Shindokan's Densho, Hand Scrolls, and By-Laws.

In closing, many things are known and unknown within the many circles that make-up any and all styles within every Martial Arts. Just because I don't know you and you don't know me, this is of no consequence, nor has it any other valid meaning to either of us. You are what you are because your Karate-Do Master says you are! I am because my Karate-Do Master has said so! My students are what they are in Shindokan Karate-Do because I say so.

The rest is just noise; petty noise! Let us not forget and/or assume who these unknowns are. No! Let's allow the floor to decide for us, at it's specific and meant time! Therefore, let's not chose to disrespect one another because this isn't Bushido.

Outside of our very own style, it's possible that we've no value. In short, you've nothing to prove to me, therefore, I've nothing to prove to you! We're of any known value ONLY within our own system/style/Hombu/Dojo/Organization/Association/Federation; this includes Rank and Title.

Who are the unknown Masters? You, and you, and you, and....

Your thoughts?

Edited May 10, 2009 by sensei8

[Killer Miller]

Great Article Sensei8...

I'm glad you mentioned Takauki Kubota whom has done a lot for the art and also contributed a great deal to to our law enforcement and movie coreography.

Another that has been forgotten (I think he went back to Japan to take care of family) was Matsura Sensei, whom used to be JKA Chief Instructor of Mexico, and was Assistant Instructor for Hidetaka Nishiyama in the US for several years. He was a really good master/instructor. Although, he never really liked me much and used to try and inflict as much pain as he could on me - and this was clearly for the reason that he had the hots for the female friend I hung out and trained with lol...

- Killer -

[white owl]

Nice article Sensei8. Thanks for sharing this with us.

[bushido_man96]

Thanks for the look into history there, sensei8.

[Taags9]

Just wondering if any of you have heard of Enzo Ortega. He taught for Nishiyama in the seventies and used to sleep in the dojo and train literally all the time. I think he was the Shotokan Sparring National Champ in '76. He was an extremely intense, disciplined, and intimidating individual. At the time I believe he was a 5th don. I have yet to see someone who could/would be willing to challenge this sensei on the street ie outside the protection of tournaments, which he continuously got kicked out of for contact. Unfortunately, if he were more diplomatic, probably would have had more followers and Nishiyama would have given him more praise. Even so, Enzo was one of his most prized students (he let him sleep in the dojo for god sake...in exchange for teaching classes of course)

[sensei8]

Just wondering if any of you have heard of Enzo Ortega. He taught for Nishiyama in the seventies and used to sleep in the dojo and train literally all the time. I think he was the Shotokan Sparring National Champ in '76. He was an extremely intense, disciplined, and intimidating individual. At the time I believe he was a 5th don. I have yet to see someone who could/would be willing to challenge this sensei on the street ie outside the protection of tournaments, which he continuously got kicked out of for contact. Unfortunately, if he were more diplomatic, probably would have had more followers and Nishiyama would have given him more praise. Even so, Enzo was one of his most prized students (he let him sleep in the dojo for god sake...in exchange for teaching classes of course)

Oh yes, I know him, but not personally. We're both of the same area; San Fernando Valley in Los Angeles county.