Difference btw Shorin Ryu and Shorinkan

[DavyKOTWF]

IS there any differ or are they the same thing?

I see on the net, talking about both.

[Montana]

I had the opportunity to work with 2 young Shorinkan black belts about 15 years ago, and what they were doing is very similar to what Shorin Ryu does. IMO it's a solid system with little or none of the garbage you see in a lot of systems these days.

[DavyKOTWF]

Thanks Montana - cool that you experienced that.

I just finished some more searching on it,

and it seems ryu means 'school' or 'way' or 'dragon' where as 'kan' means

house. So still, maybe the same thing???

[Wado Heretic]

The Shorinkan I am aware of is a branch of Kobayashi Shorin-Ryu; so it is just a variation of Kobayashi Shorin-Ryu as far as I know, and can tell you.

[Wastelander]

I'm a Shorinkan member, for what it's worth. Shorinkan is an organization that teaches the (Kobayashi) Shorin-Ryu passed down from Chibana Chosin. It isn't really a style, unto itself, although Nakazato Shugoro added a few things to the curriculum.

[Spartacus Maximus]

The best way to understand this question is that Shorin ryu is a "family" of styles. The "ryu" refered to here means "current, style". All Shorin styles originate with Sokon Matsumura.

There are 3 main styles in this family: shobayashi, kobayashi and matsubayashi. "Kobayashi" is Chosin Chibana's style as he learned it from Itosu, who had learned it from Matsumura and several other teachers. When Chibana died in 1969, his senior students each started their own "Schools" with a different name.

Shorinkan is Shugoro Nakazato's association/school with his interpretation of what Chibana taught. There are at least 3 or 4 other schools founded by students of Chibana.

[DavyKOTWF]

Thanks all. I just got back from this 'new to me' school.

Yep, sensei said it was Kobayashi !

He also said the grand master or something now, is an about 95 year old man, who he hopes to meet next month in Japan. He may have said his name but it went over my head...That must have been Nakazato like ya'll said.

I did catch, I think he was 10th degree??!!! Was I mistaken hearing that?

[Spartacus Maximus]

Yes, Hanshi(his teaching title) Nakazato is in his mid nineties and has passed on the Shorinkan to his son. It is doubtful that at his age he is still teaching. Most likely, if he is, it is in a more advisory function and limited to only his most senior and closest students.

[Wastelander]

Nakazato Shugoro Sensei is certainly a 10th degree, and he is 95, so I'm sure that's who your Sensei is talking about, but as Spartacus mentioned, he has largely retired. His son, Nakazato Minoru Sensei, was promoted to 10th degree and has taken over running the organization. So far, we have been quite happy with the direction that he is taking things.

[sensei8]

Nakazato Shugoro Sensei is certainly a 10th degree, and he is 95, so I'm sure that's who your Sensei is talking about, but as Spartacus mentioned, he has largely retired. His son, Nakazato Minoru Sensei, was promoted to 10th degree and has taken over running the organization. So far, we have been quite happy with the direction that he is taking things.

Which direction is this/that?? If I might ask.