The Passing of Nakazato Shugoro

[Wastelander]

For those who don't know, the Shorin-Ryu that I practice comes from the Shorinkan--and organization that was founded by Nakazato Shugoro Sensei in 1975 to continue the development and transmission of the karate that he learned from his teacher, Chibana Chosin Sensei. Born in 1920, Nakazato Sensei has seen a great deal of change in the world, and has been a major contributor to the development of Shorin-Ryu karate. He began training in karate in 1935, under a Shito-Ryu instructor named Iju Seiichi Sensei. He enlisted in the Japanese military during World War 2, acting as a bayonet instructor and manned torpedo pilot, before retiring back to Okinawa and becoming a student of Chibana Sensei. As a senior student of Chibana, Nakazato Sensei passed on all of the material that he was taught by the legendary Shorin-Ryu master, but his curriculum also included his own material--namely Fukyu no Kata, Gorin no Kata, and a set of yakusoku kumite drills--and the Gojushiho kata that he was taught by Iju Sensei.

Here is a short clip of Nakazato Sensei teaching ashi-waza (leg technique) and kuzushi (balance breaking) concepts on his last trip to the United States, at the age of 80:

Nakazato Sensei at the age of 90, demonstrating his favorite kata, Kusanku Dai:

Nakazato Sensei as a young Kyoshi, demonstrating Chinto:

A few weeks ago, Nakazato Sensei celebrated his 96th birthday, which is quite a milestone, even for famously long-lived Okinawans. Unfortunately, he had been having some health problems lately and, three days ago, on August 25th (on Okinawa, which was the 24th for those of us on this side of the world), he passed on from this life as the result of complications from pneumonia.

Nakazato Shugoro Sensei built the largest Shorin-Ryu organization in the world, and contributed to the development of many outstanding karateka. While I never had the pleasure of training with him, personally, he was a great master of karate, a great man, and an inspiration to everyone in the Shorinkan. He will truly be missed, and I wanted to spread the word of his passing to any who may be interested. For those who would like to send flowers or letters to his son, Nakazato Minoru Sensei, I can provide an address.

[sensei8]

My condolences to Nakazato Shugoro Sensei's family, friends, and students; he'll be truly missed by all. While I never had a chance to meet him and/or train under him, I knew about him, but only from a distance.

I've read about him over the years in many different publications, and I hold the highest respect for him across the board. He can't be replaced, only admired for his life long dedication to Shorin-Ryu, as well as his students; they've lost a legend of not only Shorin-Ryu, but of the MA world in general.

Many students of the MA, no matter the style, might've been inspired somehow and someway by Nakazato Shugoro Sensei, not only by the manner of which he trained, taught, and lived both in and out of the MA, especially Shorin-Ryu...I know I was!!

I deeply bow to Nakazato Shugoro Sensei, now and forever!!

[JR 137]

Nakazato Shugoro Sensei was truly a living legend. A master's master. The MA world has lost a pioneer. There aren't very many left of his caliber, unfortunately.

[Struggling_Mudansha]

Condolences to his friends and family. Without him, I would have never had the honor to train in his style. I also would of never have met one of his highest ranking students; a person who inspires me everyday.