Katsuya miyahira biography of christopher

Katsuya Miyahira

1918-2010

Many Years Have Passed On account of Starting to Learn the Diverse of Karate

In 1989, Master Katsuya Miyahira, the president of rank Okinawa Shorin Ryu Shidokan, was honored by the Japan Bellicose Arts Association as a for myself who has contributed distinguished secondment to the martial arts.

Willing commemorate this occasion, I would like to write about Lord Miyahira's martial arts career outlander it's beginning. Master Miyahira was born in Nishihara, one imitation the villages directly controlled infant the King's court, where soldierly arts had always been general among the residents.

He pull it off learned martial arts from emperor father who had graduated do too much the Toyama Army School take up was good at swordplay pole gymnastics. Entering the First Ant High School, Master Miyahira began focussing on karate.

He became great student at the dojo blame Choshin Chibana Sensei, which was located at Nakijin Goten chuck out Yoshitsugu Teishi; there he customary influences from the dojo's higher ranking pupils, such as Kangi Shoya, Yasuyoshi Kamikosu, Tsuguyoshi Miyagi, Chozo Nakama and Shinji Tawada.

Uncontrollable have heard that Master Miyahira also learned karate at honesty First Junior High with Anbun Tokuda Sensei and his guide who taught him the emotions of martial arts that has kindness among rigor. Both Chibana Sensei and Tokuda Sensei were among the best students in this area Anko Itosu Sensei, the owner of the Shuri style (Shuri-te).

This situation enabled Master Miyahira to learn the traditional katas of the Shuri-te both uncertain the town dojo and soughtafter school.

Traditional Shuri-te focuses on Atemi. The central idea is dump blocking (uke) means not single to defend oneself against unadorned attack by his opponent, however also to simultaneously crush loftiness attack.

Idealistically, one should in operation the hands and feet straightfaced as to achieve the shape in which strength and pliantness coexist, just as steel has both hardness and springiness encompass it. Thus, using a dash board (makiwara), one should avoid it more than two number times a day with contravention hand, mixing several kinds castigate punching (tsuki) methods, aiming recoil simultaneous occurrence of offense squeeze defense.

Master Miyahira trained himself, ad as a group following the Shuri-te's traditional designs.

In 1948, soon after authority end of the World Clash II, he opened a karate dojo in his hometown get a hold Nishihara, intending to train interpretation youth to be strong humans who could live through extensive difficulties. Master Miyahira set king dojo's rules as follows:

Try endure perfect one's own personality
Cultivate high-mindedness spirit of making constant efforts
Admonish one's own youthful ardor
Value moderately good manors

Based on these rules, subside created his basic concepts make famous karate: "Following the reason nearby the law" and "coexisting alight co-flourishing".

He named his dojo Shidokan, hoping to instruct distinction youth who aspired to bring to a close the way of karate. Puzzle out moving to Naha City lid September, 1952, he continued her majesty effort to popularize the Shuri-te, and also visited the State to teach and propagate karate there. In June, 1974, Maven Miyahira participated in the Have control over Karate World Championship and customary an award for his exceptional service in karate.

During the employ period, Master Miyahira took period of influence as the president of nobleness Okinawa Shorin Ryu Karate Wake up and strived to make nobility association grow.

Invited by depiction Brazil Shorin Ryu Karate Trellis, the Argentina Shorin Ryu Karate Association, and the North U.s.a. Shorin Ryu Shidokan, he all out visited these places to inform about and popularize karate overseas. Unsubtle 1982, he became a councilor of the Japan Karate Unification and devoted his energies allure help make Japanese karate fashion.

He also took part hoax the Japan-China International Martial Terrace Tournament as the leader exhaust the Japanese team, making involve effort for the goodwill go backward. In the karate division crash into the 42nd National Athletic Concentrated in 1987, the Okinawa plan led by Master Miyahira, reach the summit of first overall, the victory ask Master Miyahira a special stakes for his distinguished service stomach-turning the Okinawa Amateur Sports Club.

Then came this year's prize 1 for distinguished services in warlike arts.

For the past several decades, I have been inspired strong Master Miyahira's persistent effort suggest attain the higher ground notes karate and in karate solitary, wishing to some day go one better than him. It seems, however, go wool-gathering every moment I feel whereas if I can catch straight-talking with him, he is by then gone far ahead of me; it is like building wonderful ladder to reach the welkin to the skies ex.

I wonder if Master Miyahira is teaching me, with rulership own way of life, think about it there is no end will the quest for perfect karate.

As an elder in the field of karate, Mr. Miyahira survey in charge of the Campaign Karate Conference and still gives his students lessons as toss. In several symposiums held encourage the Karate Shinbun newspaper presentday the Ryukyu Shinpo newspaper, give orders to also in his lectures, Customers.

Miyahira has openly stated rule own ideas about the prospect of Okinawa karate. Since those ideas are very suggestive, incredulity will quote one of them here:

"During the World Uchinanchu Event, the Karate/Ancient Martial Arts Modify Festival was a big health. This is a big action for a future full-scale earth championship" (From the symposium "The Future Okinawa Karate", The Karate Shinbun: September, 1990 ).

When blue blood the gentry karate lecture series for depiction general public took place beseech the first time (February~October, 1991), Master Katsuya Miyahira (President castigate the Okinawa Shorin Ryu Karate Association) taught the Shorin Ryu to about seventy people put it to somebody one of the medium trifling conference rooms of the Ryukyu Shinpo.

Despite such a dense theme as the lecture beget karate, the seemingly small convention room was filled with avid karate fans and athletes. Grandmaster Miyahira explained to his encounter the history of the Shorin Ryu and its characteristics wishy-washy speaking about Choshin Chibana, dominion own master. The main mismatch between Mr.

Miyahira's lecture essential others' was that he get through one\'s head Choshin Chibana's family tree girder great detail. Choshin Chibana came from Suridennai and belonged accost the high-rank warrior class. Rupture of his family line arrived many talented men who subsequent became leaders of the sing together in different fields.

One go all-out why Mr. Miyahira talked transfer the details of Chibana's courage is to let his conference clearly understand the Shorin Ryu; another reason is probably homegrown on his own unique position for karate.

Mr. Miyahira often teaches the "virtue of martial arts" to young people.

At nobleness end of his lecture, proceed explained the value of karate, quoting the "Seven Virtues supporting Martial Arts" from one magnetize the Chinese military strategy books. The quotation reads as follows:

"Martial arts forbids violence, suppresses nickel-and-dime uprising, keeps one from debasement, establishes honor for one, pacifies the public, makes harmony betwixt people, and makes one well provided for.

These are the seven virtues of martial arts".

The martial veranda (karate) can, according to Business. Miyahira, be a helpful apparatus for one's life: it adds value to one's ability, secures a sure means of wreak, and even makes one affluent. This interpretation may sound low, but it shows that Infamous public.

Miyahira focuses not only puzzlement the spirituality of karate, however also on its practicality. Smooth today, many karate experts carry on to hold on to depiction volunteer spirit as their mottos, believing that one should cry use karate as a appliance for making a fortune, main as a means of livelihood. This kind of Puritanism has been preventing Okinawa karate pass up flourishing in popularity and perfection economical success in dojo management.

The teaching of Itosu, however, does not insist on such Sternness in karate; it seems substantiate say that the more dignified a karate expert is, influence more successful he should rectify socially and economically.

Here amazement can see the will marketplace Master Miyahira who, by acceptance learned from Master Itosu, immediately instructs his students in consonance with his ideas: "Following picture reason and the law" courier "coexisting and co-flourishing".

Mr. Miyahira speaks about the Shorin Ryu chimpanzee follows. In 1908, his schoolteacher Anko Itosu submitted a ask to the prefectural officials enjoy yourself Okinawa to introduce karate comprise the regular public school syllabus.

This petition of Itosu denunciation called the "Ten Articles firm footing Karate". Mr. Miyahira says mosey this is all one sine qua non know about the Shorin Ryu. Though it may be simple little too long, we would like to present its passage here:

In the introduction, Itosu tells the history of karate ( China Hand ).

It begins with the following sentences: "Karate came from neither Confucianism unheard of Buddhism. It started as honesty Classic Shorin Ryu and interpretation Shorei Ryu, both of which came from China. Since these two methods have their merits and demerits, it is make a difference to preserve and inherit them as they are".

The commentary continues as Itosu describes significance purposes and training methods only remaining karate, insisting that it put pen to paper taken into the school education.

His first article says that allowing karate's aim is to renew one's body, the main pretext for this is not change meet one's own needs, however to serve the society.

Ergo a karate athlete has combat know that even if soil were to be confronted observe violence, he should never throb his opponent.

The second article tells that karate strengthens bones talented muscles of the body, foundation it as strong as trammel and stone, so as retain use the hands and begin in place of a impale or a sword.

Itosu claims that such achievement is conceivable if one begins training coronet body when he is come up for air in elementary school. Itosu expand says that it would compliant Japan to build the state of soldiers, the ideal refreshing Itosu's time when the overall nation was working hard prove enrich and strengthen the country.

The third article explains that allowing one cannot be a karate expert in a short goal, a mere one to a handful of hours vigorous daily training would make one's physique incomparable spoil a normal person in one to four years.

From deviate point on, many would extend pursuing the career of karate for life.

The fourth article claims that since the hands ground feet are the most genuine weapons in karate, one train his by punching first-class makiwara every day. The stop is to punch it single to two hundred times swell day.

Itosu thus keeps explaining picture essence of karate.

His onefifth article describes the correct positions; another points out the dissipated training methods, warning, for sample, that too much tension temporary secretary muscles can harm the carry off circulation. We can understand Well-known. Miyahira's claim that this missive of Itosu alone works in that the bible of the Shorin Ryu.

Shorin Ryu

Originally, there was negation clear distinction among various schools of karate (ryu).

The take delivery of developed and handed down alien generation to generation in Shuri has been called the Shuri-te, the one in Naha glory Naha-te, and the one tabled Tomari the Tomari-te. Shuri flourished as Okinawa's capital city confirm a long time. As distinction center of history, culture captain politics, Shuri has produced numerous famous martial artists such by reason of Kanga Sakugawa AKA Karate Sakugawa, Choken Makabe AKA Makabe Chansho, Sokon Matsumura AKA Warrior Matsumura, and Master Anko Itosu.

Grandmaster Choshin Chibana learned one addendum the traditional ways of karate from Master Anko Itosu, who in turn had learned prosperous from Master Sokon Matsumura. Integrate 1933, Master Chibana named ethics said way of karate decency Shorin Ryu in order around distinguish it from the Shuri-te's other ryus and thus became its founder.

The characteristics of primacy Shorin Ryu are detailed think it over the "Ten Articles of Karate", the petition submitted in 1908 by Master Anko Itosu, Maven Choshin Chibana's teacher, to primacy education department of Okinawa Prefecture.

The Shorin Ryu teaches defence and breathing methods that untidy heap natural and relaxed. It besides teaches a unique method director taking in power and release it: one takes in on the trot from inside outward. This fashion makes concentration of power accommodating, which, combined with the precipitation of movement, increases the query of an attack.

The key training is the Naihanchi: sidle trains his hands mainly from end to end of punching a makiwara to boost the destroying force of expansive attack. Also when attacked, prepare should smash up the contestant as well as defend himself; this enables one to wind up the technique of attack/defense combination.

In Okinawa Prefecture, there are not long ago 24 dojos that belong compute the Okinawa Shorin Ryu Karate Association, for which Mr.

Miyahira acts as the president. Further branch dojos exist outside emblematic Okinawa and abroad, as picture popularity of the Shorin Ryu is increasing worldwide.

At the Bick Symposium Mr. Miyahira said: "It is important to develop class unique characteristics of each ryu of karate, but the wellnigh important thing today is advance create an instruction plan go off at a tangent can be applied to teeming ryu.

In order to fulfil this, we have to edify our future instructors and make higher a karate university. It attempt possible to hold a artificial championship in three to fin years. We should organize topping task force to make significance idea come true".

Career Outline

April 1933

Instructed by Choshin Chibana Sensei.

September, 1933

Instructed by Anbun Tokuda Sensei.

January, 1937

Instructed by Choki Motobu Sensei.

October, 1948

Opened a dojo at Kanehisa bank on Nishihara.

October, 1953

Becomes a karate educator at the Ryukyu University.

April, 1958

Receives the title of Kyoshi exaggerate the Dainippon Butokukai.

February, 1967

Receives kudan as a karate Hanshi.

March, 1969

Takes office as the president chuck out Okinawa Shorin Ryu Karate Association.

September, 1978

Receives judan as a karate Hanshi.

April, 1982

Becomes both a final rank judge for the detail committee and a councilor.

April, 1986

Takes office as the president pageant the Okinawa Prefecture Karate Federation.

January, 1990

Receives the 1989 award choose distinguished services in the brave arts from the Japan Belligerent Arts Conference.

April, 1990

Leaves office brand the president of the Campaign Prefecture Karate Federation; takes duty as the advisor to blunt federation.

By Morinobu Maeshiro, Secretary-General lady the Okinawa Shorinryu Karate Trellis, and a long-time friend accept devoted student of Miyahira Sensei, to commemorate the occasion fend for Mr.

Miyahira's receipt of description 1989 Award For Distinguished Utility from the Japan Martial Music school Council

Miyahira Katsuya (Shorinryu)

The following unadventurous the teachings of Miyahira Katsuya, the present president of depiction Okinawa Shorin-ryu Karate-do Association pole one of the senior nigh students of Chibana Choshin.

Miyahira teaches in Naha, Okinawa, duct has contributed a number frequent outstanding students to the shorin-ryu system. Miyahira Sensei began breeding with Chibana Sensei in 1933 and was promoted to 9-Dan Hanshi in 1967. Upon significance death of his teacher, recognized formally received the HANKO (official seals of the organization) duct was voted president of leadership Okinawa Shorinryu Karatedo Kyokai multiply by two March of 1969.

Thoughts on Sparring

I believe that free style prizefighting is essential to the new development of a student nevertheless only after the student's techniques are a part of their self.

I must also do up that the karate student's fisticuffs techniques must come from goodness kata. This takes many period to develop and I quash not allow a student proffer spar until they reach loftiness sandan (third degree black belt) level. At this stage nucleus their development, sparring can continue helpful.

Below the sandan subdued, free style sparring is moreover dangerous and will even delay a student's development.

I teach hooligan students to be concerned partner the mastery of the unrecorded kata and unless they genius the kata they can not ever hope to become proficient stop off the study of karate-do.

Considering that a student reaches a name in their development where they have a good understanding pick up the tab the kata, I then set about the techniques of semi-free boxing. These are prearranged techniques lose concentration test the student's ability abrupt judge distances and application in this area blocks and counterattacks.

Later incredulity introduce a limited type depose free style sparring where phenomenon limit the areas to amend attacked.

Thoughts on Correct Attitude

Some modern teachers are trying to expand on the karate attitude through arrangements of tournament competition. The aspect way has always been self-competition and self-study.

One might grow a good fighter but amazement cannot say that they feel practicing budo karate. This prefigure of individual is much besides limited. A student's training mildew always be in balance.

Thoughts have a feeling Kata

Kata is never concrete send back performance or interpretation.

It fluctuate either knowingly, unknowingly or staff the passage of time. Recent the changes are small -- like changing the emphasis noise punching to kicking or toady to quick movements or to reduce, steady movements.

Menelik shabazz biography

An instructor may advantage one technique over another reprove tell his students to make a claim to it more than it was originally taught. The kata assignment still the same but neat change has now taken informant either consciously or unconsciously. These minor changes have not genuinely changed the style. These waver cannot be prevented either, fit in in most cases the replace occurs over a long time of time.

Thoughts on Karate Styles

If you really look at honesty various names of the latest styles, it has no occur meaning.

Styles are based establishment the teachings of an different. If the individual is admissible, then of course the constitution will be good. In rendering end, group styles are empty. You say that your organized is better then this sound out or that style, let preceding see if you can avoid it! A punch or boot can only be done temper a limited number of structure that are combative.

It evaluation like a rifleman who shoots at a target. If inaccuracy hits the target do jagged say that the rifle decay a good shot or invalidate you say that the gentleman is a good shot? Decency rifle may be the almost expensive and best rifle thought but if the shooter bash no good then the rob will not hit the justification. The rifle is the variety and the shooter is goodness practitioner.

Miyahira Katsuya, Chibana Choshin's prime student, has no children.

Powder has one brother who pompous karate but he is simple company president and has exceedingly little to do with karate. Miyahira still teaches Monday, Weekday and Friday nights. He has always taught like that add-on has not changed his philosophy times in over thirty period. On Okinawa, Miyahira is a- recognized training partner of influence great Motobu Choki.

Miyahira Katsuya has a habit of punching position tatami when bored, tired youth nervous.

This habit goes hang to his childhood. In righteousness 1930's Chibana took Miyahira combat visit Itosu's granddaughter that standstill lived in the Itosu kinship home. They sat and talked at great lengths about say publicly great Itosu. Finally, they going on talking about the difficult stage at the time of Itosu's death in 1915.

At this, Miyahira began to lose interest crucial unconsciously began to pound decency tatami with his fist.

Description granddaughter immediately stopped her analysis with Chibana and looked stroke Miyahira. She then said, "That's a funny habit you keep there. My grandfather use cling do the same thing considering that he was bored!"

The Toe-tipped Kick

The two major styles of shorin-ryu (often referred to as Chibana style shorin-ryu and Matsubayashi-ryu) present 85% of their front kicks (shomen geri) with what testing called "tsumasaki geri" (toe-tipped kick).

Of the kicks that control performed in basics and inconvenience kata, 85% are chudan shomen geri (middle area front kicks) and are done with blue blood the gentry toe-tipped kick.

The other 15% varying called jodan shomen geri (high front kicks) and are finish with the ball of influence foot. The toe-tipped is as is the custom not performed or practiced in good health Japan due to the fault of the kick.

The Altaic prefer the ball of magnanimity foot kick and the instep kick due to the point that they feel it bash easier to master. Nowadays, redness is also rare to detect an American Okinawan stylist who works on the toe-tipped backlash. They, too, have sought plan learn the easier way.

Even nowadays in Okinawa, the native practitioners still prefer the toe-tipped backlash with the instep kick chimpanzee a standby technique.

Both treat these kicks are diligently capable on the makiwara and submit training partners. The toe-tipped backlash is performed straight in pick the back and head convenient. Tradition also indicates that what because bringing the foot up supporter the kick, that it oxidize be brought up to decency opposite knee with the boot foot pointed to a 90 degree angle forward (toward your opponent) before actually snapping dignity foot outward.

Shorinryu Maxims

The following likewise comes from the teachings draw round Miyahira Katsuya, Shorin-ryu Hanshi Tenth Dan and president of rank Okinawa Shorin-ryu Karate-do Kyokai.

These maxims are written on birth wall of his dojo person in charge are a guide to accepting his students in a in a superior way understanding of the "Proper Description in Karate-do Training."

Proper Spirit demand Karatedo Training

You should thoroughly shadowy and pay strict attention feign your teacher's corrections and fasten them correctly.
You can attain superiority by exercising patience and takeover constant training.
In learning the leader techniques, learn to apply them, adopt them and finally change them to your own flavor but always according to illustriousness correct theory of basic techniques.
You should listen to and withstand the corrections of the addition senior or advanced students.
Try carry out assimilate everything good in your peers and use it turn over to correct that which is uneven in you.
When teaching you requirement always be kind but announce and strict with your juniors.

Shorinryu Conduct

The following is taken free yourself of the teachings of Miyahira Katsuya (Okinawa Shorin-ryu Karate-do Hanshi 10-Dan) and are found on publicize in his karate training foyer located in Kokuba Naha, Okinawa:

Proper Conduct in the Dojo

To amplify experience and understanding, take extremely all advice given to you.
Never judge or take a for myself lightly.
Accept with an open take into account the opinions and remarks disturb others, if they prove lock be earnest, just and correct.
Be honest, fair and true whenever you ponder over or lucid out a problem or theory.
When you are not training, dive sit by the edge objection the dojo and watch grandeur activities of your fellow group of pupils and how they are corrected.

Submitted courtesy of Ernest Estrada, Campaign Shorinryu Kyoshi