Isshin-ryu Karate

        Shinkichi Shimabuku, was a renowned Master of both Shorin-ryu and Goju-ryu styles, as well as, the ancient arts of Okinawa known as “Te”. He utilized his mastery of these arts to distill the best techniques of both styles and added his own startling and innovative principles of fighting to create Isshin-ryu, “The One Heart Way ”. At an early age, Shimabuku began his study of karate under his uncle, but after several years of study his uncle placed him under the tutelage of Choto Kyan, for advanced studies. Shinkichi ( Soke’s original name) studied Shorin-ryu for about four years with Master Kyan becoming his principle student during that time. He then enrolled in the Goju-Ryu style under the legendary Chojun Miyagi, known for his Seiuchin and Sanchin katas, which Shimabuku was to incorporate in his new style. His other Sensei's were Choki Motobu, a large and fearsome looking man and probably the best known and most feared fighter on Okinawa . As you might assume, Motobu had perfected and taught Naihanchi kata, one of the strongest stances in karate and now embodied in Isshin-ryu. Shimabuku studied the martial art of Kobu-jutsu from one of Okinawa ’s greatest weapons Masters, Taira Shinken, with whom Shimabuku learned the Tunfa, Bo and Sai.

          At this point, Shimabuku began to teach on his own and as custom demanded in Okinawa , he took a new karate name “Dragon Man” or Tatsuo. He was thirty-nine years of age at this time. Tatsuo Shimabuku, over the following years began to evolve his mastery of the martial arts he had studied, constantly looking for perfection and logic in the practice of his arts. Keep in mind that originally Soke was a working farmer, as were approximately 45% of Okinawa’s population and yet, his analytical mind showed it’s genius in the extrapolation of his empirical knowledge and aptitude to create a new and devastating martial art, Isshin-ryu. The synthesis of these techniques into Isshin-ryu and it’s unique fighting style is not the project of a simple man, but the elevation of his art to perfection, by a complex, intuitive and logical mind. His creation, Isshin-ryu, or the “ One  Heart Way ” was announced in January of 1956 and was received with derision. In fact, the other masters on Okinawa considered Isshin-ryu to be an affront to everything that they held sacred in the martial arts. Among the most important innovations connected to Isshin-ryu is the fact that the stylized, immobile, deep and flexed muscle stances of the past were now converted to a relaxed fighting style, which relied upon speed, balance and focus, rather than strength and power for effect. Practicality replaced historic movement for street fighting purposes, such as the use of vertical punches with the thumb on top of the fist to lend strength to the wrist, rather than the previous twist or corkscrew punches. He was not a scientist and yet, Shimabuku’s reasoning was based upon sound physics and his sense of the human anatomy. The best example is the use of a vertical punch which is natural to the human body making it faster than a twist punch. In the corkscrew punch the arm muscles are torqued creating a braking action and lessening the focus that would be capable with Shimabuku’s vertical punch. Further, less emphasis on kicking techniques as the total answer to an attack and instead, the use of an equal combination of hands and feet allows the Isshin-ryu practitioner to display a complete array of technique to the opponent. Matched with close-in fighting, blocking and maneuvering into an oblique stance in relation to the opponent, Isshin-ryu brings professionalism to street fighting techniques.

        Soke Shimabuku stressed that the Isshin-ryu practitioner should always remain in a relaxed posture, until the very moment of focus. This keeps the Isshin-ryu karate-ka from becoming tight, which would deplete his or her strength and stamina. A relaxed stance also enables a higher level of speed and reaction, making blocks more effective and bringing focus to it’s highest possible level, at the moment of impact. Master Nagle emphasized the fact that the blocks were also delivered with focus and snap, delivered to cause injury and pain, but withdrawn immediately, in the same manner as a punch or kick.

Soke Shimabuku related this metaphor during his stay in Jersey City , New Jersey in 1965, “the lions sleep most of the day, yawn and stretch when awake. It is only when game is near enough for a successful strike, that they will focus all of their strength, speed, balance and ferocious spirit, in an attack that will end in the death of the prey or enemy. After the attack and ensuing meal, the lion will once again lay down, relax and fall asleep, conserving strength”. This is the manner in which the Isshin-ryu karate-ka must attack and defend against his foe or opponent.

          Soke Shimabuku was now on his own, with all of the masters of Okinawa arrayed in opposition to his innovative style, including members of his own family. But he persevered and practiced to evolve and perfect his Isshin-ryu. Fortunately, after World War II, the United States occupied all former Japanese possessions, including Okinawa . The servicemen stationed on Okinawa , principally the United States Marines of the Third Marine Division, learned of and sought out Soke Shimabuku. In time, Division Headquarters, accepted Shimabuku as the sole recognized chief instructor of the Marines stationed on Okinawa . This came as a result of the lobbying of Soke’s Marine students. Among those first students were the legendary Masters; Don Nagle, Harold Long, Steve Armstrong and Harold Mitchum. To the chagrin of the opposing  Masters on Okinawa , these tough Marines began to defeat the other Masters students, in all the local tournaments on Okinawa , though just beginners. This triumph of wills culminated in a stunning victory, when Sensei Nagle won the overall Okinawa Championship, as a white belt, against the other teachers best black belts. Isshin-ryu karate had been validated and would soon be recognized world wide.

            Perhaps Soke Shimabuku never fully realized the depth of his accomplishment or the power of his creation. In fact, he had not simply amalgamated the two styles of Goju-ryu and Shorin-ryu, he had evolved an entirely new process, an entity unto it’s self. Not another style of karate, Isshin-ryu was a new paradigm, a martial art of it’s own. Each of us should be dedicated to a lifetime of study to uncover all of it’s value and meaning.

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