Traditional Karate > Isshinryu History

Shimabuku, Tatsuo was born in Okinawa in 1908. He began his study of Karate at the age of 8 when he walked some 12 miles to the neighboring village of Shuri to learn Karate from his uncle. His uncle sent him home; obstinately he returned and was sent away several more times. His uncle finally gave in and accepted him as a pupil. Shimabuku remained for a period of four years and was only permitted to study Karate after completeing the daily menial chores in the dojo.

Having achieved a certain degree of skill in SHURI-TE Karate, he went on to formal training in KOBAYASHI-RYU (Shorin-Ryu) under Chotoku Kiyan who at that time was famous throughout Okinawa. Shimabuku also studied with Chojun Miyagi of the GOJU style and became his leading pupil. Later he returned to KOBAYASHI-RYU this time under the guidance of Choki Motobu, who was virtually a legend in Okinawa. Still seeking more knowledge Shimabuku studied the art of the Bo and Sai and the Tonfa. He gained this knowledge from Taira Shinken and Yabiku Moden who were responsible for providing Okinawa's instructors with these particular weapon skills.

Shimabuku's reputation throughout Okinawa reached its peak when World War II struck. During the early part of the war, he avoided being drafted into the Japanese Army by escaping into the countryside where he worked as a farmer. As the situation became more desperate and the need to press the Okinawans into service became urgent, Shimabuku was again forced to flee. As his Karate reputation spread, many Japanese soldiers organized a thorough search for Shimabuke in order to study Karate from him. The officers who finally located him agreed to keep his whereabouts silent if he would teach them Karate. It was in this manner that Shimabuku survived the war.

Following the war, he returned to farming and practiced Karate privately for his own spiritual repose and physical exercise. As the island's leading proctitioner of both Shorin-ryu and Goju-ryu, Shimabuku experienced a strong urge to combine the various styles of Karate into one system. After consultation with some of the principal Okinawan masters, Shimabuku founded the Isshin-Ryu system the One Heart Method.

The U. S. Marines stationed on the island of Okinawa sought Shimabuku out and he began teaching them Karate. At a demonstration, he missed the nail he was driving into a board with his fist and cut the back of his hand. He put a handful of dirt on the hand and finished the demonstration. Some of the Marines, impressed by his skills and manner, became Black Belt instructors and spread throughout the United States.

Shimabuku formed the Isshin-Ryu system on January 16, 1954. In 1966, Master Shimabuku visited the United States, meeting with the students he had taught on Okinawa and instructing their students. Master Shimabuku died in May, 1975. Isshin-Ryu Karate will continue to be taught and enjoyed by those who have captured the beauty of the vision of Master Tatsou Shimabuku.