HISTORY OF ZEN OKINAWA KARATE-DO RENMEI

It was not until after the Second World War that an organization which had something to do with Karate was founded and started public activities in Okinawa. However, a movement towards building the groundwork to form an organization had started as early as the Taisho Era (1912-1926).

In April 1918, Gichin Funakoshi, Chodo Oshiro, Chomo Hanashiro, Choshin Chibana, Kenwa Mabuni, Anbun Tokuda, Shimpan Gushukuma, Masumi Tokumura and Ryugyo Ishigawa were the main members that got together and started the Karate Kenkyu Kai (Karate preservation Association) at the Shuri house of Mr. Kenwa Mabuni which became a meeting place for the study of philosophy and technique. Also, around 1924 (Taisho 13th year), "Karate Kenkyu Club" was founded in Naha city. Chojun Miyagi, Jyuhatsu Kyoda, Jinan Shinzato, Koki Shiroma, Chotoku Kyan and Choki Motobu often participated in these meetings. These two groups were "amateur clubs " rather than true organizations in terms of their activities. In March of 1926, by unifying the two clubs, Okinawa Karate Club was founded and started to have public activities. The Okinawa Karate Club was the first formal organization in Okinawa’s Karate history.

When the Okinawa Kenritsu Taiku Kyokai (Okinawa Athletic Association) was founded in 1930, the Okinawa Karate Club became the Karate branch of the organization which gave it a stronger public function. Three years later, on Dec. 8th 1933, this organization was officially recognized by "Dai Nippon Butoku Kai" (Greater Japan Butoku Kai, founded in 1902). It was an epoch-making event in the history of Okinawa Karate, as it was officially recognized as "Japanese Budo".

Although its relationship to the Okinawa Karate Club is not clear, in January 1937, the Okinawa Prefectural Karate-do Promotion Society was founded. Kentsu Yabu, Chomo Hanashiro, Chotoku Kyan, Choshin Chibana, Chojun Miyagi, Shimpan Gushukuma, Juhatsu Kyoda, Choryu Maeshiro and Genwa Nakasone gathered together and started an organization to spread and develop Karate-do. On March 28, 1937 as one of their only activities, they created the "Karate Kihon Kata Juni Dan" (Karate 12 Basic Forms). These Kata were the origin of today’s Shorin-Ryu "Kihon-gata I & II". Prior to the outbreak of the Second World War there were no public activities performed by the Okinawa Ken Karate-do Koushin Kai. The Battle of Okinawa made all Okinawan people share a tragic destiny. The Okinawa Karate society maintained its name during the war and post-war era, but was never again able to perform any activities.

Unfortunately during the Battle of Okinawa and into the post-war era, many important people in the Karate society lost their lives. Despite the devastation caused by the war a great effort was made to maintain Karate’s proper ways.

However, there was no unification; each Ryuha going in different directions. This happened even among different groups of the same Ryuha. Each Dojo lived in its own world and was too busy trying to fill the void caused by the war. From 1945 to 1955, no organizations were established and each Ryuha remained isolated without associating with other styles. On the other hand, despite of this situation in Okinawa, Okinawa Karate was spreading overseas.

Okinawa Karate was becoming increasingly international and popular. Karate was now developing in the United States. Because of the lack of organization in Okinawa, they were not able to meet the international demands. It became necessary to form an organization to properly carry on the true Karate, as well as to make Karate international and to keep up with the international popularity that Karate had attained. There was an urge to form a structure in which to exchange information, develop skills, and build up morals. By continuing the status quo Okinawa couldn’t keep up with the times and the rapid changes that were occurring at the international level.

The internationalization of Karate was starting to put greater demands on Okinawa as the Center of Karate. It became necessary to reconsider its own position. With these pressures as the catalyst for change, in May 1956 the 4 major Ryuha Uechi-ryu (Mr. Kanei Uechi), Goju-ryu (Mr. Meitoku Yagi), Shorin-ryu (Mr. Choshin Chibana) and Matsubayashi-ryu (Mr. Shoshin Nagamine) gathered at the Nagamine Dojo in Naha and formed the "Okinawa Karate-do Renmei" (Okinawa Karate-do Federation) to respond to these demands. This was the beginning of the international phase of Okinawa Karate.

Regrettably, 7 years after the organization was formed Mr. Choshin Chibana of Shorin-ryu left the Oki-Ku-Ren. Although he left, Shorin-ryu still remained part of the Oki-Ku-Ren, under Yuchoku Higa’s Shorin-ryu Kyudokan.

In time it was decided that there should be one organization that would include all the other Dojo (Ryuha) in order to unify everybody. In February 1967 Oki-Ku-Ren was reformed and, with many new members, the Zen Okinawa Karate-do Renmei (All Okinawa Karate-do Federation) was founded.

Under the Zen Okinawa Karate-do Renmei, there are many Ryuha, including Uechi-ryu, Goju-ryu, Shorin-ryu (Yuchoku Higa), Matsubayashi-ryu, Shobayashi-ryu, Tozan-ryu, Shorinji-ryu, Chubu Shorin. The first chairman was Mr. Shoshin Nagamine from Matsubayashi-ryu, Mr. Kanei Uechi of Uechi-ryu, Mr. Meitoku Yagi of Goju-ryu, and Mr. Zenryo Shimabukuro of Shobayashi-ryu as vice chairmen, and Mr. Yuchoku Higa as director.

Needless to say, the Zen Okinawa Karate-do Renmei is the only one that embraces many organizations and federations and has been carrying on the traditions, adjusting to the times while always contributing to the Okinawan Karate world.

The new members of the Zen Okinawa Karate-do Renmei were Tozan-ryu (Mr. Shinsuke Kaneshima), Shorin-ryu (Mr. Zenryo Shimabukuro), Shorinji-ryu(Mr. Joun Nakazato), and Matsumura-Shorin-ryu (Mr. Seiki Aragaki). On Aug. 20, 1973 Goju-ryu Karate-do Kyokai left the Zen Okinawa Karate-do Renmei due to a lack of fiscal accountability. They felt that proper bookkeeping could never be expected and made this their issue for leaving the organization. On Jan. 14, 1974 Tozan-ryu (Mr. Shinsuke Kaneshima) left the organization for personal reasons. On the other hand on, Nov. 30 1975, Ryukyu Kobudo Hozon Shinko Kai (Mr. Eisuke Akamine) joined the Zen Okinawa Karate-do Renmei. In 1980, Chubu Shorin-ryu (Mr. Katsuhide Kouchi) found it necessary to leave the organization, and did so.

Fourteen years after the Zen Okinawa Karate-do Renmei was founded, it faced the most critical crisis in its history and the Renmei’s ability to survive was in question. The Renmei was to participate in the National Athletic Championships (Kokutai-Kokumin Taiiku Taikai). Karate had became an official sport at the Nationals and in order to participate, the Zen Okinawa Karate-do Renmei had to become a member of the Zen Nihon Karate-do Renmei (All Japan Karate Federation, chaired by Mr. Ryoichi Sasagawa) since the Japanese Federation was a part of the Nihon Taiiku Kyokai (Japan Athletics Association).

This was to become a major problem for the following reasons: the Zen Nihon Karate-do Renmei wanted Okinawa, the birthplace of Karate, to join them. Okinawa was the only prefecture that had not joined yet. The Zen Nihon Karate-do Renmei had approached Okinawa many times before to ask them to join, but was turned down every time. With this history, it was an issue that could not be handled carelessly. The Zen Okinawa Karate-do Renmei was the largest association in Okinawa and it already belonged to Okinawa Taiiku Kyokai (Okinawa Athletic Association). Thus this was a problem that could not be avoided.

Okinawa had maintained its independence and was fiercely proud of being the cradle of Karate. Thus, to keep its independence or to give it up and join the National association was the greatest test they faced and a critical time in its history. As a result the Okinawa Karate society split in two groups: the Yamato-ha and the Okinawa-ha, which started our organizational difficulties. Time went by without any resolution to this conflict; it only got more confusing. Finally, the Okinawa Taiiku Kyokai made an arbitrary decision in order to give the appearance of resolving the issue. On Aug. 25, 1981 Okinawa Ken Taiiku Kyokai (chairman Mr. Kisei Oosato ) expelled the Zen Okinawa Karatedo Renmei from its association and this was done in the most unusual way, passing a contradictory and humiliating resolution. The Zen Okinawa Karate-do Renmei was replaced by a new organization, the Okinawa Ken Karate-do Renmei [Okinawa Prefectural Federation] chaired by Mr. Shoshin Nagamine.

As a result, some organizations that used to belong to Zen Okinawa Karate-do Renmei decided to join the Okinawa Ken Karate-do Renmei instead. Many illegitimate and previously unheard of people also joined the Okinawa Ken Karate-do Renmei. Many people must have thought it was better to join an association that was approved and recognized by the bureaucrats.

The Nationals (1987) that caused the separation within the Karate society came and went, but left many problems behind. The Zen Okinawa Karate-do Renmei was reduced in its size, but has concentrated on making itself an association full of vitality by maintaining and carrying on the spirit of Okinawa and martial arts, pushing on the organization as a determined team, and by trying to develop the role of Karate as a tool for international communication.

During the next twenty-seven years, the major groups Goju-ryu (Mr. Meitoku Yagi) and Uechi-ryu (Mr. Kanei Uechi), which remained, in the association, as well as Matsubayashi-ryu ( Mr. Shoshin Nagamine) and Shorin-ryu (Mr. Yuchoku Higa), which left the organization, all went through changes in leadership, as the senior generation retired or passed away.

After the 8th Chairman Mr. Meitoku Yagi, Mr. Joen Nakazato of Shorinji-ryu Karate-do became his successor. His achievements were great during his three terms, a total of six years.

The Uechi-ryu Karate-do Kyokai, the largest member group, had internal problems due to the younger generation assuming leadership. As a result they divided in two organizations, Shin Kaiha Okinawa Karate-do Kyokai and the original Uechi-ryu Karate-do Kyokai. It is the only style to have had two groups of the same Ryuha within Zen Okinawa Karate-do Renmei, but Mr. Ryuko Tomoyose the 12th chairman of the Okinawa Karate-do Renmei, overcame this difficult situation with his great virtue and experience. Mr.Kanei Uechi, who was the executive advisor (Renmei Saiko Komon), and the Uechi-ryu Karate-do second Soke (chief) passed away on Jan. 24, 1991 at the age of 79 years.

In April 1991, Mr. Masanobu Shinjo of Goju-ryu was elected as the 13th chairman while all Ryukaiha were undergoing a changing of the guard; as time went by, a younger generation was taking over. Everyone expected Mr. Masanobu Shinjo to begin a new era for the Renmei. Just when everything was expected to happen, the Okinawa Karate-do Kyokai (Mr. Ryuko Tomoyose) left the organization for personal reasons. Having two groups of the same Ryuha within the Renmei was one of the reasons, but the other was that they simply wanted to operate independently. The Zen Okinawa Karate-do Renmei’s size became even smaller than before. As a result, its executive board became more flexible, a stronger bond was created among them, and they became very courteous to each other. As the saying goes "A hedge between, keeps friendships green." Overall it became a better organization. Things that were previously not mentioned, like tournament rules, rules for judging, qualification of judges, and many other topics were brought up and openly discussed. They were also trying to encourage younger members. Everyone’s cooperation was vital in order to create real Okinawa Karate-ka and revitalize the organization. Promising a stronger bond, the organization is taking a step into the 21st century.

However, during his term as chairman, Mr. Masanobu Shinjo passed away on Oct. 15, 1993, due to illness. Mr. Joen Nakazato was elected as the 14th chairman for the remainder of the term. He was to face a very important period for the Zen Okinawa Karate-do Renmei. As a leader in the Karate community he was expected to participate in the Pre-Taikai in 1995 and a World Taikai to be held in 1996 [re-scheduled for 1997 after the printing of this book] organized by the Okinawa prefecture government. Mr. Joen Nakazato who had the experience of serving six years (three terms) as a chairman, took the initiative and declared cooperation with the Okinawa Government, and participated without compromising his original position. I hope this will be a great opportunity to bring the Okinawa Karate community, that remains too divided, together again as one.