SENSEI
Those who made the road before
Kosako Matsumura
Isshinryu lineage: Kosaku Matsumura → "Ankoh" Itosu / Chotoku Kyan / Choki Motobu → Tatsuo Shimabukuro
Kosaku Matsumora was born on the 18th of March 1829 in Tomari village on Okinawa Island. At the age of 15, when in those days boys began to be treated as adults, he started to learn Karate from Master Teruya of Tomari. The young Matsumora became one of Master Teruya's main students, even though be had many followers.
Master Teruya taught Katas which were only practiced in Tomari, namely "Rohai" (now called "Matsumora-no-Rohai" or "Koshiki-Rohai"), "Wanshu" and "Wankan". He put a great deal of emphasis on good behaviour, citing "Karate-ni-Sente-Nashi" and "Gojo-no-Oshie".
In those days, karate was usually practised in the garden or at the cemetery of the master's family, as it was the most convenient place. One evening, when Matsumora and others were practising at Master Teruya's family cemetery he noticed an outcast watching his moves intently. Somehow feeling that this outcast was not an ordinary person, Matsumora asked him to teach. Although he refused at the beginning, he finally agreed. This outcast turned out to be a Chinese martial artist who had drifted to Okinawa after his ship had been shipwrecked: he was living in a cave nearby. Matsumora and his fellow students learned "Chinto", "Chintei", "Jiin" and "Jitte" from this Chinese martial artist whose name is unfortunately not known.
Matsumora had to leave Tomari for a few years after getting into an altercation with a samurai from Satsuma (Satsuma ruled over Okinawa at that time). He only came back to Tomari after this samurai returned to his homeland.
He had several students including Master Choki Motobu, who became renowned for his great fighting skill. Master Motobu was reputed to have learned only Naifanchi (Naihanchin Shodan) Kata from Master Matsumora, but this is not true, although he did like the kata and so perhaps practised it more than others.
Also Master Chotoku Kyan learned "Chinto" from Master Matsumora, and subsequently passed it on to Master Nagamine, founder of Matsubayashi Shorin-ryu.
There is one story that is told of Master Matsumora. In his later years, when he was in his 60s, two students of Ankoh Itosu, Kentsu Yabu and Choyu Motobu, sought him out. Their teacher spoke highly of Matsumora, and they wished to visit him, to test him. However, he avoided them whenever they called. After several fruitless visits, the two decided not to knock at the front door but went directly to the back of the house, where they found him. As they had at last found him, he had no alternative but to deal with them in some way. He asked them, simply, to lift him. They could not. Afterwards, as they drank tea, he lectured them on the importance of politeness.
Master Matsumora died on 7th November 1898.