SENSEI

Those who made the road before

Sokon 'Bushi' Matsumura

Isshinryu lineage: Sokon Matsumura → 'Ankoh' Itosu → Chotoku Kiyan → Tatsuo Shimabukuro

Sokon 'Bushi'(=warrior) Matsumura was born in 1797 in Yamagawa, Shuri.  He was partly Chinese.  His Chinese name was Seitatsu Bu and he called himself Unyu, or Takenage.  Around 1810 'Tode' Sakugawa began training Matsumura at Akata when he was 14 years old.  It was at his father's request that Sakugawa taught him.  Oral history tells us that Sakugawa, training Sokon to block, tied him at a tree so he could not move.  Then he threw punches at him.

Sakugawa trained him up until his death, for about 4 years.

Sokon Matsumura was recruited into the service of the Sho family (Royal family of Okinawa) when he was only 17 years old and eventually became the chief martial arts instructor and bodyguard for the Okinawan King.  At one time, Sho Ko, the king of Okinawa, desired to have him change his last name, as was the custom, and suggested the name Muramatsu (Muramachi), or "village pine".  After discussing the matter with some friends and relatives, he decided that Matsumura (Machimura), or "pine village", would be more appropriate.  Sokon asked the king to let him change the name to that, and the request was granted.

He went to China and studied the Shaolin style of Chinese Kenpo (fist method) and weaponry.  It is also known that he traveled to Foochow in Fukien province, China on numerous occasions as an envoy for the Okinawan King.  Hohan Soken said that Bushi trained at "Fukien Shaolin" for more than 26 years.  We do not know for sure of his length of time spent in China.  We do know that he spent at least 20 years there from the records that were kept for the Okinawan King.  After his return from China he organized and refined the Shuri Te (later called Shorin Ryu) system of Okinawan Karate.

Matsumura was given the title "Bushi" meaning warrior by the Okinawan King in recognition of his abilities and accomplishments in the martial arts.  In fact, Matsumura fought many times but was never defeated.

Sokon Matsumura died in 1889.