ABOUT OUR STYLE

Shorin-Ryu Matsumura Seito (Orthodox) is one of the oldest Okinawan styles to be formally organized into a “ryu”, or system to be handed down. As head bodyguard and martial arts instructor to King Sho Tai, Sokon “Bushi” Matsumura developed the system in the early 1800s. He based the style on the teachings of “Tode” Sakugawa, and the Hakutsuru (White Crane) techniques he learned during his stay at the Shaolin Temple in China. He had many students, but reserved much of his teachings for his grandson Nabe Matsumura. Nabe in turn taught these secrets to his nephew Hohan Soken, who passed them on to Grand Master Kise. As a result, Hanshi Kise is the first person not of the Matsumura family to receive the Menkyo Kaiden (certificate of full proficiency) of Matsumura Seito. Because Hohan Soken spent several years in Argentina and avoided the popular migration from traditional karate to sports oriented training, the techniques he taught remained pure.

We do not use the low stances and exaggerated motions popular in sports styles, instead keeping the shallow, upright stances and conservation of motion and effort that made Bushi Matsumura’s style so effective in his duties protecting the King. Our kicks are generally kept at belt level or lower, and our hand techniques are very quick and focused on specific vulnerable targets and pressure points. Because our stances are more natural and comfortable, we are able to kick quickly with either leg, and to employ “body change” – a method of stepping and angling that maximizes our ability to hit an opponent’s targets while keeping our own targets protected.