AOKK Isshin-ryu Linage 

No one knows where Te (tea) originated but were there were three regions on Okinawa where it flourished. Te translates to hand. These regions were Naha, Shuri, and Tomari and eventually these regions would develop what would later be referred to a Shuri-te, Naha-te, and Tomari-te. It is from these roots that Isshin-ryu was born. Most of the history we have is through the oral tradition, and memory is sometimes sketchy. What little history that was written down was mostly destroyed during the second world-war. As historians of the art we must remember our linage, so that it can be passed on to future generations..  

Okinawan Linage Recital for Black Belt Testing:

Shorin-ryu Linage:

1. Tode Sakugawa (1733-1815)
2. Sokon Matsumura (1797-1889)
3. Kyan Chotoku (1870-1945) & Motobu Choki (1871-1944)
4. Shimabuku Tatsuo (Shimabukuro Shinkichi) (1908-1975)

Goju ryu Linage:

1. Ru Ru Ko (Ryuruko) (1793-1892)
2. Higashionna Kanryo (1853-1915)
3. Miyagi Chogun (1888-1953)
4. Shimabuku Tatsuo (Shimabukuro Shinkichi) (1908-1975)
5. American Linage:

1. Shimabuku Tatsuo (Shimabukuro Shinkichi) (1908-1975)
2. Don Nagle (1938-1999)
3. James Chapman (19xx-1971/Doug Noxon(1929-1971)
4. Jessi Gallegos (19xx-1995)
5. Charles Baehr(1958-2011)
6. Gary Spencer(1954-xxxx)

Shimabuku’s Okinawan Weapons Instructor:

1. Moden Yabiku: (1882-1941)
2. Taira Shinken (1898-1970).

Tode Sakugawa: is our beginning. For our linage we start with Todi Sakugawa. He trained originally in Okinawan’s indigenous fighting arts with Takahara sensei. Later, he would train with Kung Shang Kung or Kusanku in the Japanese pronunciation.  We believe he blended the two arts of Tode and Kung-fu into what we now call Shorin ryu. He originally is from the Shuri region of Okinawa or the Ryukuyu Islands. Sakugawa sensei would travel to China and train in Kenpo as well as with weapons like the Bo or staff.  It is also reported, by John Sells sensei, that he trained with Chatan Yara or Yara of Chatan village. According to Sells sensei, Kusanku taught a form of grappling to Sakugawa. His nickname would become Tode Sakugawa in recognition of his skill in personal combat. Tode is a reference to “China hand” paying homage to the Chinese martial arts. In the nineteen-thirties Tode or karate’s kanji would be changed from representing “China hand” to “Empty hand.” 

Sokon Matsumura: trained as a young man under Tode Sakugawa. He was arguably the greatest martial artist of his day. He was of the Bushi class and served the king of Okinawa. He was known for his diligent training in the fighting arts, and his powerful kicks and his jumping techniques are legendary. Many historians attribute the kata Chinto to Matsumura. He too was from Shuri and instrumental in the development of Shuri-te. There are countless stories of his prowess as a martial artist. 

Kyan Chotoku: was born into a family of a high ranking member of the Okinawan king’s court. Because Kyan sensei was born into a powerful family he had access to the finest karate instructors on the island. This included the famous Sokon Matsumura. His family would however fall from grace after the Satsuma clan conquered Okinawa and the government was dismantled. It is reported that he was a formidable fighter even though he was a small man. Kyan was able to generate great power by using his body mechanics to their maximum capability. There are many stories of how larger men found themselves on the ground at the smaller man’s feet. He was quite a character, and refined what we today call Shorin ryu. Kyan had many instructors, but his main instructor was Sokon Matsumura. These are the names of Kyan’s other instructors: Tokomini Peichin, Matsumora Kosaku, Madea Peichin, Yara Peichin, Oyadomari kokan, and Kyan Chofu his uncle.

Motobu Choki: was a bull of a man. He was a fighter. Motobu sensei was born into nobility, but was the second son, so he was not afforded the martial arts training that was available to his older brother. Motobu just liked to fight and would frequent establishments that housed men willing to test themselves. It was on one of these occasions that a young Motobu had an encounter with a trained karateka and was easily and soundly defeated. Shorty after that he began asking to be trained by karate instructors on the island, but because of his reputation all declined the prospective student. Eventually and reluctantly, Matsumura would accept him as a student. It is reported that Matsumura’s training of Motobu was harsh, but he did not quit, and became a skilled karateka. When karate became popular in Japan, Motobu moved to the mainland and opened his own karate school. Motobu was in his fifties when he became a national treasure by defeating a German heavy weight fighter that had beaten Japan’s best. Unfortunately, Motobu like Kyan would die due to their age and difficulties encountered during WWII. 

Kyan and Motobu were Shimabuku sensei’s Shorin-ryu influence, but he also trained with the legendary Miyagi Chojun. Miyagi Chojun was the founder of Goju-ryu karate. His instructors were Ru Ru Ko and Higashionna Kanryo. Like Shimabuku’ s Shorin-ryu connection his Goju-ryu connection also had a strong Chinese influence. 

Ru Ru Ko (Ryuruko): was a Chinese martial artist. He trained Higashionna. It is possible that his name was Liu Lukung, Liu Long Gong, or possibly Xie Zhongxiang. His style was White Crane Kung-fu. He was a harsh and disciplined instructor. This rigorous and harsh training was passed on to his students. It is believed that Ryuruko came from the Fujian region of China, and that was the source of his training.  His background is sketchy. He could have been a military officer or bodyguard. Others claim he was born into the aristocracy. The problem is we only have knowledge of this teacher through oral history, and that can be unreliable. In any event he at some point visited Okinawa before the fall of the kingdom.

Higashionna Kanryo: was trained by (Ryuruko). Ryuruko’s training methods were rigorous. He greatly contributed to the development of Naha-te tode or karate. Allegedly, it was told that Higashionna was trained as a reward for saving the kung-fu master Ryuruko’s daughter from drowning. Prior to his being trained in White Crane Kung-fu he supposedly worked for Ryuruko doing chores. Before traveling to China Higashionna sensei had trained in Naha-te, so he was no novice to the martial arts. He began teaching in the Okinawan school system around 1905. 

Miyagi Chojun: was from a wealthy merchant family. He, because of his wealth, had access to the finest instructors in the world. This however didn’t make his training any easier. Higashionna trained the young Miyagi as he was instructed and that was hard and rigorous. Before training with Higashionna sensei in Naha-te, Miyagi sensei trained with Arakaki Ryuko (1875-1961) also in Naha-te. His Shuri-te instructors were Yabu sensei and Hanashiro sensei according to John Sells. After the death of Ryuruko, Miyagi traveled to China in search of more knowledge of Ryuruko’s teaching, but Ryuruko was long deceased. Miyagi stayed in China for year learning more about Fujian martial arts. When he returned to Okinawa, he worked to evolve Naha-te. In the nineteen thirties after his Japanese students wanted a name for his system he named it Goju-ryu (Hard Soft Way). A few historians believe he was responsible for bringing the Bubishi to Okinawa while other think it was passed down to Higashonna by Ryuruko. 

Shimabuku Tatsuo: had three major influences in his training. These were Miyagi Chojun sensei  (Gojo ryu), Kyan Chotoku sensei ( Seibukan Shorin-ryu), and Motohu Choki sensei (Motobu ryu). He trained in weapons with Taira Shinken (1898-1970). Master Shimabuku’s birth name was Shimabukuro Shinkichi. He changed his name to Tatsuo as an adult. Tatsuo translates to “Dragon Boy.” The style was first referred to as “Chan Migua-te” or Small Eyed Kyan’s Karate as a tribute to his main karate instructor. It was later entitled Isshin-ryu (One-Heart-Way) around 1956 after the systems technique was modified. During the war Master Shimabuku trained Japanese soldiers stationed on the island, and later Master Shimabuku began training marines in Okinawa after the Second World War ended. He first visited the United States in 1966. Shimabuku’ s top Okinawan instructors were: Kaneshi Eiko, Kinjo Chinsaku, Angi Uezu, and Shimabuku Kichiro. He produced several prominent American instructors. They are: Harold Long, Steve Armstrong, Harold Mitchum, Don Nagel, John Bartusevics, and A.J. Advincula and Harry Smith.

Shimabuku’s style is mostly recognized by its’ vertical punch instead of the horizontal punch found in most systems. Oddly, this punch should be executed on a forty-five-degree angle not vertical. The angle should be on the same slant as the opponent’s rib cage to penetrate the xiphoid process. This was not Shimabuku sensei’s invention it is the way Kyan sensei’s Seibukan Shorin-ryu punched.  It was probably moved to the vertical position to appease the traditionalists, in America, because the forty-five-degree angle looks like a bad horizontal punch. The thumb of the fist is placed on top of the index finger or pressed to the side of the index finger. The strike is made with the knuckle of the index finger and middle finger. He also modified the basic blocking techniques. Isshin-ryu’s block is made with the padding (musculature) of the forearm to distribute impact across both bones of the arm. These changes created a stir in the karate community. Tatsuo sensei was an innovator, and it would take time for his changes to be accepted.

Tatsuo Shimabuku did not teach the simplified kata named the Pinon or Heian forms found in most modern karate systems. Those forms were created by Itosu Anko for children in the public school system. Shimabuku sensei taught traditional kata from the beginning. This was the way he was taught. He also added weapons to enrich and complete the system though not all Isshin-ryu schools teach weapons as part of their curriculum. Isshin-ryu is one the most popular styles of karate taught in the United States. 

Don Nagel: was a first generation Isshin-ryu instructor. He trained with the founder of Isshin-ryu and opened his own school in New Jersey. Mr. Nagel was a marine, karate instructor, and a police officer. Nagel sensei began his training in the village of Kyan pronounced Chun. Nagle sensei was the first to open an Isshin ryu dojo in America. It is said that his technique was lighting fast, and while on Okinawa was nicknamed the Fighting or Laughing  Red Devil depending upon your source. Those that trained with him had the greatest respect for him. This is arguably the greatest compliment that any man can be paid on this earth.

James Chapman: trained under Don Nagle and later, along with Don Noxon, brought Isshin-ryu karate to the Midwest. We do not have a great deal of information on Chapman sensei. He moved to the Chicago area around 1960 and opened his first school. He died in 1971 going to the funeral of his good friend Don Noxon.

Jesse Gallegos: is a midwestern Isshin-ryu legend. He was trained by James “Jim” Chapman. Jesse Gallegos sensei  with his wife sensei Jane Gallegos along with Herman Kussro were fixtures in the Chicago area karate community. Sensei Jesse Gallegos held tournaments that bonded many differing stylists into a community of martial artists. Master Gallegos would live to see his beloved Isshin-ryu find its way outside the United States to Mexico, Puerto Rico, Finland, and Demark. He and Jane never knew the impact they had on other karateka. Their impact would eventually reach Arizona.  Beasley sensei remembers competing in those Chicago tournaments with a fondness that only a young black belt can possess. Jesse, Jane, and Ron Troutman created the United Black Belt Council. Master Gallegos did not wear the traditional red and white paneled belt or solid red belt no, he chose to wear a white belt with a simple red stripe down the center. This belt was as unique as the man. Sadly, Jesse sensei died in 1995 and Jane sensei would follow him  2021.

Charles “Chuck” Baehr: Jesse Gallegos trained Chuck Baehr in Isshin-ryu karate. Sensei Baehr met Gallegos sensei at a black belt testing. Sensei Gallegos convinced Chuck to train with him, and that would later enable the creation of the AOKK. Baehr sensei first achieved black-belt in Tang-Soo-Do before training in Isshin-ryu. Later, Chuck trained in the Chinese martial arts, but his first love was always Tang-Soo-Do. Chuck was a large man, but his kindness was a rare commodity. Baehr sensei and Spencer sensei worked together to create the American Okinawan Karate Kobudo Association (AOKK). I miss the hours of debate we had about the future of our organization and just what we wanted to pass on to our students. We agreed that it was better to build good people than good karateka. You could always find Chuck surrounded by a group of children. Instead of working on kata he would be telling them a story. He was a gentle giant and a good friend. Chuck passed on in 2011. 

Gary Spencer: trained in Tae-Kawon-Do (Moo-Duk-Kwan), Uechi-ryu, Shorin-ryu, and Isshin-ryu. Spencer sensei was a second-degree black belt when he began his training in Isshin-ryu in the mid eighties. He had attained the rank of fourth-dan prior to training with Beahr sensei. Sensei Spencer left his first Isshin-ryu/jujitsu instructor in the mid nineties for personal reasons.  Sensei Beahr trained along side sensei Spencer for a year before telling him his rank. It was a chance for Beahr sensei to get to know Spencer sensei on a professional and persona level. It was the beginning of what would have been a long friendship. After the testing period, Beahr Sensei and Spencer sensei founded the American Okinawan Karate and Kobudo Association. At sixty-seven Spencer sensei is still teaching and training today. 

Weapons:

Moden Yabiku: first trained Shimabuku sensei in Okinawan weapons. Shimabuku would later train with one of Moden’s students Taira Shinken. It is believed that Moden trained with: Chinen Sanda, Tawada Shinboku, and Kanagusuku Sanda. The last two instructors were believed to be students of Sokon “Bushi” Matsumura. 

Taira Shinken: was Shimabuku Tatsuo’s main weapons instructor. He was born Shinken Maezato on Kumejime Island  Okinawa. His instructor was Moden Yabiku. It is believed that the trained with forty different weapons. I would be remiss if I did not to say that Shinken sensei was one of the most influential kobudo (weapons) instructors of modern times.  He has influenced many Japanese and Okinawan karate systems.

Richard “Rick” Robinson: was Spencer sensei’s weapons instructor. Later, after attending a seminar with Nick Alder sensei Robinson and Spencer changed the static method of performing the Isshin-ryu weapons kata to the more fluid way Adler sensei had demonstrated. Sensei Baehr would also influence the way we performed Okinawan weapons kata. Sensei Baehr trained in Chinese weapons as-well-as Okinawan weapons. He too agreed with the more fluid way we had adapted our weapons forms. The fluidity of the kata was more in keeping with his understanding of Chinese weapons. Before you traditionalists start brandishing your torches and pitch forks, remember Sakugawa sensei learned his weapons kata in China.

The AOKK:

The American Okinawan Karate Kobudo Association teaches the striking arts as-well-as the grappling arts. It was founded on the principle of the “Three Ranges of Fighting.” It also researches the bunkai of traditional kata to unlock the secrets of self-defense contained within it. This search began with a belief that kata was self-defense in the realm of  Range-Two. Range-two contains locks, chokes, and throws. All of these techniques can be found in kata, yet they are not part of many school’s curriculum. Kata without bunkai is simply an artistic form of folk dance at best or mediocre acrobatics at worse.  Knowing what the movements in kata represent makes visualization a part of the practice. Executing the form over and  over builds the body-mind connection allowing the karateka to react to a serious attack without thought.