Shōgen-ryū
| Also known as | Shōgen-ryū |
|---|---|
| Date founded | 1999 |
| Country of origin |  Okinawa, Japan |
| Founder | Taba Kensei |
| Current head | Kiyomasa Maeda |
| Arts taught | Karate, Kobudō |
| Ancestor schools | Shuri-te, Tomari-te, Matsubayashi-ryū |
| Practitioners | Taba Kensei, Kiyomasa Maeda[1], Takeshi Tamaki[2], Masahiko Tokashiki, K.P. Johnson, Chikara Shinjo, Toshihiko Tamashiro |
Okinawa Shōgen-ryū Karate-Dō, also called, familiarly, Shōgen-ryū, is an offshoot of the Matsubayashi-ryu style of Okinawan Karate. Shogen Ryu was officially founded in 1999 by Taba Kensei after stepping down as the first President of the World Matsubayashi-ryu Karate-Do Association (WMKA).[3][4]
History
[edit]In 1999 after stepping down as the first president of the World Matsubayashi-ryu Karate-Do Association (WMKA) Taba Kensei would found Shōgen-ryū. Shōgen is made up of two kanji Sho (昭) in honor of his primary karate teacher Shōshin Nagamine and Gen (源) meaning a return to origin which together gives the meaning returning to the roots of Shoshin's karate.[5] Taba would remain the head of Okinawa Shogen-Ryu Karate-Do Association, the official organization for Shōgen-ryū, until his death 7 July, 2012. Following his passing one of his primary students Kiyomasa Maeda would be recognized as the new head of the association.[6] The World Headquarters for the Okinawa Shogen-Ryu Karate-Do Association is located in Itoman, Okinawa, Japan.[7]
Training methodology
[edit]Shōgen-ryū, created by Taba Kensei, follows many of the principles and kata of Matsubayashi ryu, but the mechanics and bunkai of Taba.[8][9] Taba sensei greatly emphasized the use of koshi (hip) in generating power,[10] he also changed several of the kata to better fit Ikken hissatsu which is best demonstrated in his version of wankan kata.[11] This emphasize has led to the styles division from Matasubayashi ryu and its practice to this day.
Kata
[edit]Kata are sets of moves in Karate and are considered the most important part of the Shōgen-ryū style [12][13]. Shōgen-ryū has 18 kata in the system, namely:
Okinawan Kobudō legacy
[edit]Shōgen-ryū also has a Yamane Ryu Bōjutsu legacy since some of Taba's students studied Bōjutsu with Chogi Kishaba, who was a student of, Masami Chinen, Sanda Chinen's son, and Chinen Pechin's grandson.[14] Yamane-ryu practice is also encouraged in many Shōgen-ryū dojos.
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ↑ Okinawan Spirit - 沖縄の心 (2019-06-28). Sensei: Masters of Okinawan Karate #5 Kiyomasa Maeda - 沖縄空手. Retrieved 2026-06-05 – via YouTube.
- ↑ Okinawan Spirit - 沖縄の心 (2019-05-21). Sensei: Masters of Okinawan Karate #4 Takeshi Tamaki - 沖縄空手. Retrieved 2026-07-09 – via YouTube.
- ↑ "Okinawa Shogen-Ryu Karate Do India || Official Website of Okinawa Shogen-Ryu Karate Do India || Karate Club India". okinawashogenryuindia.com. Retrieved 2026-06-22.
- ↑ SRKDI. "Shorin Ryu Karate Do International". Shorin Ryu Karate Do International. Retrieved 2026-06-07.
- ↑ "shogen ryu karate do". skildojo.ca. Retrieved 2026-07-10.
- ↑ "Shogen Ryu Lineage". shogenryu.com. Retrieved 2026-07-10.
- ↑ "shogen ryu karate do". skildojo.ca. Retrieved 2026-07-10.
- ↑ "Shogen Ryu Lineage". shogenryu.com. Retrieved 2026-07-10.
- ↑ "shogen ryu karate do". skildojo.ca. Retrieved 2026-07-10.
- ↑ "Shogen Ryu Lineage". shogenryu.com. Retrieved 2026-07-10.
- ↑ "Shogen Ryu Kata". shogenryu.com. Retrieved 2026-07-10.
- ↑ "Shogen Ryu Kata". shogenryu.com. Retrieved 2026-07-10.
- ↑ "Shogen Ryu India About". karate-shogenryu.com. Retrieved 2026-07-10.
- ↑ Okinawan Karate, Second Edition, by Mark Bishop, p. 120, ISBN 0-8048-3205-6