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Master
Taira Shinken
June
12th 1897 - September 3rd 1970
Taira
Shinken called "The Father of Modern Kobudo"
was born Maezato Shinken on June 12th, 1897 on the island
of Kumejima (Kume Island) off of Japan. Taira
Shinken was the second son in a family of one girl, and
three boys, however, as was often the custom young Taira
was put up for adoption. Later in life Master Shinken
would decide to use the name Taira, which was his mothers
maiden name. Tradition has it that Master Shinken was
introduced to kobudo by his grandfather Kanegawa Gimu (1862-1921)
although some sources say it was not through his
grandfather. Young Taira acquired the nickname of
Mosa, which means rascal, due to his mischievous nature. Taira
finished grade school at the Nakazato Jinjo Elementary
School.
1937
photo of Shinpan Shiroma
leading
a karate class at Shuri Castle
After
finishing school Young Taira went out on his own in
search of work. He eventually landed a job working
at the sulfur mines on Minamijima Island, an island next
to his home island of Kumejima. Young Taira worked
hard but disaster struck when a support beam in the mine
collapsed trapping him under the rubble. Fortunately he
was able to dig his way out of the mine, however, he
sustained injuries, including lacerations, contusions,
and a badly broken leg which was to leave him with a limp
for the rest of his life. Master Shinken was unable
to continue working at the mine and had to return home to
Kumejima Island. Eventually he landed another job as
a miner at Kitadaito Jima, but quit after being
mistreated and ridiculed by his fellow workers, calling
him such names as worthless and useless, because of his
health and physical condition, which was a result of his
injuries at the mine. This prompted young Master
Shinken to attempt to improve his physical health. He
decided to move to Tokyo to start anew. At first he
thought of studying judo with the famous Jigoro Kano,
however, his need for work and the other life essentials
seemed to smother this idea to study judo.
Providentially like many Okinawans that moved to Tokyo
Master Shinken found accommodations at the Meisai Juku an
Okinawan dormitory for students, where he met the
legendary Gichin Funakoshi.
Master
Gichin Funakoshi
As
of September 1922 young Taira Shinken being very
impressed with his meeting and conversations with Master
Funakoshi had became a student of the Master, and he
became a Uchi-Deshi or live in student at Funakoshi's
dojo. He studied hard eventually becoming an
Assistant Instructor at Master Funakoshi's Dojo. During
Master Shinken's studies with Master Funakoshi they
traveled extensively in the Kanto area promoting and
demonstrating karate at several universities, including
Nihon Medical University, Chuo University, Ritsumei
University, and Meiji University. During these
demonstrations Master Taira would often perform Tameshi
Wari and could break as many as 6 boards at a time
utilizing a shuto or knife hand strike. As a result
of his rigorous training under Master Funakoshi his
health was restored and his physique became that of a
strongman.
Master
Taira Shinken
During
his studies with Master Funakoshi for some seven or eight
years, he met other Okinawan karate masters providing him
with a strong foundation and background encouraging him
to broaden his studies to include kobudo. As of 1929 he
was studying directly under Master Yabiku Moden, the main
kobudo Master on the island of Okinawa at that time. In
1932 he moved to the Gunma Prefecture. At this time
he also opened his first dojo at the Hot Springs Resort
of Ikaho, Ikahononsen City. In August of 1933 at a
seminar Master Shinken was awarded his Shihan Menkyo
certification or instructors certificate, by Master
Yabiku Moden.
Sitting
from your left to right:
Master's
Taira Shinken & Yabiku Moden
In
constant desire to learn more Taira Shinken asked Master
Funakoshi to introduce him to a friend and colleague of
Master Funakoshi's that he met in Osaka years
earlier, named Master Kenwa Mabuni. Master Shinken
asked Master Funakoshi for this favor while he was
visiting Master Shinken's dojo in the same year of 1933. As
a result of this help from Master Funakoshi young Master
Shinken did become a student of Master Mabuni ,who was
the first person to introduce Kobudo to the mainland of
Japan.
From
left to right:
Masters
Taira Shinken & Tsuyoshi Chitose
photo
courtesy of Koukichi Takara
Many
of Master Mabuni's students also later supported Master
Shinken. Such as Sakagami Ryusho, Master Mabuni's Son,
Kunishi Yasuhiro, Kuniba Shiyogo, and Hayashi Teruo, as
well as both Eizo and Tatsuo Shimabuku. It was these men
that were responsible for the spread of Master Shinken's
Kobudo throughout the world.
Master
Kenwa Mabuni
Through
Master Shinken's efforts a standard methodology of
teaching was established which formerly did not exist. He
was responsible for studying and preserving dozens of
neglected kobudo traditions. He went on to produce
several of his own kata which became famous in their own
right for such weapons as, the Sansetsuken or three
sectioned staff, the Tekko, two kata for the Nunchaku,
and a kata embodying the central elements of staff
fighting, Kungo No Kun.
Master
Shinken practicing with the bo
Master
Taira was very innovative and created a formal exercise
to augment his theories of Sai Jutsu by creating a
modified weapon (a unique design of the Manji Sai which
is used on the end of the Nunte Bo - a bo with a sai at
the end attached as one instrument) called the Manji Sai.
He got the idea for the weapon while meditating in a
temple in the Gunma Prefecture, though some say it was a
local Buddhist Temple outside the city, where he had gone
to pray for the success of his new dojo. It was
while at this Temple where he noticed an unusual
religious ornament which was a large Manji, the ancient
Sanskrit symbol of life and rebirth, which reminded him
of an Uchinan No Nunte, or Okinawan fishing gaff, which
is shaped similarly to a swastika or Manji. Upon
this interesting experience at the temple he went back to
his dojo and created the design for his unique version of
the Manji sai and a kata utilizing his new weapon which
embodied his theories of Sai Jutsu. His new kata was
a combination of techniques he had learned from
other sai kata, but it also took advantage of the Manji
sai's unique shape which he had created. His new
weapon had sharp points on both sides of the weapon.
This new kata he created was called Jigen No Sai. An
interesting note was made that the name Jigen No Sai can
be translated as "foundation of love", or
"compassion", this choice for the name of the
new kata may have been deliberate, since he came up with
the idea of the new weapon while at a Buddhist Temple.
Master
Shinken practicing with the oar (eku)
Master
Shinken returned home in 1940 where he continued his
research and teaching. By 1944 World War II was in
full force and suffering on his home island of Okinawa
was at an all time high. Master Taira and a few of
his students teamed up with a local group of entertainers
and decided to tour the island to help lift morale. After
the war was over he returned to his home village, Kume
Jima, where he helped the Allies to rebuild which gained
him much popularity.
Master
Shinken practicing with the tonfa
In
1948 he resumed his work of restoring kobudo as a
prominent art. During this time he met Kamiya Junsei
a legendary Okinawan bo/sai authority from whom he
learned the Choun, Soeichi Bo Jutsu, and the Yaraguwa Sai
Jutsu. Also around this time he founded the "RyuKyu
Kobudo Kenkyu Kai" realizing that he alone could not
carry on such a massive work. This society was
created to collect, preserve, and promote Okinawa's
kobudo legacy. His following became widely supported
by many masters of Kobudo and Karate-Do to numerous to
list.
Master
Shinken practicing with the kama
demonstrating
Nichogama kata
His
notoriety gained him international acclaim especially
among the American Armed forces. As a result the U.S.
military asked Master Shinken to do exhibitions which
were covered by all branches of the media including TV
and radio. He was then asked to introduce his work
to the U.S. which he did for fifteen different weapons
with full directions, and complete sets of photographs
illustrating their use, which are kept at the Smithsonian
Institute.
Master
Taira Shinken practicing with the sai
In
1960 he was awarded an Honorary Shihan Menkyo or Teachers
License, from the Institute of Ancient Japanese Martial
Arts Studies by the 14th headmaster of Koga Ryu Ninjitsu
and President of the institute. In 1963 he formed
the "Kokusai Karate Kobudo Renmei International"
or "International Karate/Kobudo Association". He
also published his first book on his research called
"RyuKyu Kobudo Taikan" or the Encyclopedia of
Ryukyu Kobudo. This book, now out of print,
illustrated a few kata and biographies of the most
acclaimed masters of Okinawa. RyuKyu Kobudo Taikan was
supposed to be the first of five books to be published,
but as a result of failing health Master Shinken was
never able to complete the other works.
Master
Taira Shinken
In
1964 he was awarded his Hanshi Menkyo or Masters
Certification, from the Zen Nippon Kobudo Renmei. During
his life Master Taira Shinken also developed an oversized
makiwara or punching board, used for the bo to build
power and improve kime (focus) and accuracy. He also
created bo and sai from bamboo, based on the design of
the Kendo shinai, and experimented with and attempted to
create armor for full contact weapons sparring, which
would be strong enough to resist the blows of a staff,
and yet flexible enough so as to not hinder movement
Master
Shinken wearing armor
These
efforts were later abandoned by Master Shinken most
likely because of the war and shortage of materials.
During his lifetime Master Shinken learned and mastered
the use of many weapons such as, the sai (metal truncheon),
bo (6" staff), Eku (oar), Tonfa (right angled hand
truncheon), Nunchaku (wooden flail), the three sectioned
staff, Manji Sai, Nunte Bo, Tekko, and as many as six
other weapons, for a total of over fifteen weapons, and
over thirty kata.
From
your left to right:
Master
Eisuke Akamine & Master Taira Shinken
In
1970 with his health failing and fearing that his work
would disappear he promoted his number one student
Akamine Eisuke, awarding him his Shihan Menkyo, or full
Teachers License, and changed the name of his
organization to the "Ryukyu Kobudo Hozon Shinko Kai". Later
that same year Master Shinken died on Thursday September
3rd, 1970 from stomach cancer at age 73 surrounded by
over 50 of his students. His number one disciple
Akamine Eisuke carried on his legacy and taught until his
death in 1999.
Master
Taira Shinken front and center
While
much of this information was already available to me from
many different sources I felt that Sensei Matt Zagacki at
http://www.isshinryu-is-life.com had
already put together a great article on Master Taira
Shinken.
With
Sensei Zagacki's very kind permission I have placed his
article here on my web site, and I would like to take
this opportunity to thank him for allowing me to do so,
his kindness is greatly appreciated.
A
great deal of his information came by way of Master
Patrick McCarthy & another article by Sensei Mario
McKenna. They can be contacted through the
following web addresses: Master McCarthy's website: http://www.society.webcentral.com.au/ and
Sensei McKenna's website: http://www.mariomckenna.com
Copyright © Sensei Matt Zagacki all
rights reserved ®.
Remember
Those
we follow today,
were
themselves once followers.
-
- Part
the clouds - see the way.
-
- "The
objective of kobudo is to contribute to the evolution
- of
the human spirit through physical and mental training."
- Sensei
Peter Lindsay
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