SENSEI
Those who made the road
before
Seisho Aragaki
Isshinryu lineage:
Seisho Aragaki > Kanryo Higaonna
> Chojun Miyagi >
Tatsuo Shimabukuro
 Seisho
Aragaki was born in 1840 in the village of Kume Mura. He became a
translator for the Chinese and translated the Okinawan language.
Aragaki had several nicknames, including Aragaki
Maya (Aragaki the cat), which is his most common name in Okinawa,
even today. He was also known by the name Aragaki Kamadeunchu
('kama-de' means 'sickle-hands' and 'unchu' was the name of a kata
he was famous for, sometimes called Unsu or Unshu today).
Aragaki held the title of 'Chikudon Peichin'; a
title used for officials of the royal court in Okinawa, similar to a
Samurai rank in Japan. He was fluent in Chinese and acted as an
interpreter for the court.
It is well known that Aragaki was highly sought
after for Tote instruction near the end of his life, and was
definitely one of the primary Tote instructors of the 19th century.
Some of his other students included Master Kanryo Higaonna (teacher
to Master Chojun Miyagi, founder of Goju-Ryu), Master Gichin
Funakoshi (Shotokan founder), Master Kenwa Mabuni (Shito-Ryu
founder) and Master Kanbun Uechi (Uechi-Ryu founder). These renowned
karateka sought Aragaki for training, though none of them regarded
him as their primary teacher.
Aragaki's Tote was developed from teachings of
Chinese martial arts masters. It's unknown exactly what school of
gongfu he trained in, but historians generally say that he probably
trained and taught Monk Fist gongfu (Arhat Boxing).
Not only was he a renowned Tote expert, but Aragaki
was also a superb weapons master, leaving behind several Bo and sai
kata including Aragaki-no-kun, Aragaki-no-sai and Sesoku-no-kun,
which has about 200 techniques, used against the sword.
Despite his fame as a Tote master, and his many
descendants, Aragaki left no style behind. All that remains of this
famous master's legacy are techniques and kata scattered throughout
a number of modern karate and kobujutsu styles.
Seisho Aragaki died in 1920.
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