SENSEI
Those who made the road
before
Kosako Matsumura
Isshinryu lineage:
Kosaku Matsumura > "Ankoh"
Itosu/ Chotoku Kyan/
Choki Motobu
> Tatsuo Shimabukuro
 Kosaku
Matsumora was born on the 18th of March 1829 in Tomari village on
Okinawa Island. At the age of 15, when in those days boys began to
be treated as adults, he started to learn Karate from Master Teruya
of Tomari. The young Matsumora became one of Master Teruya's main
students, even though be had many followers.
Master Teruya taught Katas which were only
practiced in Tomari, namely "Rohai" (now called "Matsumora-no-Rohai"
or "Koshiki-Rohai"), "Wanshu" and "Wankan". He put a great deal of
emphasis on good behaviour, citing "Karate-ni-Sente-Nashi" and
"Gojo-no-Oshie".
In those days, karate was usually practised in the
garden or at the cemetery of the master's family, as it was the most
convenient place. One evening, when Matsumora and others were
practising at Master Teruya's family cemetery he noticed an outcast
watching his moves intently. Somehow feeling that this outcast was
not an ordinary person, Matsumora asked him to teach. Although he
refused at the beginning, he finally agreed. This outcast turned out
to be a Chinese martial artist who had drifted to Okinawa after his
ship had been shipwrecked: he was living in a cave nearby. Matsumora
and his fellow students learned "Chinto", "Chintei", "Jiin" and
"Jitte" from this Chinese martial artist whose name is unfortunately
not known.
Matsumora had to leave Tomari for a few years after
getting into an altercation with a samurai from Satsuma (Satsuma
ruled over Okinawa at that time). He only came back to Tomari after
this samurai returned to his homeland.
He had several students including Master Choki
Motobu, who became renowned for his great fighting skill. Master
Motobu was reputed to have learned only Naifanchi (Naihanchin
Shodan) Kata from Master Matsumora, but this is not true, although
he did like the kata and so perhaps practised it more than others.
Also Master Chotoku Kyan learned "Chinto" from
Master Matsumora, and subsequently passed it on to Master Nagamine,
founder of Matsubayashi Shorin-ryu.
There is one story that is told of Master
Matsumora. In his later years, when he was in his 60s, two students
of Ankoh Itosu, Kentsu Yabu and Choyu Motobu, sought him out. Their
teacher spoke highly of Matsumora, and they wished to visit him, to
test him. However, he avoided them whenever they called. After
several fruitless visits, the two decided not to knock at the front
door but went directly to the back of the house, where they found
him. As they had at last found him, he had no alternative but to
deal with them in some way. He asked them, simply, to lift him. They
could not. Afterwards, as they drank tea, he lectured them on the
importance of politeness.
Master Matsumora died on 7th November 1898.
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