SENSEI
Those who made the road
before
Sokon 'Bushi' Matsumura
Isshinryu lineage:
Sokon Matsumura > 'Ankoh' Itosu
> Chotoku Kiyan >
Tatsuo Shimabukuro
 Sokon
'Bushi'(=warrior) Matsumura was born in 1797 in Yamagawa, Shuri. He
was partly Chinese. His Chinese name was Seitatsu Bu and he called
himself Unyu, or Takenage. Around 1810 'Tode' Sakugawa began
training Matsumura at Akata when he was 14 years old. It was at his
father's request that Sakugawa taught him. Oral history tells us
that Sakugawa, training Sokon to block, tied him at a tree so he
could not move. Then he threw punches at him.
Sakugawa trained him up until his death, for about
4 years.
Sokon Matsumura was recruited into the service of
the Sho family (Royal family of Okinawa) when he was only 17 years
old and eventually became the chief martial arts instructor and
bodyguard for the Okinawan King. At one time, Sho Ko, the king of
Okinawa, desired to have him change his last name, as was the
custom, and suggested the name Muramatsu (Muramachi), or "village
pine". After discussing the matter with some friends and relatives,
he decided that Matsumura (Machimura), or "pine village", would be
more appropriate. Sokon asked the king to let him change the name to
that, and the request was granted.
 He went
to China and studied the Shaolin style of Chinese Kenpo (fist
method) and weaponry. It is also known that he traveled to Foochow
in Fukien province, China on numerous occasions as an envoy for the
Okinawan King. Hohan Soken said that Bushi trained at "Fukien
Shaolin" for more than 26 years. We do not know for sure of his
length of time spent in China. We do know that he spent at least 20
years there from the records that were kept for the Okinawan King.
After his return from China he organized and refined the Shuri Te
(later called Shorin Ryu) system of Okinawan Karate.
Matsumura was given the title “Bushi” meaning
warrior by the Okinawan King in recognition of his abilities and
accomplishments in the martial arts. In fact, Matsumura fought many
times but was never defeated.
Sokon Matsumura died in 1889.
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