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Okinawan Isshinryu Karate Okinawan Isshinryu Karate is a style of Karate developed in Okinawa by Master Tatsuo Shimabuku. He began learning Karate at the age of 14 and devoted the rest of his life to its study and teaching. For 26 years he studied the others styles, Shuri-Te, Shorin-Ryu and Goju-Ryu, each one under the master of its style. Taking what he believed to be the most important kata from these systems, he developed Isshinryu which literally means "One Heart Way". Muzi Gami was used as the basis for the Isshinryu Karate patch. The most notable aspect of the system is the vertical punch with the thumb on top, designed to strengthen the wrist and deliver devastating blows. Master Shimabuku's reputation throughout Okinawa had reached its peak when World War II struck the island. He did his best to avoid the Japanese Army by escaping to the countryside where he worked as a farmer. As his reputation in Karate spread amongst the Japanese, many soldiers began a thorough search for him, as they wanted to study Karate under him. The officers who finally caught up with him agreed to keep the secret of his whereabouts if he would teach them Karate. It was in this manner that Master Shimabuku survived the war. Since the end of the war, Isshinryu Karate has been taught to American servicemen stationed in Okinawa. In 1945 Master Shimabuku awed the other masters with his performance of Chinto kata and Isshinryu officialy received acceptance as its own style. There are eight empty hand katas and five weapons in Isshinryu Karate. On May 30, 1975 Master Shimabuku passed away leaving a legacy to the world of Karate and to all the future Isshinryu students. |