Samurai Martial Arts

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DbrRduhjcbn/?igsh=MTdoeDVrcHM3bjk1eg==

This style's name is a tribute hidden in plain sight — built from the names of two masters. Sh*to-Ryu (糸東流). Its founder, Kenwa Mabuni, studied under two of the greatest karate masters of his era: 🔴 Anko Itosu — the master of Shuri-te, who shaped much of modern karate. 🔴 Kanryo Higaonna — the master of Naha-te, the root of Goju-Ryu. To honor both teachers, Mabuni took a character from each of their names and combined them. The "Shi" (糸) comes from Itosu. The "To" (東) comes from Higaonna. Together: Sh*to-Ryu. The name itself tells the story of the style: a bridge between two great lineages — the hard, dynamic Shuri-te and the rooted, breathing Naha-te. That's why Sh*to-Ryu is known for having one of the largest kata collections in all of karate. Mabuni didn't choose between his teachers. He preserved both. A style named in gratitude — carrying two lineages in a single word. 🥋 #sh*toryu #karate #okinawankarate #karatedo #martialarts #budo #kenwamabuni #itosu #higaonna #karatehistory #martialartshistory #japanesemartialarts #martialartsterminology #traditionalmartialarts #karatelife #kata #shurite #nahate #miamimartialarts #floridacity

Master Kunio Murayama was born on June 30, 1944, in Miyagi Prefecture, Japan, and was one of the most important figures in the history and dissemination of Sh*tō-ryū Karate-do in Mexico. He formally began his training in 1962 upon joining the Toyo University karate club, where he studied under Master Manzo Iwata, a direct disciple of Kenwa Mabuni, the founder of Sh*tō-ryū. Due to his technical aptitude, discipline, and teaching ability, he was selected by Iwata Sensei to travel to Mexico, arriving in the country in 1970. He settled in Monterrey, Nuevo León, and from there began work that would profoundly transform the development of karate in the northern part of the country. He founded and consolidated Sh*tō-Kai Mexico, trained numerous generations of competitors, instructors, and masters, and guided many of his students to achieve outstanding results at state, national, and international levels.
The Sh*tō-ryū Karate taught by Murayama preserves the technical richness created by Kenwa Mabuni, drawing from the two great Okinawan traditions: Shuri-te—characterized by agile footwork, direct techniques, speed, natural stances, and mid-to-long-range combat—and Naha-te, which contributes solid stances, controlled breathing, circular movements, concentrated power, and close-quarters combat techniques. This combination makes Sh*tō-ryū a comprehensive, balanced, and meticulous system, recognized especially for its extensive kata repertoire, the precise study of *kihon* (basics), the alternation between hardness and softness, and the pursuit of technical efficiency without sacrificing mastery of body, mind, and character.
Master Kunio Murayama passed away on Friday, September 15, 2023, at the age of 79, in Monterrey, Nuevo León—the city where he had lived for over five decades and where he left behind a deeply rooted school. His legacy remains intact under the leadership of his son, Alonso Murayama—an internationally renowned competitor and champion—within the organizations he founded, the continuation of his lineage, and, above all, the thousands of Mexican karateka who were directly or indirectly influenced by his teachings, establishing him as a major pillar of Sh*tō-ryū Karate-do in Mexico.
His son, Sensei Alonso Murayama, joined us for several live broadcasts of *Revista KATANA* during the pandemic, including an interview with actor and karate practitioner Omar Chaparro.
It is with great respect that we present this composition by Master Kunio Murayama, which blends his Japanese roots with the backdrop of the iconic mountain popularly known as *Cerro de la Silla* (Saddle Hill) in the state of Nuevo León, Mexico.
*Revista KATANA* Martial Arts Segments – 36th Anniversary.

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Classes tonight at Innsworth / tomorrow at Springbank are cancelled.

Friday classes continue as usual 👊

Sh*tokai Sh*toryu Karatedo England is now looking for members who wish to be apart of this special occasion on November 6–8, 2026.

DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE
Fifty years ago, my father, Kunio Murayama, made a decision that would change the history of Karate in Mexico. He sought no recognition: he believed, with a conviction it took me years to understand, that Karate-Do has the power to transform people — and that such transformation deserves a worthy home. That home is called Sh*to-Kai Murayama.

Today, fifty years on, we arrive at the fortieth edition of the Copa Murayama. Fifty years of an organization forged in Monterrey. Forty editions of a competition born as a gathering of families within the same organization, where the bonds of the dojo were stronger than any trophy.

For a long time, the Copa Murayama was ours: an intimate space for those who bore the same crest and had trained under the same philosophy. But Karate has no real borders. True Karate — the kind trained in the dark when no one is watching — does not distinguish between styles. It distinguishes between those who commit and those who do not.

And so we arrive at this Copa Murayama XL with open arms. Not because we have abandoned who we are, but because who we are is solid enough to be shared. We remain Sh*to-Kai Murayama. We remain Monterrey. To other schools, other styles, other families of Mexican Karate, we say: there is a place for you here.

This Copa Murayama XL is not merely the fortieth edition. It is the first of the next fifty years. We await you on November 6–8, 2026, at the Gimnasio Nuevo León, in Monterrey.

Alonso Murayama Toyonaga
General Director · Sh*to-Kai Murayama

The Point Where You Want to Stop The difference between quitting, adapting, and listening to the body.

The number on your scale is one of the least useful things you can measure if you want to know how long you will live. A landmark British Medical Journal study followed nearly 3,000 adults for over 12 years. People with smaller thighs had significantly higher rates of heart disease and premature death. That finding held up after controlling for belly fat, blood pressure, smoking, and every other risk factor measured. A follow up analysis of 72 studies covering more than 2.5 million people arrived at the same conclusion. But here is what most people get completely wrong about this research. It is not about fat distribution. It is about muscle. Your thighs are the largest muscle group in your body. When that muscle mass is high, your body clears blood sugar efficiently after meals, insulin resistance stays low, and your heart is protected from the inflammation that quietly builds over decades. A King’s College London study of over 300 twin pairs found that the twin with greater leg strength had measurably better memory and faster cognitive function a decade later. Same genetics. Same upbringing. Different leg strength. Different brain outcomes. There is also a survival element most people never consider. When your body faces serious illness or major surgery it draws on muscle tissue for energy and recovery. People with more muscle going into those moments survive them at dramatically higher rates. Walking uphill. Climbing stairs. Squats. Resistance training. These are not vanity exercises. They are some of the most evidence-backed longevity tools available to you right now. If you are caring for an aging parent, watch their legs. Loss of lower body muscle is one of the earliest and most reversible signs of accelerating decline.