Original Okinawan Karate

Our word of the month for February is focused on our Dojo’s and Karate’s History! 🥋📚

This week, we will be talking with our students about what Karate is, why it was formed and where it was born!

Karate, more specifically Okinawan Shorin-Ryu Shidokan Karate, was developed in the birthplace of Karate itself, Okinawa.

Okinawa is a small island south of Japan that has been rich in Karatedo and Kobudo expertise since the 1400's. Being so small, Okinawa was later invaded by the armies of Japan in the 1600's and the teaching of karatedo and kobudo was forbidden and only done in secret.

Karate, like its students, held strong and endured and has since been passed down for centuries. With the passing time, Karate's roots expanded and strengthened even more. Branching now into 4 primary forms existing today: Shorin-Ryu, Goju-Ryu, Uechi-Ryu and Matsubayashi-Ryu.

Sensei Seikichi Iha, direct teacher to our very own Sensei Mark, was born in Nishihara, Okinawa in 1932 and lives in Lansing, Michigan to this day. Iha Sensei endured many hardships including the suspension of Karate during war time and struggles of World War 2. Even still, Iha Sensei stayed true to his practice for decades before being sent to the United States to expand the roots of Okinawan Karate even further! Iha Sensei has shared his lifelong passion and teaching of Karate with us and we look forward to every moment we can share it with all of you!

Just like a diamond is formed under pressure, our Karate has been preserved, hardened and made stronger by the adversity it has had to overcome.

Mestre Seikichi Iha executando kata Matsumura no Passai - Beikoku Shido-kan (E.U.A.) Mestre Seikichi Iha executando kata Matsumura no Passai - Comemoração do 25º Aniversário da Shido-kan do Brasil. Edição de vídeo by Sensei Nilson Farias.Nipp...

Bugeisha welcomes Seikichi Iha Hanshi to the distinguished writer's circle.

Seikichi Iha, Hanshi, 10th Dan, Shorin Ryu Shidokan, was born in 1932 in Tonabaru, Nishihara, Okinawa, JP. He studied under the noted Shuri-te lineage teachers, Shinpan Gusukuma and Katsuya Miyahira. Iha currently resides in Lansing, Michigan where he has taught at his Original Okinawa Karate dojo since 1975. As President of the Beikoku Shidokan Karatedo Association, he oversees instruction for a network of over 30 dojos. In 2020 Iha was the recipient of the Okinawa Prefecture Intangible Cultural Property Holder award for “extremely significant achievements in spreading Karate in Okinawa to the world for over 45 years.” Seikichi Iha teaches self-defense through natural movement and believes that karate practice is beneficial for people of all ages. His longtime motto is “friendship, cooperation, and learning.”
https://ihadojo.com/

Know your lineage.

『Itosu's Shutō Uke』 Translated by Motobu Naoki Gusukuma Shinpan (1891-1957), mentioned in my last a…

Iha Sensei performs Passai Sho for Miyahira Sensei.

【宮平勝哉先生 指導～番外編①～】～Legend of Okinawa Karate Masters（Practice Scenery①）～ This is very rare video. Sensei Miyahira was teaching Sensei Iha in this video. It was in 2001. #福岡志道館 ＃宮平勝哉 ＃伊波清吉＃miyahirakatsuya ...