Also known as
Hohan Soken
Soken Hohan
そけん ほうはん
Description
Okinawan martial arts master (1889-1982), founder of the Shorin-ryu Matsumura
Seito Okinawa Karate Kobudo Association; trained by his uncle Nabe Matsumura
from age 13, he continued the Matsumura family tradition after emigrating back
from Argentina in 1952.
Teachers (1)
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Matsumura Nabe
(1902)
expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified
4 sources
fact_check
EN Wikipedia states Soken was the nephew of Nabe Matsumura and began karate
training at 13 under his uncle; corroborated by Soken's own 1978 interview
with Ernie Estrada (student from around 1902-1903) and the Alexander article
(age 13, 1902, his uncle's only student)
"He was the nephew of Nabe Matsumura... He began karate training at 13
under his uncle. Matsumura taught him several kata... and finally at age 23,
Hakutsuru."
— Hohan Sōken - Wikipedia (EN). Wikipedia (English)
linkinfo
"I became a student of my uncle around 1902 or 1903 and learned the
original methods of Uchinan Sui-di, as it was then called... When Bushi
Matsumura died he left the "hands" of his teachings to my uncle, who
was his grandson, Matsumura Nabe. My mother was Nabe-tanmei's sister."
— Estrada, Ernie. (1978). Interview with Hohan Soken:
The Last of the Great Old-Time Karate Warriors, Part 1. FightingArts.com
linkinfo
"Master Soken began training in karate at age thirteen in 1902 under his
Uncle Nabe Matsumura... My uncle had only one student, and that was me."
— Alexander, George W.. Hohan Soken: The Life of a
Grand Masterlinkinfo
"祖堅方範は12歳頃より母の兄で伯父であるナビータンメー（翁）に唐手（現・空手）を師事した。"
— 祖堅方範 - Wikipedia (JA). Wikipedia (Japanese)
linkinfo
Students (3)
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Roy Y. Suenaka
(1961-1972)
expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified
3 sources
fact_check
EN Wikipedia states Suenaka was awarded rokudan in Matsumura Seito Hakutsuru
Shorin Ryu by its founder Hokan Soken in 1972; his official biography records 11
years of private study with Soken (1961-1972); the Soken EN Wikipedia article
lists Suenaka among his senior students
"Rokudan (6th degree black belt) in Matsumura Seito Hakutsuru Shorin Ryu
Karatedo & Kobudo, awarded by Hakutsuru Shorin Ryu founder Hokan Soken, in
1972."
— Roy Y. Suenaka - Wikipedia (EN). Wikipedia
(English)linkinfo
"He also commenced 11 years of private study with renowned Matsumura Seito
and Hakutsuru Shorin-ryu Karate-do Grandmaster Hohan Soken, receiving from him
the rank of rokudan (6th degree black belt)."
— Biography of Roy Y. Suenaka, founder of Wadokai
Aikidolinkinfo
"His senior students included Seiki Arakaki, Mitsuo Inoue, Hideo Nakazato,
Kohama, Kohatsu, Yonashiro, Masaya Kyan, Nishihira Kosei, Isao Toma, Yoshimatsu
Akamine, Seijun Kina, Seizen Kinjo, Yuichi Kuda, Fusei Kise, Takaya Yabiku, Roy
Suenaka, James Coffman, Thomas Hunnicutt, Vincent C. Wiegand, Ted Lange, Rick
Rose, David Lukasiak, Charles Garrett, David Mauk, Gary Bunk, and Norman
Small."
— Hohan Sōken - Wikipedia (EN). Wikipedia (English)
linkinfo
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Nishihira Kōsei
Uchi deshi (1957-1982)
expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified
2 sources
fact_check
EN Wikipedia states Nishihira studied Shorin-ryu Matsumura Seito karate with
Hohan Soken from age 15 as one of a few carefully selected uchi-deshi, and that
he was recognized as Soken's heir; the EN Wikipedia article on Hohan Soken
independently lists Nishihira Kosei among his senior students
"From the age of fifteen, he studied the "orthodox" karate style
known as Shōrinryū Matsumura Seitō Karate with Master Hohan Sōken... The style
Nishihira was taught was very difficult, and only handed down to a very few,
carefully selected "uchi-deshi" (internal students)."
— Kōsei Nishihira - Wikipedia (EN). Wikipedia
(English)linkinfo
"His senior students included Seiki Arakaki, Mitsuo Inoue, Hideo Nakazato,
Kohama, Kohatsu, Yonashiro Masaya Kyan, Nishihira Kosei, Isao Toma, Yoshimatsu
Akamine, Seijun Kina, Seizen Kinjo, Yuichi Kuda, Fusei Kise, Takaya Yabiku, Roy
Suenaka..."
— Hohan Sōken - Wikipedia (EN). Wikipedia (English)
linkinfo
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Kishaba Chōkei
expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified
1 source
fact_check
Hawaii Karate Seinenkai memorial article states Chokei Kishaba was a student of
Hohan Soken (Matsumura Seito Shorin-Ryu) and learned the use of the kama from
him
"Born in Okinawa on October 4, 1929, Chokei Kishaba was a student of Hohan
Soken (Matsumura Seito Shorin-Ryu, student of Nabe Matsumura)... Kishaba learned
Shorin-Ryu from all of his instructors as well as the use of the kama from
Soken."
Linked data
https://martial.is/entity/01KZBWQ0AJ1CS0CYD84258VKTE