Also known as
Gunso Yabu
Yabu Gunso
The Sergeant of Karate
屋部軍曹
Description
Okinawan karate master of Shuri-te, trained under Matsumura Sokon and Anko
Itosu, and often considered Itosu's top student. A soldier who served in the
First Sino-Japanese War and was known as "Gunso" (sergeant), he taught
karate at Okinawa Prefectural Normal School and was among the first people to
demonstrate karate in Hawaii in 1927. His students included Kanken Toyama and
Gima Shinkin.
Teachers (3)
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Matsumura Sōkon
expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified
3 sources
fact_check
The peer-reviewed Svinth article cites Tetsuhiro Hokama stating Yabu's
teacher was Sokon Matsumura; corroborated by Beisho and the Martial Arts Academy
of Marin lineage
"Tetsuhiro Hokama has written that Yabu's teacher was Sokon Matsumura
(Hokama, 1998, 35)."
— Svinth, Joseph R.. (2003). Karate Pioneer Kentsu
Yabu, 1866-1937. Journal of Combative Sportlinkinfo
"As a young man, Yabu was admitted as a student of the famous Matsumura
Sokon, dubbed 'Bushi' (or 'warrior gentleman') by the
King."
— Beisho (Okinawa Karate and Kobudo). Yabu Kentsu and
His 'Lost' Sonlinkinfo
"Under the tutelage of both Matsumura Sokon and Itosu Anko, Yabu became one
of the first to showcase Karate in Hawaii during the 1920s."
— The Martial Arts Academy of Marin. Lineage - The
Martial Arts Academy of Marinlinkinfo
-
Itosu Ankō
expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified
3 sources
fact_check
The peer-reviewed Svinth article cites Dave Lowry stating Yabu's teacher was
Anko Itosu; corroborated by Tanzadeh and the Karate Page, which notes Yabu acted
as Itosu's shihan-dai
"On the other hand, Dave Lowry has written that Yabu's teacher was
Yasutsune 'Ankoh' Itosu (Lowry, 1985, 11). Because both Matsumura and
Itosu were well-known karate teachers of the day, probably Yabu studied with
both men at different times."
— Svinth, Joseph R.. (2003). Karate Pioneer Kentsu
Yabu, 1866-1937. Journal of Combative Sportlinkinfo
"He began training in ti, an early form of karate, under the guidance of
Ankō Itosu, one of the most respected masters of the time and a key figure in
modernizing and systematizing karate."
— Tanzadeh, A.. Kentsū Yabu 屋部 憲通 - A. Tanzadeh
linkinfo
"it is commonly accepted that Kentsu Yabu was a shihan-dai (師範代, assistant
instructor) for Anko Itosu when he taught karate at the Okinawa Prefectural
Normal School"
— Steinbrecher, Olaf. (2024). Did Kentsu Yabu teach
Passai? - The Karate Page. The Karate Pagelinkinfo
-
Matsumora Kōsaku
expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified
1 source
fact_check
The Karate Page notes Yabu, together with Choki Motobu, went to Kosaku Matsumora
for Tomari-te instruction.
"Kentsu Yabu was a student of Anko Itosu, Sokon Matsumura and, together
with Choki Motobu, also went to Kosaku Matsumora for instructions."
— Steinbrecher, Olaf. (2024). Did Kentsu Yabu teach
Passai? - The Karate Page. The Karate Pagelinkinfo
Students (3)
-
Richard Kim
expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified
1 source
fact_check
Wikipedia and the Zen Bei Butoku Kai biography both document that Kim trained
with Okinawan karate master Yabu Kentsu, whom he met again in Japan in the 1930s
"Later, in the 1930s, OSensei Kim met Yabu Kentsu again in Japan and
continued his training with him there."
— Zen Bei Butoku Kai. O'Sensei Richard Kim - Zen
Bei Butoku Kailinkinfo
-
Na
Nakama Chōzō
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1 source
fact_check
EN Wikipedia lists Kentsu Yabu among the teachers Nakama also studied with
"however, Nakama also studied with Chomo Hanashiro, Chōtoku Kyan, Kenwa
Mabuni, Choki Motobu, and Kentsu Yabu."
— Chozo Nakama - Wikipedia (EN). Wikipedia (English)
linkinfo
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Akamine Seiichi
expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified
2 sources
fact_check
JA Wikipedia states Akamine practiced te in Shuri under Kentsu Yabu;
corroborated by the Bushido Reiryoku Kan biography listing Yabu among his
Shorin-ryu teachers
"以降、花城長茂、屋部憲通および喜屋武朝徳のもと首里で手 (沖縄武術)を修行し、その後宮城長順に出会い、剛柔流に専念する。"
— 赤嶺誠一 - Wikipedia (JA). Wikipedia (Japanese)
linkinfo
"After the teachings he received from his grandfather, he trained in the
Shorin-Ryu style, with the following teachers: Chomo Hanashiro (1869-1945),
Kentsu Yabu (1866-1937) and Chotoku Kyan (1870-1945)."
— Fernandez de la Reguera, Roberto. Master Seiichi
Akamine - Bushido Reiryoku Kanlinkinfo
Linked data
https://martial.is/entity/01KZ19PZ65EPNRY1Q8GQR6NEV1