Also known as
Choshin Chibana · Chosin Chibana · ちばな ちょうしん
Description
Okinawan martial artist (1885-1969) who developed Kobayashi Shorin-ryu karate
based on what he learned from Ankō Itosu; the first to establish a Japanese ryu
name for an Okinawan karate style, naming Itosu's karate
"Shorin-ryu" in 1929; called the "Last Warrior of Shuri".
Teachers (1)
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Itosu Ankō
sports_martial_artsShuri-te
Confirmed
Uchi-deshi (1899–1912)
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2 sources
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EN Wikipedia states Chibana began his study of martial arts under Anko Itosu in
1899 at about age 15 and trained under him for thirteen years until he turned
28; the Kata Step by Step biography of Chibana confirms the 1899 start and
thirteen years of training
“Choshin began his study of martial arts under Ankō Itosu in 1899 when he was
about fifteen years old [...] for thirteen years until he turned 28, Choshin
trained under Itosu.”
“Chibana began his formal martial arts training under Itosu Ankō in 1899, at the
age of fifteen [...] continuing his training until he was 28. After Itosu's
passing at the age of 85, Chibana continued his practice independently for
another five years before opening his first dojo.”
Member of (1)
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1 source
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Single source; only a photo caption places him in the group.
alt_routeIndirect
“[This photo of the Karate Kenkyukai (study group) demonstrates that members of
the so-called styles of Naha-te, Shuri-te, and Tomari-te trained together and
learned from one another. Back row, left to right: Shinpan Shiroma, Choryo
Maeshiro, Choshin Chibana, Genwa Nakasone.”
— Cramer, Mark I.. (2018). The History of Karate and
the Masters Who Made It: Development, Lineages, and Philosophies of Traditional
Okinawan and Japanese Karate-doinfo
Students (6)
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Roy Y. Suenaka
sports_martial_artsKobayashi Shorin-ryu
Probable
(1962)
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1 source
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Suenaka's official biography lists Kobayashi karate training under Chosin
Chibana in 1962
visibilityFirst-hand
“1962-1962 Chosin Chibana: Kobayashi Karate”
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Nakazato Shūgorō
sports_martial_artsKobayashi Shorin-ryu
Confirmed
(1942–1969)
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3 sources
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EN Wikipedia states Nakazato became a student of Chosin Chibana after the war
and received his shihan license from him in 1955; the Shorinkan Family Karate
page confirms Chibana presented his personal black belt to Nakazato as his most
influential student and awarded him 9th dan in 1967
“In 1942, Nakazato joined the Japanese army [...] At the war's end, he
returned to Okinawa to become a student of Chosin Chibana [...] After receiving
his shihan license from Chibana in 1955, Nakazato opened his dojo at Aja, near
Naha, calling it Nakazato Dojo.”
“CHIBANA Sensei's most influential student of the modern day is NAKAZATO,
Shugoro, to whom CHIBANA Sensei presented his personal black belt [...] in 1967,
after nearly twenty years of training, was awarded 9thDan by his eminent
instructor CHIBANA Choshin.”
— History of Shorin-ryu Shorinkan Karate - Shorinkan
Family Karatelink
history
info
“Sensei Choshin Chibana had many influential Karateka, Sense Shugoro Nakazato
was among them, eventually he created the Shorin-ryu Shorinkan association.”
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person
Nakama Chōzō
sports_martial_artsKobayashi Shorin-ryu
Confirmed
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2 sources
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EN Wikipedia states Nakama's primary teacher was Chosin Chibana, founder of
Kobayashi Shorin-ryu; the Motobu-ryu blog describes him as a senior disciple of
Chibana Choshin
“His primary teacher was Chosin Chibana, founder of Kobayashi Shorin-ryu”
“He is a senior disciple of Chibana Chōshin.”
— Motobu, Naoki. (2023). Nakama Chōzō's Gojūshiho
- Motobu-ryu Bloglink
history
info
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Miyahira Katsuya
sports_martial_artsKobayashi Shorin-ryu
Confirmed
(1933–1969)
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3 sources
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EN Wikipedia states Miyahira created the Shido-kan branch of Kobayashi
Shorin-ryu after the death of his teacher Choshin Chibana; the Shorinryu.de and
Grand River biographies state he began karate under Chibana in April 1933 (at
his dojo at Nakijin Goten of Yoshitsugu Teishi)
“Miyahira created the Shido-kan branch of Kobayashi Shorin-ryu after the death
of his teacher, Chōshin Chibana.”
“His deep karate studies began in April 1933 under Chibana Choshin, studying
traditional Shuri-te.”
“He became a student at the dojo of Choshin Chibana Sensei, which was located at
Nakijin Goten of Yoshitsugu Teishi”
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Higa Yuchoku
sports_martial_artsKobayashi Shorin-ryu
Confirmed
(1943–1969)
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3 sources
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EN Wikipedia states Higa began studies under Choshin Chibana in 1948 and was
awarded 9th dan by him in 1965; the Shuriway biography gives 1943 for meeting
Chibana and says Higa became his main pupil; the Kata Step by Step article
confirms Higa remained Chibana's disciple until his death
“In 1948 he began studies under Chōshin Chibana and in 1965 was awarded 9th dan
by Chibana.”
“In 1943 he met Master Choshin Chibana, a direct disciple of Master Anko Itosu,
and in a short time became his main pupil.”
— Master Yuchoku Higa - Shorin-Ryu (Shuriway).
International Shuriway Karate & Kobudo Societylink
history
info
“Yuchoku Higa, a later student of Chibana's, deeply respected his teacher,
adhering to the principle that "the teacher is more important than the
style," and remained Chibana's disciple until his death.”
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Arakaki Ankichi
sports_martial_artsKobayashi Shorin-ryu
Confirmed
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4 sources
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EN Wikipedia states Arakaki later became a student of Choshin Chibana, founder
of Kobayashi Shorin-ryu; corroborated by the Gaudion essay, the Shorin-Ryu
Romania history and the Shima Karate biography
“Later he became a student of Choshin Chibana (1885–1969), founder of
KobayashiShorin-ryu”
“After quitting school he studied under Choshin Chibana”
— Gaudion, Geoffrey E.. Shoshin Nagamine and Some of
His Masterslink
history
info
“This was before he intensified his trainings with the founder of Kobayashi
Shorin Ryu style, Chosin Chibana.”
“In his teens he dropped out of middle school and began training under Chosin
Chibana.”
Honours (2)
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receipt_longHanshi
Hanshi
Probable
Title (1957)
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1 source
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EN Wikipedia states Chibana received the title of Hanshi (High Master) from the
Dai Nippon Butokukai by 1957
“By 1957, Chibana had received the title of Hanshi (High Master) from the Dai
Nippon Butokukai”
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receipt_longOrder of the Sacred Treasure, 4th Class
Confirmed
Title (1968-04-29)
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EN Wikipedia states Chibana was awarded the Order of the Sacred Treasure, 4th
Class on 29 April 1968 by the Emperor of Japan; Geoffrey Gaudion's account
independently mentions the "Fourth Order of Merit" from Emperor
Hirohito
“On 29 April 1968, was awarded the Order of the Sacred Treasure, 4th Class, by
the Emperor of Japan”
“After quitting school he studied under Choshin Chibana, who later brought honor
to the karate world when he received Emperor Hirohito's Fourth Order of
Merit.”
— Gaudion, Geoffrey E.. Shoshin Nagamine and Some of
His Masterslink
history
info
Identifiers
https://martial.is/entity/01KZC7XZAWJNRVKWZ66A7CXENR
Cite and reuse
CC BY-SA 4.0expand_more
Plain text
Muñoz, Frederico (YEAR_PLACEHOLDER). Chibana Chōshin. In Martialis: Martial Arts
Lineage Database. https://martial.is/entity/01KZC7XZAWJNRVKWZ66A7CXENR - CC
BY-SA 4.0. Accessed ACCESSED_DATE_PLACEHOLDER.
BibTeX
@incollection{martialis_01KZC7XZAWJNRVKWZ66A7CXENR, author = {Muñoz, Frederico},
title = {Chibana Chōshin}, booktitle = {Martialis: Martial Arts Lineage
Database}, year = {YEAR_PLACEHOLDER}, url =
{https://martial.is/entity/01KZC7XZAWJNRVKWZ66A7CXENR}, urldate =
{ACCESSED_DATE_PLACEHOLDER}, note = {CC BY-SA 4.0} }
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