Also known as

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)

• 
  Matsumura Sōkon

  linkShuri-te 3

  Confirmed

  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

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  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

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "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

  linkShuri-te 3

  Confirmed

  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

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  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

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "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

  linkTomari-te 3

  Confirmed

  The Karate Page notes Yabu, together with Choki Motobu, went to Kosaku Matsumora for Tomari-te instruction.

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source

  fact_check

  The Karate Page notes Yabu, together with Choki Motobu, went to Kosaku Matsumora for Tomari-te instruction.

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "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

  linkKarate 3

  Confirmed

  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

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  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

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "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

  linkShuri-te 2

  Probable

  EN Wikipedia lists Kentsu Yabu among the teachers Nakama also studied with

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source

  fact_check

  EN Wikipedia lists Kentsu Yabu among the teachers Nakama also studied with

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "however, Nakama also studied with Chomo Hanashiro, Chōtoku Kyan, Kenwa Mabuni, Choki Motobu, and Kentsu Yabu."

  — Chozo Nakama - Wikipedia (EN). Wikipedia (English) linkinfo
• 
  Akamine Seiichi

  linkShuri-te 3

  Confirmed

  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

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  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

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "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

Sources