Kentsū Yabu
屋部憲通
Born
1866-09-23, Shuri, Okinawa
Died
1937-08-27, Shuri, Okinawa
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 Sōkonsports_martial_artsShuri-te ConfirmedConfirmedThe peer-reviewed Svinth article cites Tetsuhiro Hokama stating Yabu's teacher was Sokon Matsumura; corroborated by Beisho and the Martial Arts Academy of Marin lineageThe evidence establishes the claim: it is sufficient and consistent, and any conflicting evidence is resolved.
fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
3 sources expand_moreFrederico MuñozResearcher, Martialisfact_checkThe 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 -
Itosu Ankōsports_martial_artsShuri-te ConfirmedConfirmedThe 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-daiThe evidence establishes the claim: it is sufficient and consistent, and any conflicting evidence is resolved.
fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
3 sources expand_moreFrederico MuñozResearcher, Martialisfact_checkThe 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 -
Matsumora Kōsakusports_martial_artsTomari-te ProbableProbableThe Karate Page notes Yabu, together with Choki Motobu, went to Kosaku Matsumora for Tomari-te instruction.The evidence favours the claim and nothing credible contradicts it, but it falls short of establishing it.
fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
1 source expand_moreFrederico MuñozResearcher, Martialisfact_checkThe Karate Page notes Yabu, together with Choki Motobu, went to Kosaku Matsumora for Tomari-te instruction.
Lineage
- Shuri-te Itosu Ankō Matsumura Sōkon · 2 generations
- Tomari-te Matsumora KōsakuUku Giko · 2 generations
Member of (1)
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corporate_fareKarate Kenkyukai ProbableProbableSingle source.The evidence favours the claim and nothing credible contradicts it, but it falls short of establishing it.
fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
1 source expand_moreFrederico MuñozResearcher, Martialisfact_checkSingle source.“This group included Gichin Funakoshi, Chojo Oshiro, Chomo Hanashiro, Chotoku Kyan, Chojun Miyagi, Kenwa Mabuni, Go Ken Ki [Wu Xiangui] (Chinese Master of White Crane Boxing), Kentsu Yabu, Chuhatso [Juhatsu] Kyoda, and Moden Yabiku.”
Students (4)
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Richard Kimsports_martial_artsKarate ProbableProbableWikipedia 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 1930sThe evidence favours the claim and nothing credible contradicts it, but it falls short of establishing it.
fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
1 source expand_moreFrederico MuñozResearcher, Martialisfact_checkWikipedia 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 -
Nakama Chōzōsports_martial_artsShuri-te ProbableProbableEN Wikipedia lists Kentsu Yabu among the teachers Nakama also studied withThe evidence favours the claim and nothing credible contradicts it, but it falls short of establishing it.
fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
1 source expand_moreFrederico MuñozResearcher, Martialisfact_checkEN Wikipedia lists Kentsu Yabu among the teachers Nakama also studied with -
Kyoda Jūhatsusports_martial_artsShuri-te ProbableProbableSingle source; it names only the kata Jion.The evidence favours the claim and nothing credible contradicts it, but it falls short of establishing it.
fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
1 source expand_moreFrederico MuñozResearcher, Martialisfact_checkSingle source; it names only the kata Jion.“To’on Ryu includes two kata that are not found in Goju Ryu: Jion, which Kyoda learned from [...] Yabu Kensu”
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Akamine Seiichisports_martial_artsShuri-te ConfirmedConfirmedJA Wikipedia states Akamine practiced te in Shuri under Kentsu Yabu; corroborated by the Bushido Reiryoku Kan biography listing Yabu among his Shorin-ryu teachersThe evidence establishes the claim: it is sufficient and consistent, and any conflicting evidence is resolved.
fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
2 sources expand_moreFrederico MuñozResearcher, Martialisfact_checkJA Wikipedia states Akamine practiced te in Shuri under Kentsu Yabu; corroborated by the Bushido Reiryoku Kan biography listing Yabu among his Shorin-ryu teachers
Sources
Identifiers
https://martial.is/entity/01KZ19PZ65EPNRY1Q8GQR6NEV1
Cite and reuse
CC BY-SA 4.0expand_more
Plain text
Muñoz, Frederico (YEAR_PLACEHOLDER). Kentsū Yabu. In Martialis: Martial Arts
Lineage Database. https://martial.is/entity/01KZ19PZ65EPNRY1Q8GQR6NEV1 - CC
BY-SA 4.0. Accessed ACCESSED_DATE_PLACEHOLDER.
BibTeX
@incollection{martialis_01KZ19PZ65EPNRY1Q8GQR6NEV1, author = {Muñoz, Frederico},
title = {Kentsū Yabu}, booktitle = {Martialis: Martial Arts Lineage Database},
year = {YEAR_PLACEHOLDER}, url =
{https://martial.is/entity/01KZ19PZ65EPNRY1Q8GQR6NEV1}, urldate =
{ACCESSED_DATE_PLACEHOLDER}, note = {CC BY-SA 4.0} }
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