Also known as

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)

• 
  Itosu Ankō

  linkShuri-te 3

  Confirmed

  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, thirteen years of training until 28, and the five years of solo practice after Itosu's death

  Uchi deshi (1899-1912)

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  2 sources

  fact_check

  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, thirteen years of training until 28, and the five years of solo practice after Itosu's death

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "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."

  — Chōshin Chibana - Wikipedia (EN). Wikipedia (English)linkinfo

  "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."

  — Karate Master Chibana Choshin - Kata Step by Step linkinfo

Students (6)

• 
  Roy Y. Suenaka

  linkKobayashi Shorin-ryu 3

  Confirmed

  Suenaka's official biography lists Kobayashi karate training under Chosin Chibana in 1962

  (1962-1962)

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source

  fact_check

  Suenaka's official biography lists Kobayashi karate training under Chosin Chibana in 1962

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "1962-1962 | Chosin Chibana: Kobayashi Karate"

  — Biography of Roy Y. Suenaka, founder of Wadokai Aikidolinkinfo
• 
  Nakazato Shūgorō

  linkKobayashi Shorin-ryu 3

  Confirmed

  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

  (1942-1969)

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  3 sources

  fact_check

  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

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "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."

  — Shūgorō Nakazato - Wikipedia (EN). Wikipedia (English)linkinfo

  "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 Karatelinkinfo

  "Sensei Choshin Chibana had many influential Karateka, Sense Shugoro Nakazato was among them, eventually he created the Shorin-ryu Shorinkan association."

  — O.B.I. Karate School - Virginia Shorin-ryu Shorinkanlinkhistoryinfo
• Na
  Nakama Chōzō

  linkKobayashi Shorin-ryu 3

  Confirmed

  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

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  2 sources

  fact_check

  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

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "His primary teacher was Chosin Chibana, founder of Kobayashi Shorin-ryu."

  — Chozo Nakama - Wikipedia (EN). Wikipedia (English) linkinfo

  "He is a senior disciple of Chibana Chōshin."

  — Motobu, Naoki. (2023). Nakama Chōzō's Gojūshiho - Motobu-ryu Bloglinkhistoryinfo
• 
  Miyahira Katsuya

  linkKobayashi Shorin-ryu 3

  Confirmed

  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)

  (1933-1969)

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  3 sources

  fact_check

  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)

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "Miyahira created the Shido-kan branch of Kobayashi Shorin-ryu after the death of his teacher, Chōshin Chibana."

  — Katsuya Miyahira - Wikipedia (EN). Wikipedia (English)linkinfo

  "His deep karate studies began in April 1933 under Chibana Choshin, studying traditional Shuri-te."

  — Sensei Miyahira Katsuya - Shorinryu.delinkinfo

  "He became a student at the dojo of Choshin Chibana Sensei, which was located at Nakijin Goten of Yoshitsugu Teishi."

  — Katsuya Miyahira Bio - Grand River Karate linkinfo
• 
  Higa Yuchoku

  linkKobayashi Shorin-ryu 3

  Confirmed

  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

  (1943-1969)

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  3 sources

  fact_check

  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

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "In 1948 he began studies under Chōshin Chibana and in 1965 was awarded 9th dan by Chibana."

  — Higa Yuchoku - Wikipedia (EN). Wikipedia (English) linkinfo

  "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 Societylinkinfo

  "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."

  — Karate Master Chibana Choshin - Kata Step by Step linkinfo
• 
  Arakaki Ankichi

  linkKobayashi Shorin-ryu 3

  Confirmed

  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

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  4 sources

  fact_check

  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

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "Later he became a student of Choshin Chibana (1885–1969), founder of Kobayashi Shorin-ryu."

  — Ankichi Arakaki - Wikipedia (EN). Wikipedia (English)linkinfo

  "After quitting school he studied under Choshin Chibana."

  — Gaudion, Geoffrey E.. Shoshin Nagamine and Some of His Masterslinkinfo

  "This was before he intensified his trainings with the founder of Kobayashi Shorin Ryu style, Chosin Chibana."

  — Okinawa Karate History - Shorin-Ryu Romania linkinfo

  "In his teens he dropped out of middle school and began training under Chosin Chibana."

  — O-Sensei Kim, His Life - Shima Karatelinkinfo

Honors (2)

• receipt_longHanshiHanshi 3

  Confirmed

  EN Wikipedia states Chibana received the title of Hanshi (High Master) from the Dai Nippon Butokukai by 1957

  Title (1957)

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source

  fact_check

  EN Wikipedia states Chibana received the title of Hanshi (High Master) from the Dai Nippon Butokukai by 1957

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "By 1957, Chibana had received the title of Hanshi (High Master) from the Dai Nippon Butokukai."

  — Chōshin Chibana - Wikipedia (EN). Wikipedia (English)linkinfo
• receipt_longOrder of the Sacred Treasure, 4th Class 3

  Confirmed

  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

  Title (1968-04-29)

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  2 sources

  fact_check

  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

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "On 29 April 1968, was awarded the Order of the Sacred Treasure, 4th Class, by the Emperor of Japan."

  — Chōshin Chibana - Wikipedia (EN). Wikipedia (English)linkinfo

  "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 Masterslinkinfo

Sources