Okinawa's Bushi: Karate Gentlemen - Christopher Caile's Fighting Arts

Citation

Caile, Christopher. (2024). Okinawa's Bushi: Karate Gentlemen - Christopher Caile's Fighting Arts. FightingArts.com

Contributors

• AuthorCaile, Christopher

Part of

Cited by (3)

Hanashiro Chōmo

1869 – 1945 · Shuri

Matsumora Kōsaku

1829 – 1898 · Okinawa Prefecture

Shinzato Katsuhiko

1939 · Manila

Description

Essay by Christopher Caile (published May 30, 2024) on the Okinawan concept of "Bushi" as distinct from the Japanese warrior code of Bushido. Caile consulted his sensei Katsuhiko Shinzato - professor of linguistics at Okinawa International University - who explained that "Bushi" uses the same kanji and pronunciation in Okinawa and Japan but different meanings: in Okinawa it was an honorific for respected karate masters rather than a warrior-class term. Footnote 3 records that Shinzato is the head of the Okinawan Karate-Do Shorin-Ryu Kishaba Juku and was a student of Tsunetaka Shimabukuro, Shoshin Nagamine, Seigi Nakamura, Chokei Kishaba and Chogi Kishaba (Yamani-Ryu Bojutsu). The article also touches on the lineage of Bushi Matsumura, Chotoku Kyan and others, and thanks Shinzato, Morio Higaonna and Walter Dailey for input.

Tags

karate · shorin-ryu · matsubayashi-ryu · article