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Sensei Shukumine had two known teachers, Sadoyama and Kishimoto. The young Seiken Shukumine, started Karate at age 8 with karate lessons from Anko Sadoyama, a grandmaster in Koryu Karate ("Old style/school Chinese techniques").
He trained him for four years. When Shukumine was about 12 years old, he was accepted by sensei Soko Kishimoto. Kishimoto was very selective, he had only nine kōhai (=pupils/students) throughout his life - Seiken Shukumine had to insist many times, before Kishimoto decided to teach the young man. The last two students of Kishimoto actually were Seiken Shukumine and Seitoku Higa (born 1920).
Anko Sadoyama: When Shukumine was 8 years old a nearby Karate Sensei by the name of Sadoyama Anko, who was a master of Kaiyu Karate, took him on and let him start his training by jumping over a fast growing bush 50 times everyday.
One day, when Shukumine was out walking he was almost bitten by a snake, however, as a result of his "bush jumping" he managed to jump over the snake. An old man by name of Soko Kishimoto saw this and killed the snake.
After about four years training for Sadoyama, Shukumine moved to Naha to go to school.
Sokon Matsumura: Matsumura was recruited into the service of the Sho family (Royal family of Okinawa) and eventually became the chief martial arts instructor and bodyguard for the Okinawan King.
At some point in his career, approximately 1830, he went to China and studied the Shaolin style of Chinese Kenpo (fist method) and weaponry. It is also known that he traveled to Foochow in Fukien province, China on numerous occasions as an envoy for the Okinawan King. After his return from China he organized and refined the Shorin Ryu system of Okinawan Karate.
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He also held the dangerous job of Tax Collector making him a target for angry people and theives.
Soko Kishimoto: One day, when Shukumine was out walking he was almost bitten by a snake, however, as a result of his "bush jumping" he managed to jump over the snake. An old man by name of Soko Kishimoto saw this and killed the snake.
Shukumine visited Kishimoto's home some time after this, he was welcomed and asked to stand beside the door.
Suddenly, without any warning Kishimoto grabbed a poker that was stuck in the burning fire place, and threw it against Shukumine with full strength. Shukumine managed to throw himself to the ground.
This was a test for Shukumine and he was accepted as one of the last students of Kishimoto.
The story says that Kishimoto only accepted 9 students during his lifetime, the two last students were Shukumine and Seitoku Higa.
Seiken Shukumine: Founder of Taido and Genseiryu Karate
Gichin Funakohi: Funakoshi was the man who 'officially' brought karate from Okinawa to mainland Japan, although Kenwa Mabuni, Motobu Choki and other Okinawans were actively teaching karate in Japan prior to this point.
Yasutsune (Ankoh) Itosu: Part of Itosu's training was his makiwara practice. He is remembered as having broad shoulders, muscular arms and enormous callouses on his fists, products of relentless makiwara training. He once tied a leather sandal to a stone wall in an effort to build a better makiwara. After several strikes, the stone fell out of the wall. After relocating the sandal several time, Itosu had destroyed the wall. |
