MASTER TATSUO SHIMABUKU
FOUNDER OF ISSHIN-RYU KARATE
                 

Master Tatsuo Shimabuku was born in the village of Chan (now called Kinaka a part of Gushikawa city) on Okinawa, Japan on the 19th September 1908. 
 When he was 13 years old he started training with his uncle Ganeku who taught him Chinese philosophy, literature, fortune telling and a little karate. Because Ganeku had little knowledge of karate he later introduced Shimabuku to the famous Shorin-ryu master Chotoku Kyan who lived in Kadena. Shimabuku trained with Chotoku Kyan for 4 years and learned the Katas Seisan, Naihanchi, Wansu, Chinto, Kusanku, the Sai Kata Kyan no Sai and the Bo kata Tokumine no Kun. 
 At the age of 23 Tatsuo married his wife Uto and from this they had 4 children together, 2 daughters (Matsuko and Yukiko) and 2 sons (Kichiro and Shinso).
After training with Master Kyan he then started training with Chojun Miyagi around 1936. Master Miyagi was very well known for his power training and powerful grips. Shimabuku trained with Miyagi for 3 years and learned the Katas Seiunchin and Sanchin.
                 
 KYAN CHOTOKU SENSEI          MOTOBU CHOKI SENSEI                 MIYAGI CHOJUN SENSEI

Around 1938 he trained for about a year with another famous Shorin-ryu teacher Master Choki Motobu who stressed upon Shimabuku the importance of training with the Makiwara. The most important lessons he learned from Motobu were the street fighting applications of Karate and also Motobu’s version of Naihanchi Kata.
From the years 1951-1961 he learned more diverse techniques and kata of Kobudo from the master Shinken Taira. From Taira’s Kobudo he learned the following kata and added them to Isshin-Ryu: Chatan Yara no Sai, Urashi Bo, Shushi no Kun, Hama-Higa no Tuifa and he developed Kusanku Sai kata by himself.
 
On the 30th May 1975 Master Tatsuo Shimabuku died of a stroke. On that day the world lost a great Master, Teacher and Friend so we must honour him and continue to spread his style of Isshin-Ryu as he wanted to around the world!


Isshin ryu stems from 3 martial arts:
-Shorin ryu=Chotoku Kyan, Choki Motobu.
-Goju ryu= Chojun Miyagi.
-Kobudo= Shinken Taira.
After training in these styles for many years Master Shimabuku took what he regarded the best and most effective techniques from these Martial Arts and formed a new system- Isshin Ryu (one-heart method).

Within this new style he developed a karate system with fast and powerful punches and low kicks using natural stances. He replaced the traditional punch with the trademark of Isshin ryu; the vertical punch which is faster and has more impact.

The students and Teachers of Isshin ryu also follow a code that Master Shimabuku learned from the Bubishi:
ISSHINRYU GOKUI
1. A person's heart is the same as heaven and earth.
2. The blood circulating is the same as the moon and sun.
3. The manner of drinking and spitting is either hard or soft.
4. A person's unbalance is the same as weight.
5. The body should be able to change direction at any time.
6. The time to strike is when the opportunity presents itself.
7. The eye must see every way.
8. The ear must listen in all directions.

KATA
SEISAN
SEIUNCHIN
NAIHANCHI
WANSU
CHINTO
SANCHIN
KUSANKU
SUNSU

KOBUDO KATA
KYAN NO SAI
TOKUMINE NO KUN
KUSANKU SAI
URASHI BO
CHATANYARA SAI
SHISHI NO KUN NO DAI
HAMAHIGA NO TONFA