From Okinawa to Virginia
Our Okinawan Karate Heritage
Imagine training at a karate school that traces its lineage directly to the recognized source of karate: the Okinawan Sokon "Bushi" Matsumura.
Kyoshi Roberto Curtis is a direct student of Okinawan Grand Master Seikichi Iha, 10th Dan. Study with us and you will learn the ways of the Okinawan masters.
About Us
Our Okinawan Karate Lineage
Trace the history of Shorin-ryu Shidokan karate from its origins in Okinawan Shuri-te with Sokon Matsumura in 1809 to the present-day with Hanshi Seikichi Iha.
Grand Master Seikichi Iha, 10th Dan
We're proud to be students of Hanshi Seikichi Iha, 10th dan, who brought Shorin-ryu-Shidokan to the United States. Sensei Roberto Curtis is a direct student of Sensei Iha, and our dojo is a member of the Beikoku Shoriny-ryu Shidokan Association, headed by Iha Sensei.
Our Shorin-Ryu Shidokan Karate Lineage
Sokon Matsumura (1809-99)
The personal bodyguard to the last three Okinawan Kings who named his self defense techniques Shuri-te. Shuri being the Okinawan capital. Te or de meaning hand. He combined local Martial Arts techniques (Sui di or "Our Hande") with Chinese Kung Fu and Thai Boxing techniques. Matsumura was also widely known as Bushi Matsumura, or Warrior Matsumura because of his Martial Arts skills.
Anko Itosu (1831-1915)
One of Matsumura's most famous students Anko Itosu is also called the Grandfather of Okinawan Karate. In addition to Matsumura, he studied with Gusukuma (unrelated to the one mentioned below) He also used the name of his karate as: Shuri te (Shuri hand) and taught the next two renown instructors:
Shinpan (Shiroma) Gusukuma (1890-1954)
A school teacher and acupuncturist. He was well known for his sturdy, powerful karate even though he was small in stature. Shinpan Gusukuma developed Okinawan Shuri-te. His techniques can still be found in both Shorin-Ryu and Shito-Ryu styles.
Choshin Chibana (1886-1969)
Known as the ultimate karate expert on Okinawa. He taught a wide range of students. Many refer to him as the Karate Samurai. Chosin Chibana called his karate: "Kobayashi", yet the Kanji can also be read as "Shorin ryu" 小林流. Chibana promoted five of his students to 9th Degree and they developed their own karate schools. Katsuya Miyahira's Shidokan is the most prominent in Okinawa, Canada, Argentina and Brazil, followed by Nakazato's Shorinkan (the most widely practiced in the United States), and Higa's Kyodokan focused mostly in Okinawa, Argentina, Uruguay and Italy.
Note: There are three major styles of Shorin Ryu Karate: Chibana's Kobayashi, Shimambukuro's Shobayashi and Nagamine's Matsubayashi. The lineages and Japanese Kanji characters are quite distinct. However, they are all pronounced Shorin Ryu.
Katsuya Miyahira (1918-2010)
Miyahira studied longer with Chosin Chibana than any other student. In 1948 Katsuya Miyahira named his karate school or dojo: Shidokan. The patch we wear on the left chest 志道館 (Shidokan) means "Warrior Path/Way", "Right Path/Way", "Heart/Path Way" or "Gentleman's Path/Way". Miyahira was one of 5 people Chibana promoted to 9th Degree. Chibana relinquished his karate association duties to Miyahira before his death. Miyahira was promoted to 10th Degree in 1978 by the Okinawan Shorin Ryu Karate Association.