Matsubayashi-ryū (松林流), is a style of Okinawan karate founded in 1947 by Shōshin Nagamine (1907–1997). Its curriculum includes 18 kata, seven two-man yakusoku kumite (prearranged sparring) routines, and kobudō (weapons) practice. Matsubayashi-ryu is one of the four main styles of karate on Okinawa today, and was one of the styles represented when the Okinawa Karate-do Federation was founded. It included the styles: Goju-ryu, Uechi-ryu, Shorin-ryu, and Matsubayashi-ryu.
Sensei Nagamine named his style in honor of the two most important masters that his teachings were based upon, Sōkon Matsumura of Shuri-te and Kosaku Matsumora of Tomari-te. He chose to name the school using the first kanji characters from both master's names Matsu (松) and the style is pronounced in Japanese "Matsubayashi".
Shuri-te is divided into three styles, two are called Shorin-Ryu and a third is called Matsubayashi-Ryu. Matsubayashi-Ryu is a style of Shorin-Ryu and the terms Matsubayashi-Ryu and Shorin-Ryu can be used interchangeably. Normally, the style is referred to as Shorin-Ryu but when a definite distinction is required between the other styles of the Shorin-Ryu family (Kobayashi-Ryu, Shobayashi-Ryu and Matsumura Seito Hohan Sōken) then it is called Matsubayashi-Ryu.
Shoshin Nagamine also credited Motobu Chōki as the teacher who inspired his seven Yakusoku kumite forms. Until his death in 2012, the official Matsubayashi-ryū organization was run by Shōshin Nagamine's son, Takayoshi Nagamine. However there are many schools teaching Matsubayashi-ryū that are separately affiliated with the Nagamine dojo. A new kata, Fukyugata San, was developed in 1960 by Ueshiro sensei and is performed in his association's schools, however it is not included in the general kata for Matsubayashi -ryu.
Matsubayashi-ryū is one of the better-documented traditional karate styles, owing to Nagamine's book, The Essence of Okinawan Karate-dō. as well as Tales of Okinawa's Great Masters.
After the death of Shoshin Nagamine in 1997, many of his senior students formed their own organisations to teach Matsubayashi-ryu. After Shoshin Nagamine the following people were the successors to this organisation:
Takayoshi Nagamine (1992-2012), second generation headmaster (Soke)
Yoshitaka Taira (2012-), Association President / Toshimitsu Arakaki (2012-), Association Vice-President
Kata are sets of moves in Karate and are considered the most important part of the Matsubayashi-ryu style.
Fukyugata series (1-2)
Fukyugata San not one of the original 18 kata.
Pinan series (1-5)
Naihanchi series (1-3)
Ananku
Wankan
Rōhai
Wanshu
Passai
Gojūshiho
Chintō
Kusanku
These are the ranks as set out by the World Matsubayashi-ryu (Shorin-ryu) Karate-Do Association (WMKA) and the Kodokan Nagamine Karate Dojo (World Honbu).
Mudansha
8th Kyu - White Belt, one green stripe
7th Kyu - White Belt, two green stripes
6th Kyu - Green Belt, three white stripes
5th Kyu - Green Belt, two white stripes
4th Kyu - Green Belt, one white stripe
3rd Kyu - Brown Belt, three white stripes
2nd Kyu - Brown Belt, two white stripes
1st Kyu - Brown Belt, one white stripe
Yudansha
1st to 10th Dan - Black Belt
Shogo Titles
Renshi (6th Dan) - Black Belt with one stripe
Kyoshi (7th & 8th Dan) - Black Belt with two stripes
Hanshi (9th & 10th Dan) - Black Black with three stripes
Hanshisei (10th Dan) - Black Belt with four stripes
After the passing of the Matsubayashi-ryu founder, Shoshin Nagamine, in 1997 all practitioners of Matsubayashi-ryu Karate-do were affiliated with the Nagamine Honbu Dojo and the Okinawan Matsubayashi-ryu Karate-do Federation. After the passing of Shoshin Nagamine, some students decided to form their own organisations. The Major organizations in the USA are the WSKF, the NAMKA and the World Matsubayashi-ryu (Shorin-ryu) Karate-Do Association (WMKA).
World Matsubayashi-ryu (Shorin-ryu) Karate-Do Association (WMKA), Okinawa, Headed by Yoshitaka Taira and Toshimitsu Arakaki
Other Matsubayashi country-based sub-associations include:
European Matsubayashi-ryu (Shorin-ryu) Karate-Do Association (EMKA), Europe, Headed by Ole-Bjørn Tuftedal
Okinawa Shorin-ryu New Zealand, New Zealand, Headed by Kevin Plaisted
Matsubayashi-ryu Karate Association of Australia (MKAA), Australia, Headed by John Carlyle
North American Matsubayashi-ryu Karate-Do Association (NAMKA), United States, Headed by Don Caponigro
Karate USA - Terry Maccarrone, United States
Shorin-ryu and Kobudo Association, United States, Headed by Eihachi Ota
World Shorin-ryu Karate-Do Federation (WSKF), United States, Headed by Frank Grant
Matsubayashi Shorin-ryu International, Ireland, Headed by Patrick Beaumont
Matsubayashi-Ryu (Shorin-ryu) Karate-Do Argentina, Argentina, Headed by Shigehide Akamine
Shorin Ryu Karatedo International , United States, Headed by Jerry Figgiani
The Bubishi Karate Do Organization (Non-Profit)
Ranks and honorifics have been excluded from the list for simplicity.
Okinawa
Shoshin Nagamine, Founder of Matsubayashi-Ryu (DECEASED)
Takayoshi Nagamine, Second generation headmaster (Soke) of Matsubayashi-Ryu (DECEASED)
Yasuharu Makishi, Senior student of Shoshin Nagamine (DECEASED)
Toshimitsu Arakaki, Senior student of Shoshin Nagamine
Yoshitaka Taira, Senior student of Shoshin Nagamine
Kiyoshi Shinjo, Senior student of Shoshin Nagamine
Nobuhide Higa, Senior student of Shoshin Nagamine and Yoshitaka Taira
Ansei Ueshiro, Chief Instructor at the Nagamine Dojo, sent to the United States by Shoshin Nagamine in 1962 to promote Matsubayashi-Ryu in the United States
Chotoku Omine, Senior student of Shoshin Nagamine and sent to the United States to promote Matsubayashi-Ryu by Shoshin Nagamine (DECEASED)
Kensei Taba, Senior student of Shoshin Nagamine and Founder of his own organisation, the Okinawa Shogen-Ryu Karate-Do Association
Masao Shima, Senior student of Shoshin Nagamine (DECEASED)
Eihachi Ota, Senior student of Masao Shima. He came to United States in 1969 to promote Matsubayashi-Ryu
Chokei Kishaba, Senior student of Shoshin Nagamine and Founder of Shōrin-ryū Kishaba Juku
Shigehide Akamine, Student of Shoshin Nagamine who moved to Argentina and heads the Matsubayashi-Ryu (Shorin-Ryu) Karate-Do Argentina
United States
James Wax, First non-Okinawan to receive a Black belt from Shoshin Nagamine in Matsubayashi-Ryu.
Sam Palmer, Student of Ueshiro Sensei (DECEASED)
Parker Shelton, Student of Bob Yarnall and James Wax (DECEASED)
Don Caponigro, Student of Takayoshi Nagamine & Frank Grant, Head of the North American Matsubayashi-ryu Karate-do Association
Joseph Carbonara - 1st Disciple of Chotoku Omine (DECEASED)
Bill George - Original Black Belt of Takayoshi Nagamine. North American Matsubayashi-Ryu Karate-do Association. Also black belt rank in Judo.
Bob Yarnall, Student of Jim Wax
Frank Grant, Student of Jim Wax, Ansei Ueshiro and Shoshin Nagamine, Head of the World Shorin-ryu Karate-do Federation
Walter Rowden 8th Dan, Student of Sam Palmer, Shoshin Nagamine(Deceased)
Harold Finke 7th Dan(posthumous),Student of Walter Rowden(Deceased)
Canada
Frank Baehr - Student of Shoshin Nagamine
Spain
Ricardo Fuchs Camani - Student of Shoshin Nagamine and Shigehide Akamine
Norway
Ole-Björn Tuftedal - Student of Takayoshi Nagamine
