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The martial arts practiced within The International Budo Institute
is a
system based on the elements of Okinawa-te of Master Anko Azato and the
Sukunaihayashi (Shorinjiryu) lineage of Master Chotoku Kyan as well as
Aikjutsu, Jujutsu, Judo, Baji Qu’an and various Okinawan, Chinese and
Japanese weapons arts.
Chotoku Kyan was born into a high-ranking family in Shuri in 1870. His father
Chofu was a steward to the King of the Ryukyus or Okinawan islands. 
1879-1945
When Japan took over Okinawa King Tai was replaced and Okinawa became a
department or province of Japan. The King was sent to Japan along with
his retainers which included Chotoku Kyan and his father.
It is known that Chofu Kyan (Chotoku's father) was a cultivated man having studied both
Chinese and Japanese literature. It is also believed that he was the
one who interested Chotoku Kyan's in karate. However, Chofu Kyan felt
that his love for his son would prevent him from adequately teaching
Chotoku and so left the training up to other masters. When Chotoku
turned 20 years old he became a student of Kokan Oyadomari, Kosaku
Matsumora and Ankoh Itosu.
As the photo above shows, Chotoku Kyan was a slight man both as a child
and as an adult and he has the appearance of a schoolmaster or
accountant rather than an expert in the martial arts. Nevertheless, by
the age of 30 he was considered an expert in both Tomari-te and
Shuri-te fighting systems of Okinawa.
During his training days it was normal for karate masters to be
challenged in fighting contests and it was no different for Kyan. It is
also interesting that it is not mentioned whether he had ever lost a
fight. One reason may be in his fighting method.
Because he was of slight build, Kyan knew that he could not
fight bigger and stronger fighters based on size alone and so he would
practice evasive techniques of escaping and countering that would help
to neutralize the advantage of size that most of his opponants had over
him. Further, Kyan developed his kicking technique to a high standard
and was renowned as an expert in those techniques. Kyan's size and his
training style and methods were instrumental in the development of his
system of fighting which today is the perfect example of the
Shorin(ji)-ryu practitioner. That is, smaller lighter fighters that
are typified by quickness and mobility of movement. This is the basis of the foundation of the techniques practiced within The
International Budo Institute.
It is known that Kyan taught karate at the Okinawan
College of Agriculture and the Kadena Police Station. Two of his
favourite students were Ankichi Arakaki and Taro Shimabuku. Kyan was
known for instructing his students that whatever they did they should
keep in their minds the idea of busai, or correct martial way. Stories
exist that both Ankichi Arakaki and Taro Shimabuku would visit Kyan
Sensei's home
for training at night and that they carried lanterns to light their way
but that Kyan told them to stop using the lanterns so that they could
develop
their night vision. It is even said that when they trained at night he
chose uneven terrain and sometimes threw water on the ground to make it
difficult to keep balance.
Chotoku Kyan is one of martial arts most influential masters with
personal qualities which earned him the loyalty of his students and the
respect of other experts. He believed in constant practice and
continued to train throughout his entire life. Master Kyan died at 75
in September 1945.
Kyan's Kata
The syllabus that Kyan taught consisted of seven kata, as follows:
-
Kata - Teacher
- Ananku
- Wanshu - Saneida Maeda
- Chinto - Kosaku Matsumora
- Passai - Kokan Oyadomari
- Kusanku - Chatan Yara
- Seisan - Sokon Matsumura
- Gojushiho - Sokon Matsumura
Kyan also may have taught Naihanchin, and if he did he would have
learned it from Ankoh Itosu. It is said that Kyan's favourite kata, which he
often performed at demonstrations, were Chinto, Passai (Bassai), and
Kusanku. However, his variation of these kata were distinctive with significant differences in
technique from the more widely practiced forms from the Shotokan, Wado, or Shito schools.
Source: Graham Noble, Journal of Combative Sport, Aug. 2000 |
