Isshin Ryu History

Tatsuo Shimabuku was born in Chan Village, Okinawa on September 19, 1908 where at the age of 13 he started his martial arts training.

Tatsuo means Dragon Man. Tatsu (dragon), "O" (husband, man).

Sensei Shimabuku’s first karate Sensei was his uncle on his mother’s side Shinko Ganeku and trained for many years before he opened his first dojo in 1946.

In 1931 when Sensei Shimabuku was 23 years old he walked to Kadena City to study and train in Shuri-te (Shorin Ryu) with Chotoku Kyan.

In 1936 when Sensei Shimabuku was 28 years old he bean training with Chojun Miyagi in Goju Ryu (Naha-te). This training was originally named for Naha City where Master Miyagi lived and trained. Sensei Shimabuku traveled to Naha City to learn from Master Miyagi.

At the age of 30, in 1938 Sensei Shimabuku began training with Choki Motobu. Both Choki Motobu and Chotoku Kyan had trained under the great Master Itosu. Sensei Shimabuku sought out Choki Motobu to learn from as he was very famous for his extraordinary fighting ability.

Tatsuo Shimabuku passed away on May 30, 1975, but not without leaving his mark on this world, Isshin Ryu.

We consider Arcenio James Advincula to be the current Master of Isshin Ryu karate. Sensei Advincula was born in Juneau, Alaska on Jan. 25, 1938. Not too dissimilar to Sensei Shimabuku, Sensei Advincula began his martial arts training at an early age. Sensei Advincula started his martial arts career at eight years old in Filipino knife and stick fighting called Escrima or Arnis.

Sensei Advincula began training in Isshin Ryu with Sensei Shimabuku in December 1958 at the age of 20. Sensei Advincula had joined the US Marine Corps and was stationed on the island of Okinawa. There, he heard of other Marines speak of Sensei Shimabuku and sought him out to learn from.

Sensei Advincula trained with Sensei Shimabuku on and off between tours of duty on Okinawa for about 7 years, from the period of 1958 until Sensei Shimabuku’s death in 1975. Truly, Sensei Advincula has made martial arts a way of life.

Master Tatsuo Shimabuku named his system Isshin Ryu karate on Jan. 15, 1956.

Isshin Ryu can be translated to mean literally the ‘one heart way’, but Sensei Advincula translates it to mean ‘wholehearted way’.

Karate can be broken down into two words – kara means empty and te which means way. So, karate translated means empty hands.

The crest of Isshin Ryu is called Isshin Ryu No Megami (Goddess of Isshin Ryu). On the crest there are three stars, their alignment represents the symbol for the number one in Okinawan and also represents the teachers of Master Shimabuku.

When training in Isshin Ryu, we learn three goals. They are: self discipline, self confidence and self defense. Theses goals are placed in this order because initially it will take self discipline to come to class and to learn; then as we learn, we realize that we’ve accomplished something which leads to self confidence in our ability; as we progress through Isshin Ryu, we learn how to defend ourselves – but this comes last as it takes much practice (or the 3 P’s as Sensei Advincula says, practice, practice, practice!).

We practice three ways: physically, mentally and spiritually. Physically because we are exercising and improving our health, mentally because we are always learning – learning never stops, and spiritually because we train whole-heartedly (100% effort required).

There are three characteristics that clearly fine Isshin Ryu karate, the vertical punch, thumb placement on top of a vertical fist, and muscle blocks.

Isshin Ryu has three types of blocks; they are closed fist, open hand and deflections. The blocks are done in three positions, upper (jodan), middle (chudan) and lower (gedan).

There were three different martial arts that influenced Isshin Ryu they are Shorin Ryu, Goju Ryu and Kobu Juitsu (the art of weaponry).

As with all Okinawan karate, basics (kihon), forms (kata), and sparring (kumite) is taught.

A person’s attitude is more important that his ability since a persons’ own discipline, persistence and whole-hearted training will instill better morals and character and overcome adversity. Better said, if someone’s ability is great and the training is learnt with little or no effort, this person has not truly learned the art; but rather has learned only how to mimic it.

Focus can be defined as “by using a small point, such as the two knuckles on the fist, punching and striking your proposed target with Chinchuchi". Focus is considered to be the most important physical aspect of karate.

Chinchuchi is the ability to gather up and direct energy into your target by the expansion and contraction of muscle groups in the proper sequence with breathing and explosion into your target.