History

The term "Karate" is indigenous to the island of Okinawa, often called the "Island of Karate." As with most cultures, a homegrown fighting art evolved called "Ti" in the Okinawan dialect. "Ti" translates in English to "hand." Later, with Okinawa's close ties to China, the self protection art of "Ti" combined with the Southern Chinese combat arts and formed "Todi" or "China hand." The term was later changed to "Karate" when Okinawa became a province of Japan. "Karate", which is often translated as "empty hand" can also be translated as "vastness of hand." "Vastness of hand" is probably a more appropriate term since the hands in the fighting arts are not actually "empty" but full of fighting technique.

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Isshinryu Karate was formed in the 1950's by it's founder Tatsuo Shimabuku. Master Shimabuku, a native Okinawan, studied other forms of Okinawan Karate such as Shorinryu and Gojuryu which he used to form his Isshinryu. The term "Gokui" is translated as "secret principles." Many senior instructors on Okinawa, after years of study, often combine their favorite techniques and kata to form new systems. Isshinryu could be said to be Master Shimabuku's "Gokui." Shimabuku Sensei also studied Okinawa Kobudo (weapons) which he later added to the system.

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Isshinryu is a very natural form of Karate. With it's high posture stances, vertical, non-rotating punches, muscle blocks and snapping kicks, it is an ideal form of close quarters self defense. Because of Isshinryu's natural body movements, it is excellent for health and can be practiced well into our senior years!