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As Grand Master of the largest karate federation on Okinawa I welcome each of you to the study of this time honored sport.

My teaching techniques are based on Traditional Okinawan Martial Arts learning methods. Learning Karate and Kobudo is a step by step process, it takes time and practice. The history of our style is very important to your understanding of Kata (forms) and Kobudo (weapons).

Please as a Martial Artist or potential student take the time to Study the Okinawan History; you will find it very interesting.

Once again, welcome to our Karate “family” and Welcome to our Home Page! My only wish is for you to develop good heart, good family and good karate.

Nabi Matsumura
Hohan Soken
Hanshi Fusei Kise
Kaicho Isao Kise

NABE MATSUMURA brought the old Shorin-ryu secrets into the modern age. His name does not appear in many karate lineage charts According to Hohan Soken (1889-1982), the purest teaching of Matsumura’s Shorin Ryu was carried on by Matsumura Nabi (c.1860-1930). He received training in the family style of Matsumura Shorin Ryu which also included the secret techniques of the white crane. The white crane system was reputed to be a secret family style that was only taught to immediate family members. In his later years, Nabe Matsumura was referred to as Nabe Tanme or “old man” Nabe. He was known to be a stern and disciplined teacher. He had only one student, Hohan Soken. It is said he was one of the top karate men of his time. He passed on his menkyo kaiden to his nephew, SOKEN HOHAN
The next successor in the lineage of Matsumura Shorin Ryu was Hohan Soken (1889-1982). He began training at age thirteen under his uncle, Nabe Matsumura. Soken had to work in the fields as a youth in spite of his Samurai heritage. This was due to a political reorganization in the Ryukyu Islands and all of Japan as a result of the Meiji restoration. After ten years of basic training under Nabe Matsumura, Soken began learning the techniques of the white crane or Hakutsuru. This was in 1912 when he was twenty-three years old. According to Soken, this was a secret technique or training methodology which was confined to the Matsumura family. Bushi Matsumura had learned the white crane system in China. Soken’s instruction in the white crane technique emphasized balance training.
KISE FUSEI was born on May 4, 1935. He began his study of karate in 1947 under his uncle, Master Makabe. In 1955, Master Kise became a student to Master Shingake Nobutake and received his shodan. In 1958, Master Kise began studying under Grandmaster Soken Hohan, the third successor of Matsumura Seito Shorin-Ryu karate-do. In 1960, he was a student of Grandmaster Nakamura Shigeru, founder of the Okinawan Kenpo Karate-Do Federation, and qualified for his 7th degree black belt. After five years of training, Master Kise became a shihan (“master”)on January 1, 1965, when he passed the 7th dan examination under Grandmaster Nakamura. At that time, Master Kise taught and practiced Shorinji-ryu karate-do. During this time, he continued studying Shorin-ryu under Grandmaster Soken. On January 1, 1957, Master Kise switched completely over to Matsumura Seito Shorin-ryu. On January 3, 1972, Master Kise qualified for the hanshi title by passing the 8th dan examination held by Grandmaster Soken and Master Makabe. Sep 1st 1976 Master Kise qualified for his 9th Dan by Grand Master Hohan Soken. In 1977 Master Kise founded the Shorin Ryu Karate Kenshin Kan Karate and Kobudo Federation. On Oct 25 1987 Master Kise was promoted to 10th Dan by Master Shigaru Tamaiya.

In 2001 the Government of Japan gave there Seal of Approval to the accuracy of Master Kise’s book. They have stated that he (Grand Master Kise ) is the sole true heir to Matsumora Orthodox Karate, being passed down to him from Hohan Sensei. This has been entered into the official Government Archives. This means there can be no more disputing the Lineage of Matsumora Orthodox Karate. It belongs to our Grand Master Kise.

In April of 2001 Grand Master Kise was selected by the Japanese Parliament to receive a prestigious Lifetime Achievement award. He met with senators, other dignitaries and with the other Karate Grand Masters who are received awards (4 or 5 other Grand Masters from Okinawa) at a luncheon in Naha.
Kaicho (President) Isao Kise is the President of the All Okinawan Shorin Ryu Kenshin Kan Karate and Kobudo Federation. Kaicho Isao teaches at the Main Dojo, Okinawa City, Okinawa Japan, military bases on Okinawa and has his on Dojo in Okinawa City. Kaicho is the All Okinawan Kata, Kobudo, and Kumite Grand Champion.

Kaicho teaches Traditional Karate, Sport Karate, Sport Kumite as well as full contact Karate. He is a senior judge for tournaments throughout the Island of Okinawa. Kaicho has been training since the age of 4 and was born July 27, 1957. Kaicho believes in hard demanding workouts and trains his students to be champions. Kaicho was promoted to the rank of Hachi Dan (8th Dan) on January 18th 1998.

The Spirit of Okinawan Karate

The Spirit of Okinawan Karate Extended Throughout the World by Hanshi Fusei Kise, published by the All Okinawa Shorin-Ryu Karate and Kobudo Federation. This is the autobiography of one of Okinawa’s greatest living karate masters. Devoted student of the legendary Hohan Soken, Grandmaster Kise has spent his life teaching traditional Matsumura Shorin-Ryu karate throughout the world. Great historical photos, plus a section illustrating the kata that Grandmaster Kise developed under the guidance of Master Soken. This is a 192-page hard cover book with dust jacket, limited to 2000 numbered copies. First published in Okinawa in 2000, the English language edition was published in 2003. Each copy is personally signed by Grandmaster Kise.

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