| RyuKyu hon Kenpo Kobujutsu Federation The
Late Grand Master Seikichi Odo (Passed
Away March 2002)
Okinawan Kenpo
is
a term that dates back
to
the beginning of the 20th century. It is often used as a generic term to
describe all of the Okinawan Karate styles. During the early 1950's this term
came into use to describe a particular style, the karate being taught by Master
Shigeru Nakamura.
Master
Nakamura was born on Jan. 20, 1894. His karate training started whilst in
attendance of Icchu Middle School in Shuri. It was here that both Kanryo
Higashionna (1845-1915) and Chomo Hanashiro, (1830-1945) were the karate
instructors. Yasutune Itosu (1830-1915)as well as Kentsu Yabu (1863-1937) also
made visits to the school. Upon Graduation from middle school, Nakamura Sensei
returned to Nago, city where he continued his training under Shinkichi Kunioshi.
In 1953, Nakamura Sensei opened his own dojo in Nago city where he called his
form of karate "Okinawa Kenpo", he became famous for his introduction
of "bogu gear", protective equipment permitting full contact sparring.
Seikichi
Odo, whose name means "world
walker" in
Japanese, was born in Okinawa in 1923. Of samurai descent, he was small in
stature and introverted as a youth, making him the target of much teasing and
practical jokes by older boys. At age 9 Odo began his martial arts training in
Judo, but found his this not to his particular tastes. At age 13 Odo met Koho
Kuba of Kawasald, Okinawa. Kuba Sense! taught Odo the art of Okinawa-te.
At the age of
20, Odo began to
study Okinawan Kobudo. He was soon to fall in love with the weapons arts, and
studied them tediously to ensure the preservation of the
old ways. Over time, Odo's kobudo instructors included many of the leading
practitioners of Okinawa, such as Mitsuo Kakazu, Kenko Nakaima, Shimpo Matayoshi
and, Seike Toma. At 23 Odo began to study karate under Nakamura Sensei. Odo
Studied both kobudo (with Mitsuo Kakazu) as well as karate and kobudo with Seike
Toma, whom was a senior student of Chotoku Kyan (1880-1945). However, Odo Sensei
still considers Master Nakamura as his primary instructor as well as mentor.
It was
during his studies with Master Nakamura that Nakamura Sensei asked Odo to
incorporate the kobudo with Nakamura's own karate teachings. During the last few
years of Nakamura's life, Odo began to undertake the teaching responsibilities of
the dojo. Sensei
Odo began to fully incorporate kobudo training with the Okinawa Kenpo Karate
system in the mid 1970's. In July of 1983, Master Odo restructured the Okinawa
Kenpo Karate-Kobudo Association, renaming it the Okinawa Kenpo Karate Kobudo
Federation. In 1998 Master Odo restructured the Okinawa Kenpo Karate-Kobudo
Association, renaming it the Ryukyu hon Kenpo Kobujutsu Federation.
Master Odo's RHKKF teaches a total of 51 kata; 21 open hand forms and 30
weapons kata. Grand Master Odo passed this life in March 2002 his memory will
live long in the katas that he taught as well as the advice he freely gave to
all. I will always remember these words from him as we trained, (Nice,
Nice, Can Do, Can Do).
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WHAT IS THE RHKKF?
The Ryukyu
hon Kenpo Kobujutsu Federation ion
was founded
by Grand Master Seikichi Odo (10" degree Black Belt). Hanchi Odo is the top
disciple of the Former Shigeru Nakamura, the founder of the modern day
Okinawa Kenpo. He also studied under Master Koho Kuba (Odo Sensei's first
instructor). Mitsuo Kakazu, Seike Toma, Kinjo Seiko, as well as under
Shinpo Matayoshi (weapon's master). Master Odo added weapons
to the traditional Ryukyu
hon Kenpo Kobujutsu Federation ion , and so formed the R.H.K.K.F.
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WHAT
IS OKINAWA KENPO DHARMA-RYU DOJO?
The O.K.D.R. was
founded by Master Paul Ortino Jr., in January 1983. It was then, as a student
of Master Seikichi Odo, that Kyoshi Ortino combined the Traditional Kata and
Kobudo of Master Seikichi Odo with the Self-Defense and Fighting
techniques of seven other forms of the Martial Arts.
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What is Karate?
Karate is an
ancient oriental art of self-defense in which only bare hands, arms and feet are
used. In some ways, it is similar to that of Judo and wrestling. However, it
emphasizes the kick, open and hand-strike and closed fist strike rather than the
take-down, and the hold down.
It's origins date
back to 525 AD, to an obscure Buddhist monk named Bodhidharma who traveled from
India to the Shaolin Temple in China. It was there that this man, known to many
as "spiritual father of Zen Buddhism" shared his knowledge of physical
fitness and self-defense.
This form of
physical and mental discipline practiced by the monks became known as
Shaolin-szu (Chaun-Fa) or, as we know it today, "Kenpo" which when
translated means "way of the fist".
But it was in
Okinawa that Kenpo emerged as a specific form of Martial Arts. These Chinese
methods called Tode (or Vang hand) blended with what was called Okinawa-Te and
later became refined and was called Kara.-Te (empty hand).
In 1429, Okinawa
became a unified kingdom under the dynamic leadership of a man named Hashi. To
ensure his rule, Hashi demanded for all weapons to be seized. In order to
protect themselves, the people then developed "Kobudo", an art form in
which the Okinawans used their farm implements as well as empty hands for self
protection.
About 200 years
later, Okinawa came under control of the Japanese, who again imposed a ban on
weapons.
In
1917, Okinawan master Gichin Funakoshi introduced Karate to Japan where it
became formalized with the modem day belt system.
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