Matsubayashi Ryu

Matsubayashi-ry? (???), is a style of Okinawan karate that was founded in 1947 by Sh?shin Nagamine (1907–1997). Its curriculum includes 18 kata, seven two-man yakusoku kumite (prearranged sparring) routines, and kobud? (weapons) practice. Matsubayashi-ryu is one of the four main styles of karate on Okinawa today, and was one of the styles represented when the Okinawa Karate-do Federation was founded. It included the styles: Goju-ryu, Uechi-ryu, Shorin-ryu, and Matsubayashi-ryu.

Sensei Nagamine named his style in honor of the two masters whom he viewed as the most important masters that his teachings were based upon, S?kon Matsumura of Shuri-te. and Kosaku Matsumora of Tomari-te. He chose to name the school using the first kanji characters from both master's names Matsu (?) and the style is pronounced in Japanese "Matsubayashi".

Shuri-te is divided into three styles, two are called Shorin-Ryu and a third is called Matsubayashi-Ryu. Matsubayashi-Ryu is a style of Shorin-Ryu and the terms Matsubayashi-Ryu and Shorin-Ryu can be used interchangeably. Normally, the style is referred to as Shorin-Ryu but when a definite distinction is required between the other styles of the Shorin family (Kobayashi-Ryu & Shobayashi-Ryu) then it is called Matsubayashi-Ryu.

Shoshin Nagamine also credited Motobu Ch?ki as the teacher who inspired his seven Yakusoku kumite forms. Until his passing away in 2012, the official Matsubayashi-ry? organization was run by Sh?shin Nagamine's son, Takayoshi Nagamine, though there are many schools teaching Matsubayashi-ry? that are separately affiliated with the Nagamine dojo. A new kata, Fukyugata San, was developed in 1960 by Ueshiro sensei and is performed in his association's schools.

Matsubayashi-ry? is one of the better-documented traditional karate styles, owing to Nagamine's book, The Essence of Okinawan Karate-d?. as well as Tales of Okinawa's Great Masters.

After the passing of Shoshin Nagamine in 1997, many of his senior students formed their own organisations to teach Matsubayashi-ryu.