Welcome to the Ryu Shu Kan

WELCOME TO MY RYU SHU KAN: Japanese Arts Center Blog. I’ll be writng about my Martial Arts training, Taiko Drumming & other aspects of Japanese culture.  I hope I can educate, entertain and enrich your lives through this blog. Arigato.

ABOUT RYU SHU KAN KARATE:  WAY OF LIFE

In ancient Okinawa, Karate was more than a hobby or spare time activity. It touched the very essence of the people who studied it, changing the  way they thought & felt about themselves and the way they interacted with  other people.

When Taika first came to America he named his art Ryukyu Kempo Karate Kobudo to honor his instructors.  Ryu Kyu is the original name of Okinawa where Taika comes from, so he wanted to make sure that Americans knew where his art came from.

His first instructor, Uhugusuku no TanMei (Tanmei means “retired warrior”) taught him the original methods of Kobudo- the way of the weaponry of the Ryukyu warriors; & then Wakinguri no TanMei (whose ancestors came from China) taught him techniques of ancient Kara-Te which originally meant “China-Hand”. Next, Nakamura Sensei taught him Kempo, which means “Fist Method” and signifies hard style “boxing” techniques. Taika had other Okinawan training partners which also helped establish the strong roots of our Karate system. Taika changed the name of his art to Ryu Te which is short for Ryukyu Karate.  Now that Taika has passed away, and because I am not from Ryukyu; to honor Taika I have named our art: “Oya-Te” which is short for Oyata’s Karate and reflects the direct lineage of our art from Taika Oyata.