Shuri and Tomari, Matusumura and Matsumora, Naihanchi

<From Watashi-No-KarateJutsu>

From many sources I have read, many of the late 1800s and 1900s Karate masters had learnt Naihanchi (I only reference that referred to as Shodan as the additional kata are thought to be a separation out or newer additions), but very few attributed their sources. In at least one case, where a source is attributed.  Yoshimura Chōgi, cousin of Motobu Choki, wrote that his first teacher, an old man who served as an accountant and administrator of the Yoshimura Udun, taught him Naifanchi and Passai.  No name was given (1).  However, in  another source, the teacher is identified as Ishmine (7).

Naihanchi is generally categorised as a Shuri-Te Kata, but many Kata are shared between the styles attributed as either Shuri-Te or Tomari-Te.  However, with the number of masters that trained with teachers from both locations, at best the distinction between the two is somewhat blurred.  An article from the Motobu-ryū website goes further and says in two places "there is no clear distinction", then later "there is no essential difference between Shuri-Te and Tomari-Te" (2).  So essentially Shuri-Te and Tomari-Te are one and the same.

Matsumura Sokon is acknowledged as a root source of Shuri-Te material and Matsumora Kosaku is given similar standing for Tomari-Te.  However, if the styles are much the same, as indicated above, both can be considered the fathers of Shuri-Te and are highlighted as having been of similar standing.  Many Shuri-Te Karate family trees place Matsumura Sokon near the top of their tree and often cite him as the source of Naihanchi, however there is scant evidence of this.  Many who learned the Kata do not give sources at all, but simply name the Masters they studied under, quite a few said they studied under both Matsumura Sokon and Matsumora Kosaku.  Motobu Choki especially is very specific in this, he trained with both. (3)

Matsumura Sokon didn't teach Naihanchi as a Kata from most of the evidence available.  Most, who do cite Kata learnt from him cite different Kata.  For example, Yoshimura Chogi cites Gojūshiho and Kūsankū (1).  From my conversations with Scot Mertz, Matsumura Sokon was primarily a swordsman who became known for his karate only after his death (4).  According to his conversations with the family, he didn't teach Naihanch, mainly Sanchin, Seisan and Useishi (Gojūshiho).  

On the other hand, there is evidence that Matsumora Kosaku actually did learn Naihanchi from Ason.  Definitely via Ufu Giko, who learnt the Kata on Ason's first visit in the 1830s and possibly directly from son on his second visit in the 1866 to 1868.  (4).  Both Matsumura and Matsumora have the same sounding name if the Okinawan dialect, “Machimura”.   This potential misunderstanding coupled with information I have to hand, I can only conclude:

Matsumora Kosaku having learned Naihanchi from Ason, whilst Matsumura Sokon was more renown for sword work:   Matasumora Kosaku therefore would be the more likely source of the Naihanchi kata in the Shuri-te styles, rather than Matsumura Sokon.    

That is not to say that there are no other sources for Naihanchi in the Shorin Ryu family, just that on the evidence I have seen and heard so far, this is the most plausible source to me.  Both Motobu Choki and Kyan Chotoku studied with Matsumora, and I found an article by Tom Bell (5) that says Itosu Anko studied with him.  I am not sure of the veracity of this last source though.  I have since come across a quote from Motobu Choki himself saying he introduced Itosu Anko to Matasumora Kosaku, in (8): Episode When Choki Won a 10 Yen Bet by Solving a Homework Problem (Figuring Out Ukete) "Then I brought Itosu to Matsumora's place. And Matsumora said to Itosu:

"This young man is very gifted. He has a great future. So let's train him together."". This suggests that they may have even worked together to train Motobu Choki.

(1) http://ryukyu-bugei.com/?p=8566&fbclid=IwAR2PxCgKB0zK5caoQzyKOJzuJM4uzgPfIe-UNQ_4O1x2RbUVFeBpGI00AaY

(2) http://ryukyu-bugei.com/?p=4123

(3) My Art and Skill of Karate (Motobu Choki, Andreas Quast et al, 2020)

(4) https://www.karate4theheart.com/2020/01/nerd-life-origins-of-naihanchi.html

(5) http://www.fightingarts.com/reading/article.php?id=104

(6)  https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=E1U_BAAAQBAJ&pg=PA417&lpg=PA417&dq=did+anko+itosu+study+with+matsumura+kosaku&source=bl&ots=LsHATfQdpK&sig=ACfU3U1vpXVAlZW6t1a35vtG6CLQn_fTRA&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjVlrzv943oAhUNHMAKHeSED4UQ6AEwB3oECAsQAQ#v=onepage&q=did%20anko%20itosu%20study%20with%20matsumura%20kosaku&f=false

(7) The Essence of Naha-te (Joe Swift)

(8) https://www.motobu-ryu.org/motobu-kenpo/lost-interviews/?fbclid=IwAR1ynwMixXMeeH7EwbZ8YzEdOKOqvVlKuFOVZuJd5EfChljwAaOOZD6K9kE