Motobu-Ha Shito Ryu
Shōgō Kuniba (国場 将豪 Kuniba Shōgō, February 5, 1935 - July 14, 1992) was a Japanese teacher of karate.
His adoptive father (biological uncle) was Kōsei Kokuba (Kuniba) who began training him at five years old. Kuniba Sōke was taught by many masters of the day including:
When he was 24 years old Shōgō Kuniba became the youngest karate system head (Sōke) in Japan, taking over the style his adoptive father (Kōsei Kokuba) inherited from Motobu Chōki. He thus became the Sandai Soke of Ryukyu Karate Motobu-ha (Choki Motobu was Shodai Soke; Kosei Kokuba was Nidai Soke).
His adoptive father (biological uncle) was Kōsei Kokuba (Kuniba) who began training him at five years old. Kuniba Sōke was taught by many masters of the day including:
- Kenwa Mabuni - Shitō-ryū Karate
- Kōsei Kokuba - Motobu-ha Karate-dō
- Itoh Asakichi - Judo
- Ishii Gogetsu - Mugai-ryū Iaido
- Shōshin Nagamine - Shōrin-ryū Karate
- Kenko Nakaima - Kobudō
- Kosha Shojin - Bo and nunchaku
- Junko Yamaguchi - Tonfa
- Shioda Gozo - Aikido
- Ryusei Tomoyori - Kenyu-ryū Karate
When he was 24 years old Shōgō Kuniba became the youngest karate system head (Sōke) in Japan, taking over the style his adoptive father (Kōsei Kokuba) inherited from Motobu Chōki. He thus became the Sandai Soke of Ryukyu Karate Motobu-ha (Choki Motobu was Shodai Soke; Kosei Kokuba was Nidai Soke).
Sōke Kuniba is known for integrating the power of karate with the sensitivity of aikido and other traditional martial arts in a style he called "Motobu-ha Shito-ryu." This style is structured to adopt concepts and techniques from other styles to form a modern system replete with traditional values, but with an open minded philosophy. Shogo Kuniba was the Shodai Soke of Motobu-ha Shito-ryu Karate-do. It is sometimes referred to as Kuniba-ha Karate-do. A book titled A Primer of Kuniba-ha Karate-do: The Style of Shogo Kuniba was written and published in 1985 by Shihan James Herndon; it was republished in 2009.
Kuniba applied his knowledge of aikido, jujutsu, judo and other arts to the bunkai of karate kata. This made for very creative variations on techniques, which became his hallmark. He created a new style, Kuniba-ryū Goshindō (aka Goshin Budō Jujutsu), which literally means Kuniba Sōke's style of self defense. Kuniba-ryū Goshindō combines elements of karate, aikido and judo. There are also several other Goshindō/Goshin Budō/Goshinbudō system which does not came from Kuniba, so it is most proper to always state the full name "Kuniba-ryū Goshinbudō/Kuniba-ryū Goshindō" in order not to confuse Kuniba sensei's Goshinbudō/Goshindō with other Goshinbudō/Goshindō styles.
In Japan, Shōgō Kuniba was treated as a Meijin, (Brilliant Man).
Kuniba Sōke died on July 14, 1992.
Reference Wikipedia: July 2011
In Japan, Shōgō Kuniba was treated as a Meijin, (Brilliant Man).
Kuniba Sōke died on July 14, 1992.
Reference Wikipedia: July 2011
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