Tatsuo Shimabuku, the founder of Isshinryu Karate, was born in 1906 on Okinawa. He began his sutdy of
karate at the age of eight. After four years of study with his uncle in Shuri-Ti karate, Master
Shimabuku went into formal training in other forms of karate with such famous instructors as
Chotoku Kiyan, Chojun Miyagi, and Motobu Choken. He was a contemporary of Gichin Funakoshi, the man
who introduced karate to Japan. Just prior to World War II, Master Shimabuku was at the height of
his reputation as an expert, not only of Shorin-ryu and Gogu-ryu, but also of weapons, such as the
bo and the sai. Master Shimabuku's reputation was such that Japanese officers stationed on Okinawa
during World War II kept him from military conscription in exchange for karate lessons.
After the war, U.S. Marines stationed on Okinawa sought him out, and began teaching them karate.
At a demonstration, he missed the nail he was driving into a board with his fist and cut the back
of his hand. He put a handful of dirt on the hand and finished the demonstration. Some of the
Marines, impressed by his skills and manner, became Black Belt instructors and spread karate
throughout the United States.
The karate that the Marines brought back to the United States was a blending of what Master
Shimabuku thought to be the best of the karate systems. He formed this system of karate on
January 16, 1954, after consultation with leading karate experts on Okinawa and called the
system "Isshinryu", meaning "One Heart, One Mind". Other karate experts were opposed to some
or his theories and techniques.
In 1966, Master Shimabuku visited the United States, meeting with the students he had taught
on Okinawa and instructing their students. Master Shimabuku died in May, 1975. Isshinryu
Karate will continue to be taught and enjoyedby those who have captured the beauty of the vision
of Master Tatsuo Shimabuku.
