 Hanashiro
was born in 1869 and at an early age began training with the man many
consider to be the greatest of all Tote masters, Matsumura Sokon
(1809-1901), well known as "Bushi" Matsumura. Matsumura was quite an old
man at the time and Hanashiro was primarily a student of one of
Matsumura's senior students, Itosu Anko (1830-1915). Itosu shaped modern
karate as much as any other person in history and spearheaded a movement
to bring Tote into the Okinawan school system around the turn of the
century. Hanashiro remained with Itosu, and acted as an assistant
instructor for him up until his death in 1915. From early in the 20th
century, Hanashiro taught gymnastics at a junior high school in Shuri
(Okinawa's capital) which gave him an excellent opportunity to aid Itosu
in the introduction of Tote into the school system.
In the 1920's, Hanashiro Chomo was one of the most highly regarded
karate masters in Okinawa, a fact that was acknowledged even by other
masters. Despite this, information about him is rare in English language
texts, and is usually scattered in existing references.
It is difficult to talk about the life of Hanashiro Chomo without also
talking about another of Itosu's senior students and assistants, Yabu
Kentsu (1863-1937), also originally a student of Matsumura. Yabu was
probably most famous for his many challenge matches, all without a single
loss.
These two shared many common experiences and have remarkably similar
karate careers. Both were noted as having exceptional physiques in the
1891 Japanese army draft's medical exams. They were both pioneers in
instructing karate in the school system in the first decade of the 20th
century, and also taught Tote in military schools. Both were also present
at the famous Oct. 25th, 1936 meeting of Okinawan Masters. At this
meeting, attended by the greatest masters of the time, the name "karate
do" was officially adopted over "Tote Jutsu". A photo of members of the
meeting can be found on Page 7 of the Old Canadian Chito Ryu Technical
Manual and many other karate history books. Yabu and Hanashiro are in the
middle of the bottom row, O-Sensei is 2nd from the left in the top row.
An interesting story that demonstrates the association of Hanashiro and
his dojo-mate Yabu well into their lives comes from Nagamine Shoshin
(1907-1998), founder of Matsubayashi Ryu (a well known branch of shorin
ryu), and author of "The Essence of Okinawan Karate-do". While studying at
the Metropolitan Police Station in Tokyo in 1936, Nagamine met with
Hanashiro Chomo and Kentsu Yabu who warned him that the karate katas in
Tokyo had changed considerably and that Nagamine should take pains to keep
the katas he taught in their original forms. I find this interesting, as
Nagamine met with both masters at the same time, 50 years after they were
dojo mates at Bushi Matsumura's dojo. Obviously the two were very close.
Hanashiro was not only a pioneer in the school system, but he also
pioneered the use of the word "karate". In his August 1905 publication,
"Karate Shoshu Hen" (AKA "Karate Kumite"), the first known use of the
modern kanji was used.
The original two characters for the art were pronounced Tote meaning,
"China Hand." The first character, however, could also be pronounced
"kara." This character was changed to another that had the same
pronunciation ("kara"). Thus the modern term "Karate-te (empty hand)
appeared
Hanashiro was one of the primary instructors for an organization formed
in the early 1920's in Okinawa called the Ryukyu Tote Kenkyukai (Okinawan
Tote Research Club). The club was an expansion of an earlier organization
formed in 1918 by Miyagi Chojun, a famous Tote expert and founder of Goju
Ryu. Originally the organization was meant to continue the teachings of
Itosu Anko, Higashionna Kanryo and Aragaki Seisho, the last generation of
masters who had died between 1915 and 1918, leaving a great void.
Within this club, Okinawa's greatest masters hung around together,
taught Tote and exchanged ideas. Hanashiro Chomo wasn't the only teacher;
others included Miyagi Chojun (the original organizer), Mabuni Kenwa
(founder of Shito Ryu), Motobu Choyu (one of O-Sensei Chitose's teachers,
his teachings eventually became Motobu Ryu, a martial art called Te,
precursor to Okinawan Tote). Unfortunately, the Kenkyukai disbanded in the
late 1920's, members stated that the demands of their students was the
reason. The face of karate today would be different if the Kenkyukai had
remained in existence.
Hanashiro Chomo had a few famous students. Of particular note are
Nakamura Shigeru (1892/95-1969 of Okinawan Kempo), Chitose Tsuyoshi
(1898-1984, founder Chito Ryu), Nakama Chozo (1899-1982, of Kobayashi
Ryu), Shimabukuro Zenryo (1904-1969, founder of Seibukan Shorin Ryu) and
Kinjo Hiroshi (1919-, Patrick McCarthy's current teacher and famous karate
historian).
From discussions with Patrick McCarthy, it is believed that Hanashiro
received the kata Ryusan from a Chinese tea merchant and White Crane
gungfu practitioner named Gokenki. Gokenki worked for the Eiko Chako Tea
Company and taught White Crane in Okinawa between 1912 and his death in
1940. Gokenki was an occasional member of the 1920's Kenkyukai, mentioned
earlier, and associated with many of Okinawa's great masters during this
time.
1945 was a horrific year for karate and for Okinawa in general. The
"Battle of Okinawa" was fought and Okinawa was relentlessly pounded by
U.S. artillery and occupied by U.S. troops. The island where karate
originated was caught between the United States and Japan near the end of
the Second World War. Best estimates coming from Okinawa after the war
state that approximately 60,000 civilians were killed during the 82 days
of fighting. The time after the battle was no less forgiving and many died
of starvation and disease, including many karate masters and their
students. Hanashiro Chomo was one of the unfortunate victims of this time.
References:
Belote, James H. and William M. Belote, "Typhoon of Steel: The Battle
for Okinawa", Harper and Row, 1970
"Bible of Karate - Bubishi", Charles E. Tuttle, fourth printing 1997.
Translated with commentary by Patrick McCarthy.
Bishop, Mark: "Okinawan Karate - Teachers, Styles and Secret
Techniques", A&C Black Ltd. London, 1989.
Higashi, Shane: "Chito Ryu Karate", Canadian Chito Ryu Karate Do
Association, 1984.
Sells, John: "Unante, the Secrets of Karate", John Sells and Hawley
Publications, 1996.
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