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Hohan Soken Shinshii
(May 25, 1889-Nov 30, 1982)
Soken Hohan was born and lived in Gaja Village, Nishihara City,
Okinawa prefecture during the 24th year of Meiji. This was better
known as the Meiji Restoration, a period when great social and
political changes occurred in Okinawa and Japan. The centuries old
feudal system evolved into modern social and political systems due
to
contact and trade agreements with Europe. The samurai class of
nobility suddenly found themselves having to take on menial farming
and merchant tasks alongside the common peasants they once protected
and ruled. In addition, the old samurai's were forced to abandon
many
of the old traditions, such as cutting off their topknot's, the
growth of hair on top of their heads that distinguished them as
honored nobility, and the ability to carry their swords in
public.
Since the advent of guns from Europe meant that average citizens
could be drafted and quickly trained to fulfill the military needs
in
European styled armies, the "bushi" (samurai) classes of warriors
were no longer needed. There are stories of samurai's, such as
Matsumura Nabe, taking up lowly jobs such as rickshaw drivers just
in
order to survive. Still they performed these tasks with the dignity
and tenacity befitting their samurai heritage.
Matsumura Nabe was the grandson of the famous samurai Kayo Sokon
(Bushi) Matsumura, the chief bodyguard of the king of Okinawa, and
head trainer of the Okinawan military. Matsumura Sokon, since his
son
had died in battle, had chosen Nabe to carry on the family art of
Uchinan Sui-de, better known as Shuri-Te. Thus Nabe was the second-generation inheritor of the family martial arts system. As Matsumura
Sokon's student, he probably also trained with karate greats such as
Itosu Ankoh and Azato Ankoh.
Nabe began looking for another family member to carry on the
Matsumura Uchinan Sui-di family tradition when, like his grandfather
Sokon Matsumura, Nabe's son had also died before the family Sui-di
tradition could be passed on. So his eye fell upon his sister's
young
son Soken Hohan, the only one of the family who expressed interest
in
learning and training in the old samurai ways.
Nabe kept a watchful eye on his nephew and when Soken was around 14
years old (around 1902 or 1903) Nabe, seeing his potential, told him
that if he could demonstrate the patience and discipline befitting
of
his Samurai heritage, he would train him in the family art of te.
Young Soken quickly accepted and Nabe began training him in the
fundamentals. About ten years later Nabe thought Soken was ready,
and
began teaching him the secretive Matsumura family system, which
was based on the Chinese martial art called White Crane (Hakutsuru).This made Hohan Soken the third generation inheritor of Matsumura
Uchinan Sui-di.
These were hard times for the Matsumura family, who now made a
living
by farming alongside the peasants they once ruled. So training for
the young Soken started early in the morning before going out to the fields, and then continued late into the night,
after the day's work had been done. Training was tough, and often
brutal in the tradition of the old samurai's. This training included
balance training on slick banana leaves and on different levels and
types of ground. Later kata's and sparring was done on more
dangerous
floating logs and small rafts.
Soken also trained in Kobujutsu under an old samurai named Komesu
Ushi no Tanmei, of the city of Nishihara. Komesu Ushi was also well
versed in Shuri Ryu due to his training under Sokon Matsumura. Young
Soken's kobudo training, especially with a bo, was taught to him by
Tsueken Mataka, the developer of the now famous Tsueken no Bo kata.
Around 1922 Hohan Soken, along with Mabuni Kenwa (founder of Shito
Ryu), Taira Shinken (the famous kobudo master), Chibana Chosin
(founder of Kobayashi Shorin Ryu), Moden Yabiku founder of Ryuku
Kobujutsu Kenkyu-Kai), a Chinese tea merchant named Wu Hsein Kuei,
better known as Gokenki, the White Crane Kung Fu master, and a
karate
master called Kanamude formed the Genku Ki dojo to train and trade
techniques. It should be noted that several of these noted masters
had trained directly under Itosu Ankoh. It is said that a
disagreement with Master Kanamude was one of the reasons that Hohan
Soken had decided to go to Argentina. Around this time Soken Hohan
had developed a close friendship with a famous Okinawan karate
master, Kyan Chotoku.
Between 1919 and 1924 Soken Hohan left Okinawa to go to Negro,
Argentina to find his fortune. Some say that his friend, Kyan
Chotoku, had planned on going with him, but at the last minute had
decided to stay in Okinawa. Soken Hohan stayed in Argentina all
through WWII, marrying, having children and working in a clothes
cleaning business, as well as becoming a photographer. He also learned and became fluent in the Spanish language. It is reported
that he did teach karate during this time, even performing several
karate demonstrations. It is said that he only trained 4 students,
named Kana, Mitake, Higa and Misugi, (first names unknown) all now
deceased.
Hohan Soken told two stories about his departure from Okinawa, and
his life in Argentina. The first occurred as he was stepping onto
the
gangplank going onto the boat. A large wave came across the
gangplank, almost washing him overboard. Since Okinawan waters are
usually full of very sharp coral, combined with the fact that Soken
could not swim, this quickly became a life-threatening event,
however the Hakutsuru (White Crane) balance training, including all of
the times he practiced kata and sparring while standing on a
floating
log or raft, allowed him to catch his balance, thereby saving his
life.
The other story happened while he was living in Argentina.
Apparently
during a demonstration one of his students brought him a piece of
wood to break. Noticing the grain of the wood, Soken
sensei positioned the wood to break it with a shuto (karate chop).Instead of the wood breaking, Soken Sensei's hand split open from
his
little finger to his wrist. After a closer inspection he discovered that the piece of wood he was attempting to break was
ironwood, one of the densest of all woods. From that point on, he
always inspected any wood he was going to break to make sure it
wasn't ironwood. These two stories came from an audio interview
owned
by Charles Garrett. In the interview, he also mentions he used to
work out and practice along with Gichin Funakoshi, the founder of
Shotokan, and who is often called "the father of Japanese Karate".
This would mean that Hohan Soken probably had contact with, or was
influenced by both Itosu Ankoh, and Azato Ankoh – both students
of
Matsumura Sokon.
He returned to Okinawa thirty years later, in 1952, to discover that
karate had greatly changed, and that his friend Kyan Chotoku had
died
of starvation right after the end of WWII. Karate in Okinawa had
changed to such an extent that even the kanji of the name Kara-Te
changed from meaning "Chinese Hand" to "Empty Hand". In addition,
the
old hard training way he had been taught as a youth had been
replaced
with a softer, more sports oriented style of karate. He refused to
change his training methods, and so he quickly became known as one
of
the last of the old masters. In fact, in his later years he became
known, and was even featured in "Ripley's Believe it or Not" as
the "last Samurai" because he was the last survivor of the
generation
that was born into the Samurai (Bushi) class of warriors who had
been
trained in the old samurai
methods of karate.
Originally, when he came back from Argentina, he called his
system "Machimura (Uchinan) Sui-di" (Matsumura Shuri-Te), but in
1956
he officially changed the name to "Shorin Ryu Matsumura Seito
(Orthodox) Karate-Do". Although there are many very good styles that
have roots going to Matsumura Sokon, Shorin Ryu Matsumura Seito
Karate-Do as taught by Soken Hohan is the one that has remained
closest to the teachings of Matsumura Sokon. Soken Hohan himself
said: (taken in part from an interview by Ernest Estrada) "I should
also state that Matsumura Orthodox is not the only authentic Shorin
Ryu style. This style, my style, was passed on from Matsumura Sokon
to my uncle, Nabe-tanmei but Nabe-tanmei was not Bushi Matsumura's
only student. Matsumura had a good dozen or so dedicated students.
Each one learned his methods and then expanded on them. My uncle
only
learned from Bushi Matsumura and only taught me what he had learned.
So, it can be said that it is an "old version" with no updates. By
studying my Matsumura Orthodox you walk back into ancient times when
karate was more forceful and challenging."
In 1961 the Okinawa Kobudo Kyokai recognized Hohan Soken for his
contributions to the Okinawan kobudo arts by formally awarding him a
master's rank. In 1967 the Okinawa Karate Kobudo Renmei also
formally
recognized and presented to Hohan Soken another mastersgrade in both karate and kobudo. He became a much sought
after "Master of Teachers" in Okinawa, with students that read as
a "who's who" in the world of karate today, including the likes of
Arakaki Seiki, Nishihira Kosei, Kuda Yuichi, Kise Fusei , Toma
Seiki,
Nakazato Hideo, Higa Mitake, and of course Inoue Mitsuo and Akamine
Yoshimatsu. It was also in the very early 1960's that he began to
teach Americans, mostly American servicemen introduced to him by one
of his top students, Fusei Kise.
It was also during this time that he became president of the "All
Okinawa Kobujutsu Association", and was heavily involved in the
various activities of the "Ryukyu Historical Society" whose goal was
to preserve the roots and customs of the Okinawan people. In
addition, he became involved with many of the karate organizations
in
Okinawa such as the "All Japan Karate-Do League" and the "All
Okinawa
Karate Kobudo", as well as the "Seishinkan" which later became
the "All Okinawan Shorin Ryu Kenshinkan Karate & Kobudo Federation"
and his own "Shorin Ryu Matsumura Orthodox Karate-do Association
(SMOKA)" and "Okinawan Karate Federation (OKF)".
Soken Hohan formally retired from teaching in 1979 leaving several
of his top students to carry on his teachings and traditions, He
still on occasion acted as consultant to several of his top
students. Around 1980 he allowed Inoue Mitsuo to form the "Okinawa
Shorin Ryu Matsumura Seito Karate Do Hozon Kai".
Soken Hohan died on November 30, 1982 at the age of 93. According to
his obituary, Arakaki Seiki was listed as Matsumura Seito's
representative at his funeral. But his style and traditions
probably were never passed down to any one person. Instead, he
passed
different parts of his style to all of his students. It has been
surmised by many who knew him that he may have done this so that all
of his students would have to come together in harmony in order to
get his entire system.
Soken, as with Nabe, had 2 wives. One was from Argentina, the other
from Okinawa. None of his sons took an interest in their father's
tradition. One of Soken's Sensei's sons by his first wife followed
Soken Sensei back to Okinawa and had kept Soken Sensei's ashes. When
that
son recently passed away, Soken Sensei's ashes returned to Argentina
were, in accordance with Okinawan custom, they were left in the care
of the son's Argentinean wife and children. Having O'sensei's ashes
in Argentina, and his grave and memorial in Okinawa is fitting for a
man with such deep ties in both places.
If one wishes to pay respect to Soken O'sensei, we at the Hozon Kai
join with the Shorin
Ryu Matsumura Seito Suiken Bugei Kai in asking that one do so at the
grave and memorial in Okinawa to avoid causing the deep offense
inherent in trying to make a Grace-land style pilgrimage to
Argentina.
Our thanks to all who assisted in, or who provided information for
the writing of this biography, in particular the direct students of
O'sensei Soken who through the years have generously provided
information through their gracious sharing of their martial arts
experience.
Bibliography (in part):
• "Interview with Hohan Soken"; Article by Ernest Estrada
• "The White Swan of Hohan Soken; Article by Don Lucas; Black
Belt Magazine
• "The Bible of Karate - Bubishi"; by Patrick McCarthy
• "Okinawa Island of Karate"; Video by George Alexander
• "Hohan Soken – The Life of a Grandmaster"; Video by George
Alexander
• "Audio interview of Hohan Soken"; Owned by Charles D.
Garrett II
• Articles found on the Shorinryu Matsumura Seito Suiken Bugei
Kai website (by permission)
• "Personal discussions with direct students of Hohan Soken";
Ron van de Sandt
• And a variety of articles, websites and books collected
throughout the years.
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