"Bushi" Sokon Matsumura and "Anko" Itosu Yasutsune both played major roles in the development and promotion of Shorin Ryu Karate. However, their roles were quite different. To use an analogy, Matsumura built the car and Itosu drove it.
Matsumura is the founder of Shorin Ryu, and his family style of "White Crane". He was taught very little kata, possibly only four, the rest he developed himself. He learned from many sources. Sakugawa, Iwah, Ason, Kusanku, Chinto and Yanomine Chiru are just a few. Matsumura's main interest was to learn and develope a style.
Matsumura was a working man. He was the body guard to the King. As the Kings body guard, he had to train the guards and owned the unofficial tittle as the most feared Okinawan of his time. Being the representative of the King he had to uphold this reputation constantly. Matsumura also faced the possibility of termination of his employment if he, or his actions, reflected poorly on the King.
The "Bushi" had great presence of mind. He developed this state so well because he balanced his mental, physical and spiritual training at all times.
The balance of his body, mind and spirit is shown by the story of his altercation with Uehara the Master and pipe engraver.
Uehara challenged Matsumura, therefore it was Matsumura who would set the time and place. Know your enemy and know thyself, must have been his thinking, as he chose a grave yard in the early morning hours. This site was chosen because Matsumura made it his business to know the main weaknesses of all knowledgeable Masters on the Island. Uehara's was that he feared ghosts, very common in that era of Okinawan history.
Uehara arrived early, planning to examine the terrain, only to find Matsumura already there. Sokon was a great strategist. Placing his back to the rising sun and engulfed in the early morning fog, Matsumura bellowed the words, UEHARA, ARE YOU READY? As the startled pipe engraver spun around too quickly to maintain his balance, he stumbles, finally regaining his footing faces Matsumura. His eyes bulged widely at the horrifying sight before him. Visions of battling the gods and demons raced through the terrified Uehara, his mind froze. Uehara fell before the Master crying in fear and begged his forgiveness. Not only did the Great Matsumura forgive his challenger, he also agreed to teach him the true way.
Matsumura won the battle without a single punch thrown. Defeating the enemy in their own minds is the ultimate mastery of the art. This shows how the 'Founders' body, mind and spirit were dominant while working together and why he was so feared that he needn't even need throw a punch to defeat his enemy.
In the early years, many doubted that he could defeat Yanomine Chiru, his wife to be, in a real match. He was about to show all who were interested that he would not be beat by a girl.
One day the young warrior followed Yanomine while on route in her daily routines. Suddenly he leapt out at her with full force, the result was instant. He woke tied to a tree and partially naked. An astonished passerby recognized the warriors predicament and freed him never uttering as much as a peep and left quietly.
Matsumura returned home, humiliated.
The next day he sought the advice of his Sensei and asked Sakugawa about his problem of not having to resort to deadly blows simply to prove a point. Besides it was obvious that these participants were fated for marriage. The advice given turned out to be the correct strategy for this particular event. The next time Matsumura and Yanomine were matched in a Shiai, he used his teachers advice that " women will go to great lengths to protect the breasts as they are a highly endangered area and very sensitive", at the proper moment Matsumura fired a deadly blow towards Yanamine's breasts, she had no choice but to react, when she covered up Matsumura wrapped his arms around her and threw her to the ground. Breathless Yanomine recovered. At home she congratulated him on learning from his past mistakes. A challenger is a challenger not from where it comes. They are all equally dangerous.
Nomura challenged Matsumura, however a date was not set. Nomura hoped as time passed by that Matsumura would forget about it and he could use the element of surprise to his advantage. After some time, Nomura invited Matsumura over to play the Samisen (a stringed musical instrument), both were accomplished musicians. At this point he put Matsumura in a compromising position and after a time attacked him. Matsumura evaded his blow and countered with a shot that would have killed Nomura. This will show the presence of mind once more even when it appears his guard is down.
One day the King learned of a sailor shipwrecked on the island. The sailor was stealing food and clothing from the villagers. The King ordered Matsumura to kill the vagrant. Matsumura was unable to catch the man. He returned to the village and told the King that he had taken care of the matter and to worry not. Matsumura later went back to the shore where he had last seen the stranger and made friends with him after giving him food and clothing for his own. He declared his name as "Chinto" later to be know as an icon of the martial arts world. He agreed to teach Matsumura and that is how the world renown Chinto Kata was born. This also shows that Matsumura's drive to learn and develope a style even took precedence over orders from the King.
Matsumura did not have to defeat all of his opponents as demonstrated in these examples. Not only could this be because of the fear of losing his job, but also Matsumura "was" Shorin Ryu and he didn't feel he had to prove it's worthiness. He seemed much more interested in learning not in what others were thinking. Shorin Ryu was the Island Art on the surface, however, we now know that the "true" Okinawan Art as it was called was, 'The White Crane'. The White Crane of Matsumura's was forbidden to be shown to outsiders. This was a strictly kept secret. Giving it up could mean ones death at family hands, or even worse, having to face Matsumura himself.
Itosu was wealthy. He did not have to work as a result, he could train all the time. This he did faithfully. He also did not have to deal with any repercussions of his altercations as Matsumura did. Itosu felt it was his duty to defend Shorin Ryu. Unlike Matsumura who was feared and who founded the style, Itosu felt he had to prove shorin Ryu worked. It was not only Matsumura that people feared.
When Itosu was young, his father would tie him to a tree and would poke him with a stick until his son became enraged. At that time he would encourage his son by simply stopping the taunt. This was done to develop fighting spirit. Itosu was brought to Matsumura by his father who felt he would be his sons best mentor. Itosu became Matsumura's best student. He was the most loyal and turned out to be the best teacher in Shorin Ryu, producing many Masters.
Itosu fought all the time. It was his duty and role to defend and prove the Shorin style. It was Itosu who provided Shorin Ryu legitimacy in the eyes of the people. Everyone feared Matsumura the "Man". They did not fear Shorin until Itosu came along and proved it. It is Itosu who made Matsumura what he is. Without the legitimacy provided by Itosu, Matsumura would have been revered in history as a "thug" or "tough"
Itosu heard rumours that in Naha people were discrediting him and Shorin Ryu. Itosu left immediately for Naha, strode up to the 'Ude Kake She' or challenge rock, one only need to lean on the rock in the centre of town to signify the will to challenge the local champion, and slapped it. Merchants began to close up shop and all the towns people gathered around to form the makeshift arena. The scene was set. The match was cut short as Itosu snapped the champions arm with a crashing shuto to the forearm. All fell silent, this could not be. The great Tomoyose had been defeated by a man from Shuri. Offering a further challenge to anyone from Naha who thought Shorin Ryu was not worthy,he faced many takers and defeated them all. Thinkers of the time began the recognition of Shorin as the "Deadly Beast as opposed to Matsumura merely being tough.
Itosu was once jumped by three bandits, one with a Bo, one with a Sai and one unarmed. He remembered Matsumura's lesson ... you must first dispose of the weapon that can be thrown. Taking advantage of the overcast night, Itosu leaped up into a tree just as the clouds darkened the area and the bandit with the Sai became confused, Itosu came down on him with full force and rendered the assailant unconscious and without any remorse broke the attackers neck with a sudden twist. Turning quickly he fired the Sai right on target and it was deeply embedded into the Bo wielders chest, he died instantly. The third seeing that three trained in the art of war could not defeat Itosu alone, and unarmed, fled for his life and lived, unlike the others, to tell the tale. This historic tale has undoubtedly added to the credibility of the "prowess' of Shorin.
Itosu was responsible for the spreading of Shorin Ryu. He brought it into the elementary schools systems of Okinawa in 1902-07 as a formal exercise. He took it out of the back rooms and removed the shroud of secrecy around it. Itosu began to accept students on a formal basis. This meant that he could teach the general public if they so desired, the student no longer had to be brought to the Sensei in a formal manner.
There was one last challenge for Shorin Ryu, this time from all of Japan as they questioned, what is the better, their beloved Judo or the crude Shorin Ryu Karate of the quaint little island in the Ryu Kyus. The anxious crown was loud and enthusiastic. As the pride of all the Japanese there were sure this event was going to be a mere demonstration of how good Japanese Judo was by defeating the Okinawan's Karate. They questioned the significance of the encounter because of the Okinawan representative's advanced age of 75. Had it not been for Itosu's tremendous reputation the challenge may not have been pushed forward. The young Judoka tried to down play the age of the old Master by faking attacks and clowning around, suddenly the young Japanese lunged at Itosu looking to make short work of it. Kiaiii filled the air. There was a gasp from the mainland multitudes. A silence fell. When the dust settled the young champion policeman lay on the floor gasping for life giving air. Itosu had executed a perfect front punch into the solar plexus of their fallen hero. Leaning down he applied Shiatsu and returned the Judoka to normal breathing. Immediately after, Itosu turned to the gallery of students who came to witness the fight and said " Today you can see what Karate can do against the uninitiated. No one should ever use it unless there is no other recourse. Let todays match be a lesson that you will always remember."
Karate, as practiced today owes a lot to Itosu. He said, "Karate is a way of life, a means to achieve complete security and fearlessness." Karate is a matter of character and not a means to fight or for glory.
Itosu invented many Kata. It is generally accepted that those kata ending with "Sho" were formulated by him.
From the descriptions and stories, it is quite clear the differences between these two legendary men. Matsumura rarely needed to raise a hand to defeat his challenger. Itosu on the other hand, felt it was his duty to uphold the Shorin name and when challenged did prove beyond a doubt that Shorin Ryu worked. It was not necessarily Itosu who was challenged, it was the legitimacy of the style of Shorin Ryu that Matsumura invented. Itosu defended it, gave it legitimacy and promoted it to the world.
Matsumura built the car and Itosu drove it.
It is obvious that without the contributions of both men Shorin Ryu would not be as it is today.
G.Legacy/S.Dauphin
Resource: Legacy Shorin Ryu - Matsumura and Itosu