Kaishinkan Leadership

Our journey begins with the origins of Okinawan Karate. We are dedicated to preserving and carrying forward our authentic Okinawan karate lineage, honoring the wisdom and teachings of those who have gone before us and ensuring that their knowledge continues to be passed from generation to generation through disciplined practitioners around the world.

Our lineage follows one of the principal traditions of Okinawan Shuri-te, tracing through:

Sokon “Bushi” Matsumura → Ankō Itosu → Chōshin Chibana → Shūgorō Nakazato

Ankō Itosu (1830s–1915/16) was one of the most influential teachers of Shuri-te. Among his many students was Chōshin Chibana (1885–1969), who began training under Itosu around 1899. Chibana devoted his life to preserving and developing his teacher's Shuri-te tradition. In the early twentieth century, he established his own teaching tradition and adopted the name Shōrin-ryū, becoming one of the foremost custodians of Itosu's karate.

Shūgorō Nakazato began his formal karate training in Osaka in 1935 under Seiichi Iju (Ishu), a student of Shinpan Shiroma, giving Nakazato an additional connection to the Shuri-te tradition. During these formative years, he also studied Okinawan kobudō, including bōjutsu.

Following World War II, Nakazato returned to Okinawa. In 1946, he began training directly under Chōshin Chibana, establishing a close relationship with his teacher. Nakazato assisted Chibana in establishing the Dai Ichi Dōjō in Naha and became one of his senior students and assistants.

In January 1954, Chibana awarded Nakazato his Shihan Menkyojo, appointing him as Shihan-dai, or senior assistant. Nakazato continued to teach, develop, and transmit the principles of Chibana's Shōrin-ryū while establishing his own dōjō and becoming one of the leading practitioners of Okinawan Shōrin-ryū.

In 1967, Chibana and the Okinawa Shōrin-ryū Karate-dō Kyōkai promoted Nakazato to 9th Dan and Hanshi, recognizing his dedication, technical ability, and contributions to the preservation and transmission of Shōrin-ryū.

When Chōshin Chibana passed away in February 1969, Shūgorō Nakazato became one of the principal senior teachers responsible for carrying forward the Shōrin-ryū tradition. Through Nakazato and his students, the teachings of Chibana—and ultimately the Shuri-te tradition of Itosu and Matsumura—continued to spread throughout Okinawa, Japan, and the world.

We regard this lineage not simply as a succession of names and ranks, but as a responsibility: to preserve what was entrusted to us, to deepen our understanding through continued study, and to pass these teachings forward with integrity for those who will follow.

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