Shinjo Choken

Shinjo Choken is a “Dai Jo” or an important figure in Shorin Ryu’s history.  He is one of the earliest known practitioners of Shuri-Te.  He was active in the late 1600’s and early 1700’s.  It has been handed down that after Shinjo Choken another martial artist by the name of Tode Sakugawa (1733-1815) became prominent in Okinawa.  In fact,  he is considered to be the first true teacher of Okinawan Karate.  Sakugawa’s martial art was a mixture of Shuri-Te and Chinese Kenpo.