Tode Sakugawa
In 1756, Sakugawa became
a student of the Chinese military envoy Kusanku (also Kushanku).
Kusanku was a highly skilled Kenpo master and famous for his
fighting ability. Kusanku did many things which influenced
Shuri-Te’s and ultimately Shorin-Ryu’s development.
He taught many native Okinawans including Chatan Yara and
Shionja of Shuri. He brought some of his students from
China to Okinawa and they spread the Chinese style on Okinawa. In
addition, it is reported that Kusanku introduced a maneuver
whereby the closed fist was held in a chambered or ready position along
the side of the torso (hikite) and then from this position a
punch was thrown, corkscrewing it in karate fashion, toward
the intended target. Kusanku is also credited with the
introduction of a type of kumite or sparring to Okinawan karate.
This kumite was referred to as Kumiai Jutsu or fighting
technique.
After his training with Kusanku,
Sakugawa became known as an expert in the Chinese style of fighting
called Tode. This is the basis for his nickname Tode
(Chinese hand) Sakugawa. He is credited with being the
first Okinawan Karate teacher. The reasoning behind this is that
Sakugawa is said to have combined the techniques of Chinese style
Kenpo (Tode) with the native Okinawan techniques of Shuri-Te
and thereby formed the basis of a truly Okinawan Karate. He has
three students who distinguished themselves as excellent martial
artists. They were Bushi Ukuda, Macabe Chokun and
Bushi Matsumoto of Urazoe. However, his last and
most famous student was Bushi Matsumura (1797-1889).