Shorin Ryu

Towards the end of the19th century Shuri-te and Tomari-te were combined subsumed to form Shorin ryu. Shorin Ryu consists of four main branches: Matsubayashi-Ryu (pine forest style), Shobayashi-Ryu (small forest style), Kobayashi-Ryu (young forest style), and Matsumrua Orthodox. Most of the name changes in Shorin-Ryu are a result of teachers developeing their own styles, students who have renamed styles after their instructors, and styles renamed as tributes to honor famous masters of the past.

Shorin Ryu is said to have a natural flow, devoid of unbalanced stances or unnatural breathing patterns. It has unique patterns of coiling and of relaxing power, allowing easier concentration of force and the attainment of fast actions.

There are at least 17 forms of the Shorin-Ryu style. It is thought that the Koybayashi and Shobayashi systems remain unchanged from the original Shorin-Ryu style.

Here are some of the styles of Shorin Ryu:

Shido-Hido-Kan

Shobayashi (small forest)

Kobayashi (young forest)

Matsubayashi (pine forest)

Matsumura Orthodox Shorin-Ryu

My lineage would include:

Bushi Matsumura 1797-1889 (Naihanchi’s Founder)

Itosu 1831-1915

Chataku Kyan 1870-1945

Arakaki

Shimbaku