Tatsuo Shimabuku the fonder of Isshinryu karate was born at the turn of the last century
around 1908. A small man in stature by American standards, Shimabuku was only 5’2”
and weighted about 125 pounds. At the age of six, Shimabuku went to his uncle for
lessons in Shuri-te karate. His uncle refused his request and put the young boy to work
performing tasks such as sweeping, cleaning, and gardening around the dojo. For two
years he walked six miles to his uncle’s dojo only to be refused and put to work. When
Shimabuku was eight his uncle accepted him as a student and he began his study of
Shuri-te, which later became know as Shorin-ryu karate. His uncle later introduced him
to Chotoku Kyan A well know Shuri-ti instructor. Kyan instructed Shimabuku in many of
the traditional katas like Seisan, Naihanchi, Wansu, Chinto, and Kusanku. After
studying with Chotoku Kyan for many years, Shimabuku began to study Goju-ryu karate
with the world famous Chojun Miyagi. This is where he learned the katas Seiuchin and
Sanchin. The exact dates he studied under Miyagi are unknown but it was somewhere
during this period when Shimabuku began his study of Kobudo under Taira Shinken.
During the Second World War many Okinawans were forced into military duty.
Shimabuku did not support the war, and rather than compromise his morals, he fled. To
end his life as a fugitive, Shimabuku made a deal with the Japanese. In exchange for his
teaching them karate, Shimabuku was allowed to keep his freedom. After the war
Shimabuku began teaching his own form of karate. It was a blend of both Goju-ryu and
Shorin-ryu karate, taking what he thought to be the best of both forms and Isshinryu
karate was born. By the early 1950’s he again began teaching publicly, but this time
things were different. There were thousands of American troops stationed on Okinawa,
and it was during this time when Shimabuku gained notoriety among the Americans at a
karate demonstration. Shimabuku was employed by the military to teach local service
men, some of which were Don Nagle, Steve Armstrong, Harold Long, and Clarence Ewing.
