Shuri-ry? (???) karate, is an eclectic martial arts system developed by Robert Trias (1923-1989), the first person to teach karate in the mainland United States, who opened the first dojo in 1946 in Phoenix, Arizona. Later in 1948 he formed the first karate association in the U.S., the United States Karate Association (USKA). The USKA became one of the largest karate associations in the country; its membership included almost all of the early top karate instructors. The style of Shuri-ry? is taught in the United States, parts of Europe, and South America.
Maps, Directions, and Place Reviews
History
Shuri-ry? is a style that has a lineage coming from a variety of sources, including Shuri-te karate. Other influences include Naha-te karate and Xing Yi (Hsing-Yi) Kung Fu.
Trias was first introduced to karate while in the Navy during World War II, when he was stationed in the Solomon Islands. In 1942 Robert Trias met T'ung Gee Hsing and began training with him. Hsing practiced the Chinese system of Xingyiquan and had reportedly cross-trained with Motobu Ch?ki in the Okinawan village of Kume Mura several years previously. Later Trias reportedly studied with Hoy Yuan Ping in Singapore in 1944. In addition to these teachers, Trias learned from other martial art teachers, such as Yajui Yamada (judo), Gogen Yamaguchi (G?j?-ry?), Roy Oshiro (G?j?-ry?), Yasuhiro Konishi, Makoto Gima (Shotokan, Shit?-ry?), and several others. Both Konishi and Gima served as mentors to Trias instead of in a formal teacher-student relationship.
Konishi, a prominent student of Gichin Funakoshi, Choki Motobu, and Kenwa Mabuni, recognized and countersigned Trias's promotion certificate to 9th Dan by the USKA in the 1960s.
Gima was a prominent student of Funakoshi and he recognized Trias as 10th Dan in 1983, reaffirming Trias as style head for Shuri-ry?.
Okinawan Shuri Ryu Karate Video
Techniques
In addition to the punches, blocks, and kicks of karate, Shuri-ry? also incorporates joint locks, take-downs and throws, and kobud? (traditional weapons). Several senior sensei also hold high ranks in jujitsu and judo.
Shuri-ry? also has several short combinations. These include: 26 ippon (ippon kumite kata), which are performed to develop form and power; 10 taezu (taezu naru waza) which are performed to develop speed and fluidity; 30 kihon which are performed to develop fighting technique; eight sen-te motions; and seven kogeki-ho to develop attacking and retreating.
In addition, there are training exercises including form sparring (kata kumite), focus stance sparring (kime dachi kumite), free exercise (jiy? und?), and free sparring (jiy? kumite).
Forms
Shuri-ry? has three form exercises called Taikyoku Shodan, Nidan, and Sandan to prepare the student to learn the 15 core forms (kata):
- Wonsu"
- Anaku
- Naihanchi Sh? (Tekki Shodan)
- Empi Sh? (Wanshu)
- Sanchin
- Tsue Sho No Kon
- Bassai Dai
- Go Pei Sh?
- Dan Enn Sh?
- Naihanchi Ni (Tekki Nidan)
- Nan Dan sh? (Nij?shiho / Niseishi)
- Kank? Sh? (Kusanku Sh?)
- Tekatana No Sai
- Naihanchi San (Tekki Sandan)
- Ten Sh?
Besides these forms, there exist numerous variations of Sanchin and Tensh?. Also, the senior sensei of Shuri-ry? also teach several other forms such as Shudo So and Hakutsuru Shodan, Nidan, Sandan, and Yondan.
Many of the above kata emphasize the use of various animal forms, and the definitions are often reflective of this. For example, Wunsu (Strong Arm Dumping Form or Dragon Boy Dumping Form) uses the tiger form, Anaku refers to a swallow pivoting on a beach, Empisho (First Elbow Form) refers to the flying swallow, and Go Pei Sho refers to a tearing peacock. Some kata will emphasize multiple animal forms, such as Dan Enn Sho, where ten animals are emulated. Also, there are 15 animal body and fist form exercises.
Ranks
The Shuri-ry? style, like most systems of the martial arts, uses a belt system to designate rank. The appropriate rank is awarded when the student demonstrates a certain level of proficiency when performing the required techniques, kata, etc. The ranking system as spelled out in "The Pinnacle of Karate" by Trias is as follows:
- White (hachikyu)
- Yellow (shichikyu)
- Blue (rokyu)
- Green (gokyu)
- Purple (yonkyu)
- Brown (sankyu, nikyu, ikkyu)
- Black (shodan through judan)
At each rank, the student must also pass a rigorous physical requirement before performing the technical requirements. Running one or two miles (up to green = 1 mile, purple and beyond = 2 miles), lifting 10 or 15 lb weights 75 times over the head (depending on gender), performing 500-1000 front kicks, and various hand technique exercises are commonly used.
Identifying features
One characteristic feature of Shuri-ry? is the use of the Shuri fist, in lieu of a standard fist. Instead of curling the index finger when making the fist, the upper half of the index finger is laid flat against the palm, with the thumb curled around the index finger and pushing down between the first and second joints, resulting in a tighter fist and better alignment of the ulna and radius bones with the first two knuckles of the fist.
Another feature of Shuri-ry? is the position of the thumb of the knife hand strike or block. The thumb and forefinger form a "j" so that the hand may be used in a variety of techniques (ridgehand, spearhand, open-hand throat strikes, etc.) without changing the thumb position.
A feature seen in katas: when the next move is to be done, the head snaps in the direction of the attacker before anything else.
The Dojo Kun used by the style of Shuri-ry? remains in its intact form, as originally penned by Trias:
- I shall conduct myself in a manner which will reflect credit upon myself and society.
- I shall be loyal to my school and to the art it teaches.
- I shall be honest and exercise integrity with the purpose of developing cooperation and trust with my fellow karate-ka and my teachers.
- I shall exercise restraint in the use of my karate knowledge, employing it only in fair competition or in defense of my life, my family, or my country.
Chief instructors and senior sensei
Prior to 1989, Trias had designated 9 Chief Instructors and 2 assistant Chief Instructors (Wendi Dragonfire and Milt Calandar) of the Shuri-ry? system to perpetuate Shuri-ry? after his death; Roberta Trias-Kelley, John Pachivas, Robert Bowles, the late Ridgely Abele, Pete Rabino, Michael Awad, Dale Benson, and Dirk Mosig,
Other individuals who were designated Chief Instructors at one time but left Trias are Victor Moore, Phillip Koeppel (his senior student), James McLain, John Hutchcroft, and Randy Holman.
Traditionally, a karate system was owned by the family of the founder. Thus, upon Trias' death in 1989, his daughter, Roberta Trias-Kelley, inherited the Shuri-ry? system as style head. Dirk Mosig followed her leadership. Eventually three factions developed from the Shuri-ry? style.
In 1995 John Pachivas appointed Robert Bowles as style head of Shuri-ry?. Bowles founded the International Shuri-ry? Association (ISA) with the following Chief Instructors as Executive Directors: John Pachivas, Ridgely Abele, Pete Rabino, Michael Awad, and Dale Benson. Since then, the International Shuri-ry? Association under Robert Bowles has become the largest organization of Shuri-ry? stylists and has appointed more Chief Instructors and more Assistant Chief Instructors for the ISA. Additionally prior to his death in 2000, John Pachivas passed on his American Shorei/Shorin Karate lineage to Jerry Piddington.
Currently, there appears to be four strains of Shuri-ry? each, respectively, centering on Roberta Trias-Kelley, Robert Bowles, Victor Moore and James McClain
The instructors below are either spelled out to be Chief Instructors in "The Pinnacle of Karate" or affiliated with the ISA.
Chief Instructors
- Roberta Trias-Kelley, 10th Dan, Arizona
- Victor Moore, 10th Dan, North Carolina
- John Pachivas (deceased), 10th Dan, Florida
- * Robert Bowles, 10th Dan, Indiana
- Ridgely Abele (deceased), 9th Dan, South Carolina
- Pete Rabino, 9th Dan, California
- Dale Benson, 9th Dan, Arizona
- Michael Awad, 8th Dan, Ohio
- Dirk Mosig (deceased), 8th Dan, Nebraska
- Joseph W. Walker, 8th Dan, Texas
- Vitus Bilking, 8th Dan, Denmark
- George Sheridan, Jr., 8th Dan, Indiana
- Tony Bisanz, 8th Dan, Arizona
- Dennis Wagner (deceased), 8th Dan, Ohio
- Sandra Bowles, 8th Dan, Michigan
- Glenn Wallace, 7th Dan, Indiana
- Lon Bradfield, 7th Dan, Colorado
- Niels Larsen, 7th Dan, Denmark
- Joey Johnston, 5th Dan, Illinois
- Thomas Boyajian Jr, 5th Dan, Ohio
Assistant Chief Instructors
- Wendi Dragonfire, 9th Dan
- John Linebarger, 7th Dan, Arizona
- Gustavo Lugo 6th Dan Florida
- Rick Scoppe, 7th Dan North Carolina
- Todd Sullivan, 6th Dan, Indiana
- John Venson, 9th Dan, Chicago, IL
- Donna Judge, 8th Dan, Florida
- Luis Lugo, 6th Dan, Florida
- Joe Pounder, 6th Dan, Wisconsin
International Shuri-ry? Association Council members
- Tony Bisanz, 8th Dan, Arizona
- Sandra Bowles, 8th Dan, Indiana
- Milt Calander, 8th Dan, Arizona
- John Linebarger, 7th Dan, Arizona
- Joseph W. Walker, 8th Dan, Texas
- Rodolpho Rodriguez, 6th Dan, Venezuela
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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