Investigations into the history of karate

Yabu Kentsū (1866–1937) is one of the most important figures in the development of modern karate. He was instructed in karate, the civil fighting arts of Ryūkyū, from a young age by Matsumura Sōkon (1809–1899) and Itosu Ankō (1831–1915). It is well known that Yabu voluntarily joined the Japanese Army in 1890. But it is not well known that his thoughts about those times had been fortunately preserved in an article by newspaper Ryūkyū Shimpō. Thanks to the wonderful support and work of Motobu Naoki I am very happy to present Yabu’s considerations for the first time in its entirety in English language.

The short paper Whenever Yabu fought, he always won. A short story about Yabu Kentsū’s military education in Ryūkyū Shimpō March 18, 1932 can be downloaded here.