Investigations into the history of karate

Yabu Kentsū, who was born in 1866, died in 1937. The sympathy was great especially in the Shuri district and among students and teachers of the Okinawa Normal School. Beside several obituaries which were published following his death, the school publication Ryūtan in 1938 prepared a lengthy article which extensively remembered Yabu’s life and work. In it, pupils, teachers and companions expressed their condolences in personal messages.

Remarkably, Hanashiro Chōmo 花城長茂 (1869–1945), of whom hardly any personal quotes have been left for posterity, dedicated a few words to the memory of his old military colleague and friend: “Late lieutenant Yabu Kentsū was an old friend of mine and through the middle school, Rikugun Kyōdōdan and the army we always acted collaboratively. He was fortitude, indomitable, righteous, strong-willed and he was a man of action. In early Meiji period, unlike other prefectures, there was no military service in Okinawa. So, mainland Japanese looked down upon Okinawans and tended to treat us like colonial people. Yabu’s belief was that in order to develop and prosper Okinawa, Okinawans should also enlist in the military service and thus do the national duty then there will be no segregation. In 1920, the special system in Okinawa was removed and full autonomy was realized owing no doubt to our service somewhat. His body and arms were strong. He was a pupil of Matsumura, the great master of karate and then Yabu taught at the Normal School, the original place of Okinawan education. Besides karate, Yabu promoted also the original Okinawan sumō wrestling.“

The translation above was provided by Yabu Kenjirō, Kentsū’s grandson, in 2000 and is shared with kind permission.