In his day there was the local Ryukyuan hand-to-hand fighting method called 'Te' or 'Di' 手 (meaning 'hand') and there was the variations on Kung Fu brought over from China that had mixed with the local Di, this was called 'Toudi' 唐手 (meaning 'Chinese hand')
Sakugawa has learnt primarily from a local Okinawan master (Takahara) and a Chinese envoy (Kusanku). He was also sent as an envoy to Beijing five times.
His nickname was 'Toudi Sakugawa', as the Beijing martial arts that he taught were different from the southern Fujian boxing that influenced other forms of Di that was already being practiced in Okinawa.
He became the epitome of the fusion between the local and Chinese forms.
Sakugawa was famous for the introduction of Qigong (Ki development) and Qinna (grabbing vital points) into Ryukyu Budo.
His original surname was Teruya. The name Sakugawa comes from the island that he was awarded for his duties as an official scribe.
Today, Sakugawa is most well known for training the greatest Karateka who ever lived. When he was well into his late 70's and had all but retired, Sokon Matsumura became his last student.
It's believed that he died in Beijing and that Matsumura retrieved his remains and brought them back to Okinawa.
The following is a story about Sakugawa and his students, as told by Richard Kim in his book 'The Weaponless Warriors':
Karate, as it is today, is indebted to a man known as Toudi Sakugawa for a great many things. Among them are the Kushanku (Kanku) kata, the Sakugawa-No-Kun bo kata and the dojo kun or gym precept.
He was born in Shuri, Okinawa, March 5, 1733, and died August 17, 1815. When he was 17, his father returned critically ill from a rousting by bullies who had forced him to drink beyond human capacity. Dying, his father said, "Son, take a good look at me. I want you to promise me one thing. Take up the martial arts and don't be like your father. Don't ever let yourself be a subject of ridicule and abuse from bullies and men of that ilk."
After he buried his father, Sakugawa searched for a martial artist and finally heard about a monk named Takahara Peichin, who lived nearby in Akata village. He visited Takahara and explained his mission. Takahara listened to the boy and then said, "The martial arts are a lifetime study. It is not a matter of months or years. It is for life. The philosophical concept is centered around these principles: do, a road or way of life, ho, law, the performance of kata, and katsu, use of the kata in the actual fighting." Sakugawa went under the wing of Takahara, developed into one of his best students, and the years passed quickly.
One day, when he was 23 years old, he decided to visit Nakashima-Yukaku, which was famous for its gay quarters. While crossing a bridge near the Izumizaki inlet, he noticed an elegantly dressed Chinese fellow standing by the edge of the river, watching the reflection of the moon on the water. A sudden mischievous impulse came over Sakugawa. He wanted to push the stranger into the river as a prank. He stealthily crept towards the stranger and suddenly gave a strong push. The Chinese stranger spoke the word, "Danger!" in strongly accented Okinawan, turned and grabbed Sakugawa by the hand in an iron grip. "Now why did you do that?" the stranger asked. "Do you realize your prank could have resulted in some danger? What if I were some weakling unable to cope with this situation? You are very powerful and you should not play like this. The Okinawan people have been very kind to me and I will overlook this, but refrain from such pranks in the future."
Sakugawa was so ashamed he did not know what to say. At this moment a young man approached them and gave a jug of sake to the Chinese stranger. Turning to Sakugawa, the young man asked, "Are you not Sakugawa? I was not sure whether I had recognized you. What are you doing here?" "Do you know him?" the Chinese gentleman asked the young man, pointing to Sakugawa. "Yes," the young man said, "He is a well-known local karate student who shows great promise."
The Chinese gentleman peered intently at Sakugawa. "If you ever come to Kume-mura, ask for Kusanku and I will teach you not only the how, but also the why, of the martial arts." And pointing to the young man who had brought him the jug, he said, "He is Kitani-Yara, a student of mine who is helping me during my stay in this country."
Overwhelmed with emotion at this stroke of luck, Sakugawa could hardly wait to get back to his Sensei and tell him of this account. When he related his story, Takahara was also overjoyed and said, "Go to Kusanku and learn what you can. He is the most skillful of all the martial artists who have ever come from China. Fortune is smiling on you. When Kusanku returns to China, you are welcome to come back to this house. Now Hurry!" He followed his advice and stayed for six years with Kusanku.
At the age of 29, however, he received an urgent message from his sensei, Takahara, to come back to Shuri. He returned quickly and found his sensei seriously ill. The old man said, "The reason I called you back is because I want you to carry on karate the correct way. After my death, I want you to name yourself 'Toudi Sakugawa' and make the Okinawan people proud of you."
Two days later Takahara passed away. When Kusanku returned to China, Sakugawa returned to Shuri and carried on from where Takahara had left off. Without reservation, we can say that Sakugawa was the first teacher and master of the style that is commonly called true Okinawan Karate.
The true karate master is a general practitioner well versed in all aspects of the art, and not a specialist in only one aspect.
Specialists exist in all areas of the martial arts. The specialist thrives in his environment. He is a standout by virtue of his expertise in one particular aspect of his art.
In judo, there is the seoi nage specialist, in karate, the side kicker, etc., and the list could go on ad infinitum. In sports competition, some martial artists become champions. However, sports is a far cry from desperate combat.
The specialist often cannot distinguish the forest from the trees.
He has developed his particular technique, and it has worked for him. His perspective is shrouded by too much attention to a particular technique. He becomes a person who knows more and more about less and less.
Toudi Sakugawa had three students who were known as the 'Three Musketeers,' inseparable buddies named Okuda, Makabe and Matsumoto. They were his assistant instructors and were granted recognition by their admiring public.
Okuda was the specialist supreme. He was the 'one-punch' knockout artist and was aptly named "Iron Hand" Okuda. Villagers would say, "Okuda can kill a bull with one blow."
Whenever Okuda would visit a village, people would say, "Okuda is coming!" and an admiring throng would quickly gather around him.
Makabe was small. He was quick, clever and elusive in his movements. Legend has it that he moved as if borne on the wings of a bird. He was called "Bird Man" Makabe. People flocked around him also.
Among the three, Matsumoto was the general practitioner. He did all things well, mastered all the basics and had no one specialty. When the 'Three Musketeers' walked into town, no one flocked around him. He was not a specialist. Sometimes someone would inquire and say, "Who is that? What is his specialty? What can he do?" And the answer would always be, "Oh, him. He is a good teacher. Nothing special"?
One day a ship from China dropped anchor in the harbor of Naha, Okinawa.
On board was a ship's captain named Oshima-Kurytia who was a renowned fighter.
Oshima-Kuryu, in all his travels, had never been beaten, and he reveled in his prowess. As his ship lay at anchor, Oshima-Kuryu was thinking to himself, "I wonder how I can get someone to fight me? The people here know me and will not accept a challenge. I must come up with something."
One day an idea hit him. That night he went to the town tavern, picked a fight with a town tough and, after beating him, took his clothes as a sign of victory. Following his plan, he repeated the same procedure again and again. After a period of time, the people in Okinawa put in a strong complaint against a Chinese martial artist who took his victim's clothes after beating them.
The news came to the town of Shuri, and finally to Toudi Sakugawa, who also acted as the peace magistrate, a function of most karate masters in those days.
One night Toudi Sakugawa's best students, the 'Three Musketeers,' were walking along a mountain path at the edge of town when a large shadow loomed across their path.
They saw a huge person with clothes slung over his shoulder. Instinctively, they knew it was the man about whom they had heard.
Okuda said, "Halt! You there - are you the one who has caused all the commotion in the vicinity of Naha? If you are, turn yourself in or we will force you to do so."
Oshima-Kuryu slowly turned his head and said, "I'll turn myself in if I am beaten. Do you see these clothes? I have taken them from experts like yourselves."
Okuda charged like a bull and threw his famous punch, but Kuryu side-stepped. As hard as Okuda tried, he could not land his punch and finally, after he was winded, Kuryu knocked him down. Kuryu said, "Tomorrow night I shall be here at the same time."
The next night, Makabe the "Bird Man" was waiting. Kuryu appeared, and they fought. Makabe was quick and fast, clever and cunning. But it was not enough. Kuryu met his every maneuver and finally, after wearing Makabe down, Kuryu won the fight.
The town people heard the news and were worried. They all beseeched Toudi Sakugawa to take care of Oshima-Kuryu himself. But Sakugawa said, "Do not worry. Our two specialists have failed. They failed to see very obvious things because they were too intent with their own specialties. Matsumoto has grown in breadth from specialist to general practitioner. He will prevail."
Matsumoto faced Oshima-Kuryu on the third night. When they squared off, Oshima-Kuryu realised he was facing his most formidable opponent to date. They fought for a long time without a sound. Finally, Oshima-Kuryu attacked with his last ounce of strength. Matsumoto faded away, and before Oshima-Kuryu knew what had happened, Matsumoto came up from the side and knocked him down. "The time has come for me to retire," Oshima-Kuryu later said. "I'm glad that I was beaten by a man who has mastered the basics. All my previous opponents were specialists. They all had a gimmick, but it was not enough."
When Sakugawa retired, he passed on his menkyo-kaiden [teaching licence] to Matsumoto. However, his greatest achievement came when he was 78 years old. It was then that Sokon Matsumura came to him for lessons.
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Thanks for reading.
Derm
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Information Sources:
Books:
"Okinawan Karate Timeline & 100 Masters" By Dr Hokama TetshiroBooks:
"The Weaponless Warrior" by Richard Kim
Web:
