Karate Jutsu: History and Evolution of the Okinawan Martial Art by Keegan, Simon

Description: The origins of Karate are shrouded in mythology and a book that tells the art's complete history is both necessary and timely. The art of Karate was developed in the Ryukyu Kingdom, now Okinawa, over hundreds of years. Like many martial arts it was once designed to main, disable or kill but has since become adapted into a way of life and a sport that is seen in both the UFC and in 2020 makes its Olympic debut. Author Simon Keegan is a 5th Dan black belt recognised by some of Japan's oldest and most venerable sanctioning bodies. In producing this unprecedented history he has been given access to information, pictures and records from Japan, Okinawa and the west that have never before been published. In his foreword to the book, respected martial arts master and author Steve Rowe 9th Dan writes: "Considering I have been at the centre of the Karate universe for four decades there is much in this book that I have never seen or heard. It's a must for any Karateka to read time and time again to understand the origins of Karatedo and its structure, and essential for the bookshelf of any serious martial artist." For the first time the complete history of Karate can be told. Simon Keegan is a Karate, Jujutsu and Quanfa instructor who has taught for decades and has an impeccable lineage in the classical martial arts, grading on the mat up to 5th Dan and holding the traditional teaching rank of Renshi. He has trained under some of the senior Japanese and Chinese masters in the world with his grades recognised by authority of the Japanese royal family and Shogun dynasty. He trained and graded under Tokyo's Kokusai Budoin, which is presided over by Tokugawa Yasuhisa and had as its first chairmen Prince Tsunenori Kaya and Prince Higashikuni. Members have included Hirokazu Kanazawa, Gogen Yamaguchi, Hironori Ohtsuka and Kyuzo Mifune. He is now a member of Kyoto's Dai Nippon Butokukai, headed by Higashi Fushimi, cousin to the Emperor. Members have included Gichin Funakoshi and Chojun Miyagi. Simon was born in Liverpool to a martial arts family and studied from an early age. His father David Keegan is a teacher of classical Japanese and Chinese martial arts, and his great uncle Bill Nelson was a blackbelt at two of the oldest Jujutsu schools in the country. At the age of 16 Simon was competing at national level in Karate while studying in S Bullough's Bushidokan. The Bushido style of Karate was an eclectic mix of styles including Shotokan and Budokan. Simon competed in Karate, kickboxing and Kobudo/Iaido and became his teacher's Uchideshi (a senior student and assistant instructor) in 1997. He left competition martial arts to focus on classical Okinawan, Japanese and Chinese styles. He trained for 10 years with Kyoshi R Carruthers and later his teacher Shihan P Handyside who became a mentor to him in the art of Shobukan Karate, derived from Japanese Shotokan and Malaysian Budokan which is a softer Chinese influenced style of Karate. Budokan is a main influence on his study. Grandmaster CS Chew trained in the Okinawan styles of Toyama and Shimabukuro as well as in Chinese styles like Pakua. Studying Chinese martial arts for some 20 years, Simon's studies include Yang style, Sun style (which also comprises Pakua and Hsing-I) and Chinese sword. He trained in a Chinese internal martial arts school for nine years which was presided over by Chinese National Living Treasure Professor Li De Yin and taught by two world champions. Simon was authorised to teach Yang style forms in 2004 and has since developed his understanding of the art under Sifu Steve Rowe who trained directly with Yang style headmistress Ma Lee Yang. Simon competed at European Wushu events and performed sword and Yang style in front of the mayor of Shanghai. In Japanese martial arts he was awarded 2nd Dan in Jujutsu, studying the Bugei Ju Hapan (18 martial arts including Bo Jutsu, Jo Jutsu, Iai Jutsu, Ken Jutsu, So Jutsu and Kusari Gama etc). Simon established a school called Bushinkai dedicated to teaching classical Japanese, Okinawan and Chinese martial arts. In 2003 on a seminar with the legendary Mitsuhiro Kondo, one of the masters who introduced Karate and Aikido to Europe in the 1950s, Simon joined Japan's oldest Budo fraternity, the Kokusai Budoin of which he went on to become a regional officer with his grades recognised by the hereditary shogun Tokugawa Yasuhisa. He also was awarded 2nd Dan in Nihon Jujutsu under the late Shizuya Sato, later attaining 3rd Dan in Jujutsu and Judo. Simon began studying Goju Ryu Karate and Kobudo and was graded up to 3rd Dan by Kyoshi Reiner Parsons, also training with headteacher and Kokusai Budoin chief director Tadanori Nobetsu. The style was Nisseikai which combined Okinawan Goju Ryu with Feeding Crane Quan Fa, bringing the art closer to its Naha-Te origins. This is another key influence on his study.

Price: 27.42 USD

Location: East Hanover, New Jersey

End Time: 2025-01-02T23:24:02.000Z

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