Shinpo Matayoshi

Shinpo Matayoshi 1921 – 1997

“Conservator of Okinawan Kobudo"

”He was the only son of the legendary Okinawan martial arts master Matayoshi Shinko (1888–1947).

The Matayoshi Family have long been associated with the martial arts and they can trace their lineage back over many generations.

At one time an early ancestor of Matayoshi Shinpo served as strategic martial arts instructor and as an officer of the Ryukyu royal court up until the last days of the shogunate.

Matayoshi Shinpo learned martial arts from his father from his birth until his mid twenties. He had learned several kata associated with Naha-Te in his early childhood.

Matayoshi Shinpo is perhaps best known for his practice of Kobudo.

He started a dojo in the 1960s in memory of his father and called it the Kodokan. From the Kodokan he began to teach a wide variety of traditional weapons associated with Okinawan peasants.

Many of the weapons used in Matayoshi Kobudo have their origin in China. The Staff, Sai, Tonfa, Nunchaku, Sansetsukon, Suruchin, Hoe, Sword and Shield are all weapons regularly used and practiced in Chinese kung fu. These weapons are particularly prevalent in the Hung Gar tradition. Other weapons such as the Oar, the Fishing Spear and the Sickles have their origins in Okinawa.

Students of Matayoshi Shinpo are now found all over the world and they continue to practice his style of Kobudo known collectively as "Matayoshi Kobudo". Some of Matayoshi's most respected original students include Kinjo Takashi, Kenyu Chinen and Tadashi Yamashita.

Some of his more respected later students include Gakiya Yoshiaki and Yamashiro Kenichi.

It was the ambition of Matayoshi Shinpo that his art of Kobudo should be practiced all over the world. Today there are approximately 2000 dojos worldwide that practice Matayoshi Kobudo thanks to his legacy.

Learn from Matayoshi Sensei all kinds of kobudo kata and drills on any of these DVD's.