Rare Karate styles

This is a list of older Okinawan karate styles with their kanji and some basic information about them. These styles are part of bigger categories such as Shuri te, Naha te, Ti and Chinese boxing. Some of these styles have strict policies, so only I added in some basic information about them. I also didn't have the kanji for all of them.

Touon ryu 東恩流  - Naha te

Founded by Juhatsu Kyoda, a student of Kanryo Higaonna.Touon ryu consists of 6 empty hand kata and 2 weapon kata. Kyoda learned Kanryo Higaonna's full system. Kanryo's system consisted of Sanchin, Seisan, Sanseru and Bechurin. Touon ryu only passes on 3 of 4 kata from Kanryo Higaonna. Kyoda learned Seisan from Kanryo and his cousin, Kanyu, Kyoda only passed on Kanyu Higaonna's Seisan. Kyoda also learned Jion from Kentsu Yabu and Nepai from Gokenki. 

Touon ryu is a much lighter and faster style in comparison to Goju ryu. Kanryo Higaonna was known for his strong kicking techniques, which are also passed on in Touon ryu. Touon ryu passes on many old techniques from Kanryo Higaonna not found in Goju ryu, one example would be Tomoe Uke. The style makes use of kakete. Touon ryu is in fact not a dead style and is still preserved today.

Kojo ryu 湖城流 - Chinese Boxing

Founded by Kafu Kojo. Kojo ryu consists of 6 kata (some also practice additional kata and Jodo). Kojo ryu is an old family system dating back to the 1600s. Kojo ryu is not a form of Naha te but instead a form of Kung fu brought to Okinawa by the 36 families in Kumemura village. Kojo ryu comprises of 12 zodiac kamae and the style has 3 Zodiac kata and 3 White Animal kata. Kojo ryu also practices Yakusoku kumite which comes from techniques in kata. Kojo ryu makes use of kakete (both single handed and double handed). Kojo ryu is still preserved today in Okinawa and on mainland Japan in Kobe by Sumitani Sensei (Rinzankai). Some techniques from Kojo ryu and Touon ryu are found on my previous article: https://bujutsu-quest.blogspot.com/2025/02/sparring-in-ti-and-old-style-karate.html 

Ishimine ryu 石嶺流 - Shuri te

Founded by Shinyei Kaneshima, who learned from his father, Shinbi Kaneshima. Shinbi Kaneshima was a student of old man Ishimine. Old man Ishimine could have likely been Ishimine Peichine (Peichin being a social rank) who was a student of Matsumura Sokon. Ishimine ryu consists of 3 kata; Kumadi Sanchin, Naihanchi and Passai. Kumadi Sanchin (Kumadi meaning bear hand) resembles the movements of a bear. The fighting strategy also resembles how a bear fight. For example, when a bear fights a bull, it strikes its face to stun it then moves behind to finish it off. Ishimine ryu is a very rare style that has most likely died out on Okinawa.

Tachimura-ha - Shuri te

Tachimura-ha traces it's lineage to Bushi Tachimura. Bushi Tachimura was a contemporary of Matsumura Sokon who served in an official capacity for the Royal Court in the closing years of the Ryukyu Kingdom. Upon retiring he taught Kishimoto Soko, who passed then taught his style to a few people, mainly Higa Seitoku and Seiken Shukumine. Seiken Shukumine went on to create Taido whereas Higa Seitoku went on to preserve rare styles and open the Bugeikan. Tachimura-ha consists of 4 kata, Tachimura Naihanchi, Nidanbu, Tachimura Passai and Tachimura Kusanku. Tachimura-ha is a fluid style of old Shuri te that consists of many old techniques not found in modern styles. Tachimura-ha is still taught at Bugeikan.

Hanashiro-ha - Shuri te

Hanashiro-ha comes from Hanashiro Chomo, who learned from Matsumura Sokon. Hanashiro Chomo taught his style to Nakandakari Kanzo who in turn taught Higa Kiyohiko. Hanashiro-ha is a pre Taiso Era karate style of Okinawa that has influenced the direction of Shorin ryu. Hanashiro-ha also preserves a much older Shuri te version of sticking hands called Kakkidi. Hanashiro-ha has 19 kata; Naihanchi 1-3, Pinan 1-5, Seisan, Passai sho, Passai dai, Chinto, Chinte, Jion, Jiin, Jutte, Kusanku, Niseshi and Gojushiho. Hanashiro-ha is taught and preserved at Bugeikan.

Motobu Udundi 本部御殿手 - Ti

Motobu Udundi is a family style of Ti, originating from the Motobu Udun. Motobu Udundi was passed on to Uehara Seikichi from Motobu Choyu. Some old styles of Karate bear similarity to Ti. Motobu Udundi originally had no kata and consisted of various tricks and techniques. Ti in general was the predecessor to Karate. Motobu Udundi is the Ti of the Motobu Udun. 

Uehara Seikichi taught Motobu Chosei (Motobu Choki's son) as Uehara promised his master that he would return the style to the Motobu family. 

Shout out to Joel Reeves sensei for the material on Tachimura-ha, Hanashiro-ha and Udundi. Also shout out to sensei Rich and Ikeda sensei for the material on Touon ryu. I would also like to thank Sumitani sensei for information on Kojo ryu.

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