The Disciples of Matsumora Kōsaku

Written by Motobu Naoki, translated by Andreas Quast

There are several theories about those who were the disciples of Matsumora Kōsaku sensei and today different genealogical flow charts are found in a variety of publications.

I think that from among the disciples of Matsumora sensei, even when looking at it in a modest (conservative) way, Motobu Chōki is one of his best known disciples. I was therefore also a bit surprised that the name of Motobu Chōki was not featured among Matsumora sensei‘s disciples in the “Genealogical Flow Chart of Tomari-te” found on the website previously operated and financed by Okinawa Prefecture (not running anymore), which introduced Karate.

Since such genealogical flow charts also serve the opinions (purpose) of each of the schools, they can often by no means be expected to constitute objective descriptions.

Well, among the genealogical flow charts I have seen so far, I feel that the best investigated and most objectively described genealogical flow chart of Matsumora’s disciples is the one entitled “Bushi Matsumora Karate Keitōzu” (“Flow Chart of Bushi Matsumora’s Karate”) from the book “Karate (Tomari-te) Chūkō no So Matsumora Kōsaku Ryakuden” (“Biographical Sketch of Matsumora Kōsaku, the Ancestor who Rejuvenated Karate (Tomari-te)”, 1970), written by Matsumora Kōsaku’s grandson Mr. Matsumura Kōshō (former family name Matsumora). I allow myself the privilege to quote the flow chart below.