Shuri-ryū

Shuri-ryū is a style that has a lineage coming from a variety of sources, including karate. Other influences include Xing Yi Quan (Hsing-Yi) Kung Fu.

Trias was first introduced to karate while in the Navy during World War II, when he was stationed in the Solomon Islands. In 1944 Robert Trias met Tung Gee Hsing and began training with him. Hsing practiced the Chinese system of Xingyiquan and had reportedly cross-trained with Motobu Chōki in the Okinawan village of Kume Mura several years previously. Later Trias reportedly studied with Hoy Yuan Ping in Singapore in 1944. In addition to these teachers, Trias learned from other martial art teachers, such as Yajui Yamada (judo), Gogen Yamaguchi (Gōjū-ryū), Roy Oshiro (Gōjū-ryū), Yasuhiro Konishi, Makoto Gima (Shotokan, Shitō-ryū), and many others. Both Konishi and Gima served as mentors to Trias instead of in a formal teacher-student relationship.

Konishi, a prominent student of Gichin Funakoshi, Choki Motobu, and Kenwa Mabuni, recognized and countersigned Trias's promotion certificate to 9th Dan by the USKA in the 1960s. Gima was a prominent student of Funakoshi and he recognized Trias as 10th Dan in 1983, reaffirming Trias as style head for Shuri-ryū.

In addition to the punches, blocks, and kicks of karate, Shuri-ryū also incorporates joint locks, take-downs and throws, and kobudō (traditional weapons). Several senior sensei also hold high ranks in jujitsu and judo.

Shuri Ryu follows a system of teachings called the Haryu which are identifiers of the system.

Shuri-ryū also has several short combinations. These include: 26 ippon (ippon kumite kata), which are performed to develop form and power; 10 taezu (taezu naru waza) which are performed to develop speed and fluidity; 30 kihon which are performed to develop fighting technique; eight sen-te motions; and seven kogeki-ho ho to develop attacking and retreating.

In addition, there are training exercises including form sparring (kata kumite), focus stance sparring (kime dachi kumite), free exercise (jiyū undō), and free sparring (jiyū kumite).

Shuri-ryū has three form exercises called Taikyoku Ichi, Ni, and San to prepare the student to learn the 15 core forms (kata):

• Wansu
• Anaku
• Naihanchi Shō (Tekki Shodan)
• Empi Shō (Wanshu)
• Sanchin
• Tsue Shō
• Bassai Dai
• Gopei Shō
• Danenn Shō
• Naihanchi Ni (Tekki Nidan)
• Nandan shō (Nijūshiho / Niseishi)
• Kankū Shō (Kusanku Shō)
• Tekatana
• Naihanchi San (Tekki Sandan)
• Tensho

Besides these forms, there exist numerous variations of Sanchin and Tenshō. Also, the senior sensei of Shuri-ryū also teach several other forms such as Shudoso and another related art which teaches Hakutsuru Shodan, Nidan, Sandan, and Yondan.

Many of the above kata emphasize the use of various animal forms, and the definitions are often reflective of this. For example, Wunsu (Strong Arm Dumping Form or Dragon Boy Dumping Form) uses the tiger form, Anaku refers to a swallow pivoting on a beach, Empisho (First Elbow Form) refers to the flying swallow, and Gopei Sho refers to a tearing peacock. Some kata will emphasize multiple animal forms, such as Danenn Sho, where ten animals are emulated. Also, there are 15 animal body and 20 fist form exercises.

The Shuri-ryū style, like most systems of the martial arts, uses a belt system to designate rank. The appropriate rank is awarded when the student demonstrates a certain level of proficiency when performing the required techniques, kata, and exercises. The ranking system as spelled out in The Pinnacle of Karate by Trias called for 8 ranks below black belt (Kyu), and 10 above (Dan). Because of the time and difficulty of receiving Yellow belt, some schools award various informal ranks in the interim.

• White (8th Kyu - hachikyu, unless additional informal ranks are included)
• Interim Ranks (Informal ranks of Orange, Gold, "Black Dot", and/or various stripes are awarded at some schools)
• Yellow (7th Kyu - shichikyu, student officially becomes a member of the Shuri-Ryu Style)
• Blue (6th Kyu - rokukyu)
• Green (5th Kyu - gokyu)
• Purple (4th Kyu yonkyu)
• Brown (3rd Kyu - sankyu, 2nd Kyu - nikyu, 1st Kyu ikkyu)
• Black (1st Dan - shodan through 10th Dan - judan)

At each rank, the student must also pass a rigorous physical requirement before performing the technical requirements. Running one or two miles (up to blue = 1 mile, purple and beyond = 2 miles), lifting 10 or 15 lb weights 75 times over the head (depending on gender), performing 500–1000 front kicks, and various hand technique exercises are commonly used.

Upon receiving the rank of Yellow Belt, the student officially becomes a member of the Shuri-Ryu Style. At this point, the student may wear a white & green patch showing the emblem of the system. At the rank of Black Belt, the student may wear a black & green system patch. If awarded the position of Assistant Chief Instructor, a red circle (and sometimes a half-sun) is added. Once receiving the position of Chief Instructor, the full style emblem is worn, consisting of a red circle, red sun, black pine tree, on a green background.

One characteristic feature of Shuri-ryū is the use of the Shuri fist, in lieu of a standard fist. Instead of curling the index finger when making the fist, the upper half of the index finger is laid flat against the palm, with the thumb curled around the index finger and pushing down between the first and second joints, resulting in a tighter fist and better alignment of the ulna and radius bones with the first two knuckles of the fist.

Another feature of Shuri-ryū is the position of the thumb of the knife hand strike or block. The thumb and forefinger form a "j" so that the hand may be used in a variety of techniques (ridgehand, spearhand, open-hand throat strikes, etc.) without changing the thumb position.

Prior to 1989, Trias had designated 8 Chief Instructors and 3 assistant Chief Instructors of the Shuri-ryū system to perpetuate Shuri-ryū after his death; Roberta Trias-Kelley, the late John Pachivas, Robert Bowles, the late Ridgely Abele,[3] Pete Rabino, the late Michael Awad, Dale Benson, and the late Dirk Mosig,

Other individuals who were designated Chief Instructors at one time but left Trias are Victor Moore, Phillip Koeppel, James McLain, John Hutchcroft, and Randy Holman. A former Assistant Chief Instructor appointed by Trias is Wendi Dragonfire but was removed from this position.

Traditionally, a karate system was owned by the family of the founder. Thus, upon Trias' death in 1989, his daughter, Roberta Trias-Kelley, inherited the Shuri-ryū system as style head. While Dirk Mosig followed her leadership, the majority of members did not.

In 1995 John Pachivas appointed Robert Bowles as style head of Shuri-ryū. Bowles founded the International Shuri-ryū Association (ISA) with the following Chief Instructors as Executive Directors: John Pachivas, Ridgely Abele, Pete Rabino, Michael Awad, and Dale Benson. Since then, the International Shuri-ryū Association, under Robert Bowles, has become the largest organization of Shuri-ryū stylists in the world, and has appointed additional Chief Instructors and Assistant Chief Instructors. Additionally prior to his death in 2000, John Pachivas passed on his American Shuri Karate lineage to Jerry Piddington.

A number of Shuri-ryu stylists can also be found in the United States Karate-Do Kai (USKK), an organization founded by former Chief Instructor and Trias' senior most student, Phillip Koeppel. Unlike the ISA, the USKK has not appointed new Chief Instructors. Instead, Koeppel appointed a Style Head which serves a similar function. The current USKK Style Head for Shuri-ryu is David Hamann, other senior instructors in this group include James McLain and Michael Awad. Former Chief Instructors Phillip Koeppel and John Hutchcroft are also USKK members, though they now practice Matsumura Seito Shorin-Ryu. Another USKK member and Trias student, Glenn R. Keeney also teaches Shuri-Ryu. Michael Awad has personally awarded several members from this group to the position of Chief Instructor and Assistant Chief Instructor.

Currently, there appears to be four strains of Shuri-ryū each, respectively, centering on Roberta Trias-Kelley, Robert Bowles' ISA, Victor Moore's TWKA, and the USKK group under McLain/Awad/Hamann. Membership in the various organizations is not mutually exclusive, and many Shuri-ryu practitioners are active in multiple groups.

The instructors below are either spelled out to be Chief Instructors in "The Pinnacle of Karate" or affiliated with the ISA, USKK, and TWKA.

• International Shuri-Ryu Association Homepage
• International Shuri-Ryu Association Facebook