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Shuri-ryū
Focus	Striking and eclectic
Hardness	Hard and soft
Country of origin	United States
Creator	Robert Trias
Famous practitioners	Pat Miletich, Sage Northcutt<Eric Guadiana
Parenthood	Karate (Goju-ryu, Shito-ryu, Shotokan), Xingyiquan, Judo

Shuri-ryū (首里流) karate is an eclectic martial arts system developed by Robert Trias (1923–1989), reportedly the first American to teach a form of karate in the mainland United States, and also opened his public first dojo in 1946 in Phoenix, Arizona.^[1]^[2]

History

Shuri-ryū is a style that has a lineage coming from a variety of sources, including karate. Other influences include xingyiquan.^[3]

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 arts teachers, such as Yajui Yamada (judo), Gogen Yamaguchi (Gōjū-ryū), Roy Oshiro (Gōjū-ryū), Yasuhiro Konishi, Makoto Gima (Shotokan, Shitō-ryū), and others. Both Konishi and Gima served as mentors to Trias instead of in a formal teacher-student relationship. Konishi recognized and countersigned Trias's promotion certificate to 9th Dan by the USKA in the 1960s. Gima recognized Trias as the 10th Dan in 1983.^{[This paragraph needs citation(s)]}

Techniques

In addition to the punches, blocks, and kicks of karate, Shuri-ryū also incorporates joint locks, takedowns and throws, and kobudō (traditional weapons). Shuri-ryū 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); 10 taezu (taezu naru waza); 30 kihon; eight sen-te motions; and seven kogeki-ho ho. 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).

Kata

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

There are other variations of Sanchin and Tenshō. The senior sensei of Shuri-ryū also teach several other forms, such as Shudoso and art, which teach Hakutsuru Shodan, Nidan, Sandan, and Yondan.

Ranks

The Shuri-ryū Style uses a belt system to designate rank. The ranking system was written out in The Pinnacle of Karate by Trias, which called for 8 ranks below black belt (Kyu) and 10 above (Dan). 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-ryū 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 students, depending on rank (blue = 1 mile, purple and beyond = 2 miles) must pass the running activity, lift 10 or 15 lb weights 75 times over the head (depending on gender), perform 500–1000 front kicks, and perform various hand technique exercises.

Upon receiving the rank of Yellow Belt, the student officially becomes a member of the Shuri-ryū Style. The student may wear a white and green patch showing the emblem of the system. At the rank of Black Belt, the student may wear a black and 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, a red sun, and a black pine tree on a green background.

Chief Instructors

At the time of his death in 1989, Trias had designated 8 Chief Instructors and 3 assistant Chief Instructors of the Shuri-ryū system to perpetuate Shuri-ryū: Roberta Trias-Kelley, the late John Pachivas, Robert Bowles, the late Ridgely Abele,^[4] Pete Rabino, the late Michael Awad, Dale Benson, and the late Dirk Mosig,

Traditionally, a karate system was owned by the family of the founder. Upon Trias's death in 1989, his daughter, Roberta Trias-Kelley, inherited the Shuri-ryū system as a 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). Shuri-ryū stylists can be found in the United States Karate-Do Kai (USKK), an organization founded by Phillip Koeppel. The USKK has not appointed new Chief Instructors. Instead, Koeppel appointed a Style Head which serves a similar function.^{[This paragraph needs citation(s)]}

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

Trias Appointed Chief Instructors

Roberta Trias-Kelley PhD (menkyo kaiden), 10th Dan, Arizona
* Robert Bowles, 10th Dan, Indiana
John Pachivas (deceased),10th Dan, Florida
Ridgely Abele (deceased), 9th Dan, South Carolina
Pete Rabino, 9th Dan, California
Dale Benson, 9th Dan, Arizona
Michael Awad (deceased), 9th Dan, Ohio
Dirk Mosig PhD (deceased), 8th Dan, Nebraska

ISA Chief Instructors

Robert Bowles, 10th Dan, Indiana
Ridgley Abele (deceased), 9th Dan, South Carolina
Dale Benson, 9th Dan, Arizona
Joseph W. Walker (deceased), 9th Dan, Texas
Sandra Bowles, 9th Dan, Michigan
George Sheridan Jr., 9th Dan, Indiana
Tony Bisanz, 9th Dan, Arizona
Glenn Wallace, 9th Dan, Indiana
Dennis Wagner (deceased), 8th Dan, Indiana
Johnny Linebarger, 8th Dan, Arizona
Vitus Bilking (deceased), 8th Dan, Denmark
Lon Bradfield, 7th Dan, Colorado
Niels Larsen, 7th Dan, Denmark
Luis Lugo, 7th Dan, Florida
Gus Lugo, 7th Dan, Florida
Joe Pounder, 7th Dan, Wisconsin
Todd Sullivan, 6th Dan, Indiana
Joseph Johnston, 6th Dan, Illinois

As of August 2023.

References

^ Jones, C. Michial (August 21, 2011). Entering Through the Gateway of Gojuryu (1st ed.). Lulu Press. ISBN 978-1257979387.
^ Haines, Bruce A. (January 1, 1995). Karate's History and Traditions Paperback (Revised ed.). Tuttle Pub. p. 154. ISBN 978-0804819473.
^ (anonymous) (April 17, 2022). Grand Master Art Mason (ed.). "History of Shuri-Ryu presented by the WBA". worldbudoalliance.org. Researched by Sensei Kara Borshuk. History of Shuri-Ryu Karate. Retrieved February 19, 2024.
^ Abele, Ridgely (September 14, 2007). "The Columbia School of Karatedo celebrates 29th anniversary". Columbia Star. Archived from the original on December 4, 2017. Retrieved May 17, 2024.