THE MEANING OF "SHURI"

The name of our Dojo, SHURI KARATE DOJO, is hugely significant within the art of Shito-Ryu.

Karate, originally developed on the small island of Okinawa, was the birth place of the founder of Shito-Ryu master Kenwa Mabuni

Master Mabuni was born in 1889 in the small coastal village of SHURI on this infamous island. Many Karate masters of the time originated from this small village and many of its exponents called their system of Karate, SHURI-te (literally - hand of SHURI).

Shuri Castle, Shuri, Okinawa

Shuri Karate Dojo Kanji

The Shito-Ryu system contains mostly techniques of SHURI-te and Naha-ta and a major part of the Shito-Ryu system is to first learn the techniques and principles of SHURI-te. It also included kata of the white crane teachings of Gokenki.

Shito-Ryu is also one of the few Japanese styles to maintain the practice of kobudo (Okinawan weaponry). Modern Shito-Ryu is characterized by fast, linear movement in kumite, and sharp, well-defined movement in kata.