On Shuhaku-den
This page expands on the wording ‘Ryukyu Karate Jutsu – Shuhaku-den’ for those who want deeper context. It is not an instructional outline, and it is not a syllabus.
The short version is on the Approach page. This page exists for people who want the longer explanation.
If you are new to dojo training, you may prefer to start with What a class looks like and the FAQ.
Over time, I’ve come to believe that following one “style” too rigidly can hold people back. What we practice is naturally eclectic – drawn from experience, research, and what actually works. Ryukyu Karate Jutsu – Shuhaku-den isn’t about copying the past, it’s about understanding it and using that knowledge to make karate functional and relevant today.
The wording is used to describe training priorities and method. It is not presented as a newly invented “style”, and it is not a sport system.
Ryukyu
“Ryukyu” refers to the Okinawan islands and anchors the practice to Okinawa and older methods of training, with emphasis on function and applicability.
It also acknowledges karate’s development before Japanese annexation in 1879 and points back toward older (koryu – 古流) traditions.
Karate
“Karate” (空手) means “empty hand”.
Here it simply indicates a civilian method of self-protection, practiced without the restrictions of rules, equipment, or sporting format.
Jutsu
“Jutsu” (術) translates as “method” or “art” and is used here to reflect a pragmatic, application-led focus.
The question is always what works, why it works, and under what conditions it holds up.
Shuhaku-den
“Shuhaku-den” (首泊伝) is a name offered to us by Tamaki Katsumi sensei. The name indicates that our practice is rooted in these Okinawan traditions:
Shu (首)
Associated here with the efficient, direct methods of Shuri-te – prioritising speed, precision, and simplicity.
Haku (泊)
Associated here with Hakutsuru influence – a thread that appears across Okinawan practice and informs both Shuri-te and Naha-te traditions.
Den (伝)
“Transmission” – the preservation and passing on of method through practice rather than description alone.
Origins and continuity
Our roots include Shinjin-Ryu Okinawa-Te under Tamaki Katsumi sensei. Shinjin-Ryu was founded in 1979 and blends principles associated with Shuri-te, Naha-te, and Hakutsuru.
From this foundation, Ryukyu Karate Jutsu – Shuhaku-den emerged as our way of training – a personal interpretation focused on pragmatic, principle-based self-protection for the modern world.
We are grateful to Tamaki sensei for suggesting the use of the name Ryukyu Karate Jutsu – Shuhaku-den. For us, it reflects respect for tradition while allowing honest examination of method and purpose.
Philosophy
We believe that modern karate, in many cases, has drifted from its original purpose. Much of what is taught today focuses on sport preparation or stylised performance, often neglecting the original intent: civilian self-protection.
Our approach respects older methods, but it does not preserve them for their age. It tests them against realistic constraints and keeps what remains functional. The goal is not technique accumulation, but usable skill through repeatable method.
In practical terms, this means understanding what you are practising, how it works, and when it would be used. Context is not an optional extra – it is the beginning of the method.
How training is approached
In practice, training is built around two-person drills, with kata used as a mnemonic to preserve, organise, and revisit method. Kata is treated as a record of problems and responses rather than idealised movement.
The methods emphasised reflect older civilian practice: close-range striking, destabilisation, gripping, joint control, and positional advantage. Training prioritises balance, pressure, and decision-making at close distance.
What is included
Okinawan civilian practice was not limited to long-range punching and kicking. As a result, training may include throws, joint manipulation, strangles and chokes, vital point strikes, and groundwork, where appropriate to the problem being studied.
Each kata, drill, and application is examined against the kinds of habitual acts of physical violence (HAPV) that ordinary people are most likely to face. HAPV is a framework associated with Patrick McCarthy-Hanshi and the International Ryukyu Karate Research Society.
On Ko Chi Shin
Our guiding principle is expressed in the phrase “On Ko Chi Shin” (温故知新) – study the old, understand the new. Tradition is not preserved for its age, but for what it continues to reveal when examined honestly.
New students
If you are new to dojo training, the pages below explain what to expect and how classes are conducted.
What a class looks like
Dojo rules and etiquette
Frequently asked questions