THE LEGEND OF CHOKI MOTOBU (Full Version)

Remarks: This is a complete translation of the article written by
Mr. Seijin Jahana, the original title "Choki Motobu, a Forerunner of
Combative Karate" appeared in the monthly magazine "Aoi Umi" (=Blue
Sea) No.70 February 1978 issue (pages 106-110). This number features
articles on Okinawan karate masters. The magazine was published in
Okinawa but was already discontinued.

Translated by Sanzinsoo

I was in Okinawa in 1978. It seemed to rain soon in the early
evening. I had to find his house soon, so I became hasty. A few
drops of rain fell on my head when I succeeded in finding the home
of Mr. Chozo Nakama, 80 years old, which was surrounded by a board
wall.
When I was allowed to enter the house, the rain started falling. The
ground of the courtyard was stamped flat. Maybe it was Mr. Nakama's
training place of karate. There was a barbell got wet in the rain.

Mr. Nakama was awarded "Hanshi" (the highest title), 9th Dan
(=degree) black belt. He teaches karate at 7:30 p.m. on Monday,
Wednesday and Friday at a community center in Sakiyama, Shuri,
Okinawa. He learned karate directly from Choki Motobu (1871-1944).
It was about 1940 that Choki Motobu opened his own Dojo(=a training
hall) in Nishishinmachi (=Kumecho now), Naha city after returning to
Okinawa from Osaka, Japan.
I visited Mr. Nakama to hear the stories about his teacher, Choki
Motobu during that time.

Choki Motobu passed away at his mistress's home in Tomari, Okinawa
at the year when World War Two broke out. He died at the age of 73.
His life was always with karate and karate.

He was born in Akahira, Shuri, Okinawa as the third son of Motobu
Udun(=a feudal lord) in 1871. His elder brother was Choyu Motobu,
the founder of Motobu-ryu karate. Choki Motobu was a rough fighter
by nature. He began thrusting Makiwara(=a thrusting board) when he
was a child and studied karate in his own way. Genius shows itself
even in childhood. "Let's play karate fight, Grandpa!" He often said
to his uncle who was "Ufuchiku" (=a police sergeant) as well as a
teacher of Kobudo(=Okinawan classical weaponry arts) and used to
visit Choki's father's home to have a chat.

Since he became strong enough after training in his own way, almost
every night he went to a bar district such as Tsujimachi, and
challenged a man who looks strong to street-fighting. Because of
this, his reputation among karateka at that time was very bad. No
one at his age could defeat him. Maybe he thought his street-
fighting was one of his karate training.
Choki's fighting skills were created in the real fights, although
people frowned upon his street-fighting. They said his fighting
skills were full of variety and amazing. He created his Kumite
(=sparring) techniques by himself. He rarely accepted disciples, as
he was afraid that his Kumite(=sparring) techniques might
be "stolen".

Although Choki studied karate in his own way, in fact he had three
teachers. His first teacher was Anko Itosu, but he was soon refused
to see Master Itosu, as Master Itosu received complaints about
Choki's street-fighting.

His second teacher was Shitsunen Tokumine. Master Tokumine was a
heavy drinker. Choki brought a bottle of Sake(=rice liquor) to him
as a lesson fee. But later one day, Master Tokumine was very drunk
and disorderly in Tsujimachi. He had a big fight with dozens
of "Chikusaji" (=policemen) there, and eventually he was arrested by
the police and exiled to a remote island in Yaeyama(=Ishigaki
islands). He passed away in the remote island. Master Tokumine was a
expert in karate and staff fighting arts. Chotoku Kyan alias Kyan
Miigwaa(=small eyes) visited Yaeyama to learn Kata of staff fighting
arts from Master Tokumine, however, at that time Master Tokumine had
already passed away. Fortunately the owner of a small inn where
Master Tokumine once stayed, had learned the Kata of staff fighting
arts directly from Master Tokumine, so he taught the Kata to Master
Kyan. In Yaeyama today still remains the Kata of staff fighting arts
whose name is "Tokumine No Kun" (=The staff fighting arts of Master
Tokumine).

After Master Tokumine was exiled to a remote island, Choki Motobu
went to the karate Dojo of Master Kosaku Matsumora. When he asked
the Master to teach him karate, he changed his name as Sesoko, not
Motobu. He was afraid that Master Matsumora might also refuse to see
him like his first teacher Master Anko Itosu. He was accepted by the
Master Matsumora, but soon Choki's bad reputation of street-fighting
disclosed his true name Choki Motobu alias Motobu Saaruu(=monkey).
The Master Matsumora called him and questioned.
"Why did you tell me a lie that your name is Sesoko?"
"It's true, Master. I wouldn't tell you a lie. My name is not only
Motobu but also Sesoko. My mother's family name is Sesoko. I was
brought up in my mother's village when I was a child."
"I see. Never tell a lie!"
"No, never!"
Then he was formally accepted as a disciple.

Choki was very frank and open-minded, so he did not care about money
at all. He always spent all the money he had. It was his later
period of his life. When Mr. Nakama visited Choki's home, Choki
invited him to go for a walk. At that time Choki received a pocket
money with the exact amount for a meal, a taxi and so on from his
mistress who had been living with him since staying in Osaka. She
was worried that he would spend all the money with him if she gave
him some extra money.

Needless to say, Choki could not save money. He could not make money
either. His horse-carriage business in Okinawa was failed, so he and
his family went to Osaka, Japan in about 1921.
There is a famous story that Choki had a match with a professional
boxer when he was in Osaka. He worked as a guard at a cotton
factory. It was an owner of a rooming house where Choki lived who
suggested him to play a match with a boxer. The owner found an
advertisement in the newspaper that a promoter seeking an opponent
of a Russian boxer, Johnson. He explained the advertisement to Choki
who could not read letters, and for a joke he suggested Choki to
apply for this offer. Choki agreed with his suggestion seriously at
once. The owner of a rooming house was surprised to hear Choki's
reply, but he made an application for Choki.

Well, on the day of the boxing match, the ringside was crowded with
a lot of people. The tall and big Russian boxer versus short Choki.
"That man (=Choki) must be a fool!" said many spectators.
Choki was told to put on the boxing gloves, but he refused to put on
them.
"He is really crazy!" said the spectators again.

In the first round, the big Russian boxer was driving Choki into a
corner of the ring. The boxer was stronger and tougher than
expected. "I cannot defeat him. I will lose." thought Choki. "But If
I easily lose this match, I would be very very sorry for my Okinawan
fellow students of karate." The first round was over with much
difficulty for Choki.

In the second round, the professional boxer, Johnson maybe thought
that this match was too easy for him. He charged toward Choki with
less guard. Seeing the unguarded moment, Choki immediately jumped.
The big body of Johnson fell down to the mat. In a moment the
spectators could not understand what happened. Then, knowing Choki
won the match, they shouted and applauded with admiration. Some of
them excitedly threw their money and precious watches into the
ring.Choki jumped and hit the back of Johnson's ear with his fist.
Choki Motobu or Motobu Saaruu's jumping and karate skills were
really amazing.

The match was reported widely all over the country by newspapers and
magazines, so the name of Choki Motobu and the power of karate
became very famous. Some people visited him for asking him to teach
them karate.
Choki also taught at university by request. When he taught there,
the Okinawan student acting as interpreter was always beside him, as
Choki could not speak Yamatoguchi(=standard Japanese language). The
interpreter translated Choki's explanation of Kata etc in
Uchinaaguchi(=Okinawan dialect) into standard Japanese. His
illiteracy and lack of education might be helping to make a bad
image of Choki such as a rude and rough fighter who has no good
manners and so on. But in fact, he was polite and very rigid in good
manners not only for himself but also for his disciples.

In about 1937 or 1938 Choki was in Okinawa, while his family was
left in Osaka. A judo teacher whose name is Sudo came to Okinawa
from Japan to study karate. He was a black belt of 8th Dan (later he
became 10th Dan). He visited Mr. Kojun Yamashiro who was also a judo
teacher at the Second Middle School (=now Naha High School). Sudo
visited many karateka(=karate players) in Okinawa. One day he came
to Choki and challenged him to a match. Choki accepted the
challenge. They made rules before playing a match, because they
might be severely injured or damaged if they really fight each other
with real karate techniques without any rule or restriction.

Choki and Sudo took a fighting stance, and watched sharply each
other without moving. One minute passed. Two minutes passed. "I
can't win. Please teach me karate!" said Sudo with loosening the
stance.I suppose a true martial artist can see his opponent's
ability and power if he look at the opponent's sharp eye when they
face each other.Since that day, Sudo, a judo teacher came to Choki
every day to study karate. He learned how to fight with a man
wielding a knife, how he should respond by karate techniques if
surrounded by many men, and so on. He studied practical karate by
Choki Motobu, the pioneer of combative karate.There is another
episode related to this match. When Choki met with Sudo to have a
match, he wore Haori-Hakama(=a Japanese traditional black kimono
with a coat over it, a formal suit at that time). He thought an
ordinary clothes was lacking good manners, so Mr. Nakama, his
disciple rented Haori-Hakama, a formal clothes for him. Choki did
not have any formal clothes.

There are very few books of Choki Motobu. It is regrettable that
there is no comprehensive book of Choki's Kumite(=sparring)
techniques. I wish he had written such books. In fact, Choki had a
plan for publishing karate books. There was the manuscript written
at his dictation. When he was about to go to Osaka again, he asked
Mr. Nakama to keep the manuscript for him. "Please send it to me
immediately if I ask you." said Choki. It was a very thick
manuscript. Mr. Nakama copied it in his four notebooks. Some days
later, Mr. Nakama was asked to send the manuscript to Choki in Osaka
soon. But eventually the book was not published. In fact, Choki sold
his manuscript to someone else just for money. He had no choice but
to sell it, because he needed money to pay the hospital. He had been
in hospital due to ill.

Mr. Nakama's notebooks of the manuscript copy had been burnt to
ashes due to air raid in Okinawa during World War Two. To whom or
which publisher did Choki sell the original manuscript? Does that
manuscript still exist?

The content of the manuscript consists of karate history, Kata,
application of Kata, sparring techniques and so on. It must have
been a comprehensive book of Choki Motobu's karate studies.People
frowned on Choki's karate, as they thought his was just for the
purpose of fighting. However, the truth was that he was always
earnest or very serious about karate. Considering this, it is quite
regrettable that Choki's comprehensive book made by all his life did
not appear after all.
But it may be suitable for Choki Motobu who very rarely accepted
disciples as he was afraid that his karate techniques might
be "stolen". If he were still alive, maybe he would tell us not
to "steal" other karateka's techniques but to create by ourselves.

Choki Motobu also known as Saaruu of Motobu was a legend even while
he was still alive, because he was a strong man, and he had natural-
born ability of martial arts. He sought a combative karate. He
always challenged to street fights. So there were a lot of fighting
stories about him. It made him a legend in the process of
transmitting the exaggerated stories to the public. Some people
says "That�fs because he is a "Paafuchaa" (= a bigmouth or a bragger
in Okinawan dialect). Most of his fighting stories are
questionalble."

In fact I have found small discrepancy in the situation when I
investigated stories about Choki, even among stories which are said
to be heard directly from him. Maybe that�fs why he was called a
Paafuchaa.

The person whose ability is better than others got the best and the
worst reputations at the same time in his or her days. Choki is not
a exception, either. Even today the reputation about Choki and his
karate varies depending on who talks about him.

Some say that Choki Motobu is the strongest warrior in Okinawa. With
his combative karate, he contributed to promotion of karate and let
people know how powerful karate is. Others say that his karate is
just for fights, and it is out of the Way of Karate-Do. He is
not "Bushi" but "Busaa". "Bushi" is a karate expert who is not only
good at karate but also is very well-mannered and observes the
proprieties. On the other hand, "Busaa" is good at fighting, but he
just shows off his fighting skill. He is a violent man in a short.

Choki Motobu was called "Paafuchaa" (= a bigmouth or a bragger in
Okinawan dialect), a great contributor to promotion of karate, a
violent man. What kind of man was he?

Unfortunately, there are few articles written about Choki. Even if
we find them, they tell us only about karate. There is no book
written by Choki himself. He had been so enthusiastic about training
in karate since childhood, he did not learn how to read or write. He
was almost illiterate. I have a book entitled "Okinawa Kenpo Karate-
Jutsu: Kumite by Choki Motobu" illustrated with photos of Kumite.
But this book was written by dictation from Choki.

I need to interview directly with the persons who were close to
Choki in order to find the true image of him. They talked about him
that he was a strong fighter, but they talked less about his private
life or his personality. One of them said to me, "Sorry, I can�ft
tell you about him. If I talk about him, it will sound as if I
slander him."

Among them, I think the story talked by Mr. Nakama gave me the most
real image of Choki Motobu who was also called Saaruu of Motobu.
Therefore, I, Seijin Jahana, wrote this article based on the story
told by Mr. Chozo Nakama.

END

http://yamada-san.blogspot.com