“Karate Sakugawa”

Kanga Sakugawa 1733 – 1815

“Karate Sakugawa”

Kanga Sakugawaalso as Sakugawa Satunushiand Tode Sakugawa, was an Okinawa martial arts master and major contributor to the development of Te, the precursor to modern karate.

In 1750, Sakukawa (or Sakugawa) began his training as a student of a Ryūkyūan monk, Peichin Takahara. After six years of training, Takahara suggested that Sakugawa train under Kusanku, a Chinese master in Ch'uan Fa.

He also needs to credited with the preservation of Kushanku kata although there are many versions all paths lead back to him and his teacher. He also created a beautiful bo kata Sakugawa No Kon.

Sakukawa spent six years training with Kusanku, and began to spread what he learned to Okinawans in 1762. He became such expert that people gave him, as a nickname: "Tōde" Sakugawa (Sakugawa "Chinese Hand") or Karate Sakugawa.

His most famous student, Matsumura Sōkon began training under Sakugawa when Sakugawa was 78 years of age. Matsumura went on to develop the Shuri-te which later develop into Shōrin-ryū style of karate.