RYOSEI KUWAE

( - )

Ryosei Kuwae was a student of the legendary, Sokon "Bushi" Matsumura. Kuwae was said to be a tall man with strong kicks, and was the last follower of Matsumura.

In "Scientific Karatedo", it is noted that Ryosei Kuwae accompanied Master Chotoku Kyan and Masayoshi Kori Histaka (Seiki Kudaka) to Taiwan in 1930. He is supposed to have stayed on in Taiwan, while Kyan returned to Japan. Hisataka continued his martial arts journey to China, Mongolia, Russia, Afghanistan, eventually returning to Japan.

In "Tales of Okinawa's Great Masters", by Shoshin Nagamine, founder of Matsubayashi Shorin ryu, it is noted that in 1930 while in Taipei, Taiwan, Master Kyan was challenged in the presence of Hisataka as well as Ryosei Kuwae by a rather prominent Judo instructor by the name of Ishida Shinzo (6th Degree Black Belt - Rokudan in Kodokan Judo).

The following text was from a scroll written by Sokon "Bushi" Matsumura to his prominent student, Ryosei Kuwae. This was the only surviving document in Matsumura's own hand. Fortunately these have been handed down by the Kuwae family and published in several Japanese karate books. Because of their archaic style they are difficult to understand. The intention of the text was illustrating a basic aim of karate - that "spirit and technique are one."...

"Make a firm resolution to master the secrets of martial arts, otherwise go away. you must have firm determination to accomplish the resolution.

The sword and the pen are but one. Literature consists of poetry, exegetics, and Confucianism. A student of poetry works at words and produces sentences in order to seek fame, peerage and fief. A student of exegetics studies Chinese classics to instruct people. He may make a scholar but ignorant of the world. Poetry and exegetics only make people woo fame, thus they are not the true art. Confucianism, however , makes us understand the nature of things. By the teachings on knowledge, honesty, and righteousness one may not only be able to manage a household but govern a country. Thus peace will reign over the land. These are Confucian ideas, the true art.

In the case of martial arts , there are three kinds of pursuers. A scholar pictures many ways of training in his mind so that his moves become like movements of dance; superficial and of no practical use for offense and defense. A normal student of martial arts is a good promiser of victory, but a bad performer. A dispute caused by such a man will harm people as well as himself. It will even bring disgrace upon his parents, brothers and sisters. The true pursuer of martial arts, however, does not idle away his time but accomplishes his talk ingeniously. He controls his mind and watches for a chance. His calm arouses a disturbance among enemies. He then grabs this chance and defeats the enemy. Everything ripens and the mystery of nature shows its secret to the master of martial arts, who has no hesitation or disturbance in his mind even in case of emergency. The power of a tiger and the swiftness of an eagle dwell within him. He defeats enemies completely and shows his loyalty and filial piety.

There are seven virtues in martial arts: the prohibition of violence, the control of soldiers, the support for peoples need, the establishment of distinguished services, the relief of the poor, the settlement of disputes among people and the enrichments of assets. As seen in his teachings, Confucius also praised these virtues. Thus the sword and the pen are one, whereas the scholar's martial arts and the ostensible martial arts are useless. Therefore study the true literary and martial arts. Be sure to watch for a chance and then strike into the enemy. Keep the above words in mind and practice hard. I wish you understand my unreserved words."

Takenaga (Bucho) Matsumura

To Kuwae, my fellow pupil on the thirteenth day of May (c.1882)

(See site www.okinawankarateandkobudoinstitute.com/sokon.htm

You must first resolve to study if you wish to understand the truth of martial arts. This resolve is very important.

Fundamentally, the arts and the martial arts are the same. Each has three fundamental elements.

As far as Art is concerned they are Shisho-no-Gaku, Kunko-no-Gaku and Jussha-no-Gaku.

Shisho-no-Gaku is the art of creative writing and reading - in a word, literature.

Kunko-no-Gaku means to study the past and gain an understanding of ethics by relating past events to our way of life.

Both Shisho-no-Gaku and Kunko-no-Gaku are incomplete until supplemented by Jussha-no-Gaku, (the study of the moral aspects of the teaching of Confucius).

Have a tranquil heart and you can prevail over a village, a country, or the world. The study of Jussha-no-Gaku is the supreme study over both Shisho-no-Gaku and Kunko-no-Gaku. These then are the three elements necessary for the study of the Arts.

If we consider Budo, there are also three precepts. They are Gukushi-no-Bugei, Meimoko-no-Bugei and Budo-no-Bugei.

Gukushi-no-Bugei is nothing more than a technical knowledge of Bugei. Like a woman, it is just superficial and has no depth.

Meimoko-no-Bugei refers to a person who has physical understanding of Bugei. He can be a powerful and violent person who can easily defeat other men. He has no self-control and is dangerous and can even harm his own family.

Budo-no-Bugei is what I admire. With this you can let the enemy destroy himself - just wait with a calm heart and the enemy will defeat himself.

People who practice Budo-no-Bugei are loyal to their friends, their parents and their country. They will do nothing that is unnatural and contrary to nature.

We have "seven virtues of Bu". They are:

Bu prohibits violence.

Bu keeps discipline in soldiers.

Bu keeps control among the population.

Bu spreads virtue.

Bu gives a peaceful heart.

Bu helps keep peace between people.

Bu makes people or a nation prosperous.

Our forefathers handed these seven virtues down to us. Just as Jussha-no-Gaku is supreme in the arts, so Budo-no-Bugei is supreme in the martial arts.

"Mon-Bu" (Art and Martial Arts) have the same common elements. We do not need Gukushi-no-Bugei or Meimoko-no-Bugei - this is the most important thing.

I leave these words to my wise and beloved deshi Kuwae.

- Bucho Matsumura

Choki Motobu, in his book Watashi-no-karate-jutsu he wrote: about a martial artist named ”Yamada (Gike), known for his body steel like Kuwae Ryosei”.

Ryosei Kuwae did not found his own style and little is known of his life or special qualities.