"TODE" SAKUGAWA

( 1733 - 1815 )

Born in Akata Chow, a section of Shuri City on Okinawa, Sakugawa was to become a major figure in the history of karate. His life can be thought of as having three important aspects: student, innovator and Sensei.

According to an article by Ed Goble, Sakugawa was born in Shuri Toribori on March 3, 1733 and died on August 17, 1815 at the age of 82. Sakugawa Satunushi was a samurai. His dying father suggested that he learn the fighting arts. In Akata village, Shuri, Sakugawa found his teacher -- Peichin Takahara (1683-1760). Takahara was a monk, mapmaker and astronomer.

Sakugawa began his studies under Takahara, Peichin (1683-1760). Peichin is a title of status. Further training came from the famous and mysterious Chinese master, Kusanku, (Ko Sokun, Kung Hsiang-chun), a Chinese envoy who settled in Okinawa for some time. At that time Sakugawa was granted permission from Takahara, Peichin to train under Kusanku.

Legend has it that on Takahara's death bed, he gave Sakugawa the name "Tode," which means "China (T'ang) Hand."

When Kusanku returned to China, Sakugawa followed him and remained in China for six years to study Kempo with him. He returned to Okinawa in 1762 to introduce this fighting method. After learning Chinese Kempo and Okinawa Te, he decided to join the two and started to teach 'Karate', Chinese (Tang) hand in Okinawa. Combining what both his teachers had taught him, he structured a training system. This made him the first Okinawan teacher of "Tode". He is also credited with the Dojo "Kun" or precepts and establishing dojo etiquette on Okinawa. This must in someway show his concern for the moral behaviour of martial artists of his time. Before long, Sakugawa was considered an expert in the Chinese hand fighting method.

Sakugawa became a famous samurai, and was given the title of 'Satunuky' or 'Satunushi' for his services to the Okinawa King. 'Satunushi' is a title within the Gentry class which was part of a social, economic and political structure of Okinawa at that time. This "Gentry Class" was the third level below the Shizoku class which was second only to the royal family.

The two major kata associated with Sakugawa are, Sakugawa no Kon and the Kusanku kata which was created from the teachings in honor of his teacher. It is also suggested that all Shorin systems could be traced back through Bushi Matsumura to Sakugawa. He has many times been refered to as the "Fountain head" of Karate.

It is said that Sakugawa had befriended a political leader named Sofoku Matsumura. Just prior to the time of his death, he asked Sakugawa to help raise his son, Sokon.

When the young man was asked by the "Great Sakugawa" if he realized that Karate was a lifetime study, Matsumura answered with the understatement, "I will not disappoint you".

It would be Sakagawa's student, Sokon "Bushi" Matsumura, who would be considered the forefather of many Karate styles.

Many of his students rose to greatness. Among them were Chokun Satunku Macabe, Satunuku Ukuda, Chikuntonoshinunjo Matsumoto, Kojo, Yamaguchi ("Bushi" Sakumoto), Unsume, and Sokon "Bushi" Chikatosinumjo Matsumura.