Nishihira Kosei

Kosei Nishihira (Japanese西 平 向 盛; born June 10, 1942 Yonabaru, Okinawa, Japan, † 14 May 2007) was a Japanese karateka and Matsumura Seito Shorin- master of Ryu Karate.

Biography

Kosei Nishihira was born on 10 June 1942 in a small village near Yonabaru south of Okinawa in Japan. From the age of 15, he studied designated as " orthodox " karate style, also known as Shorin- Ryu Matsumura Seito with Master Hohan Soken. The style of Nishihira was very difficult and only a few very carefully chosen " uchi deshi " ( internal students) was taught. Some external students from Japan and the United States of America were also trained, but without some of the techniques to train, as they were considered too dangerous for general use. With the attainment of age 30 Kosei married the daughter of an Okinawan kobudo and was the father of two sons. He opened a bento shop in Nishihara, near his master Hohan Sōkens house. His zeal and commitment led to a close relationship with his Master Soken. Therefore Nishihira used to call him " Tan- mei" ( uncle ). Nishira remained in the vicinity of Grand Master Soken and looked after in old age to him, up to Sōkens death.

Although he kept a low profile for many years, Kosei Nishihira was a grandmaster. Internationally recognized as the heir to the Karate Matsumura Seitos by Grandmaster Soken. Like his master, he gave up his style on only a select student circle.

He died on 14 May 2007 at the age of 64 years.

Various Karateka say Nishihiras students to have been. Nishihira but recognized only a handful as his apprentices: Giuseppe Meloni (representative for Europe), Ricky Rose ( United States) and Theodore Long (Australia). Both Ricky Rose and Theodore Long had also been students of the Master Soken Hohans.

Bibliography

  • Paolo Vaccaro, Shorin- Ryu Matsumura Seito Karate - La vita dei maestri ieri e oggi, Gruppo Editoriale L' Espresso Spa, 2011
  • Ronald L. Lindsey, Okinawa no bushi no te, RR Enterprises, 2011. ISBN 0-6155-3412-0.
  • Tetsuhiro Hokama, Karate Site guidance, Budovideos, 2003
  • Shoshin Nagamine, Tales of Okinawa 's Great Masters, Tuttle Publishing, 2000. ISBN 0-8048-2089-9.
  • Mark Bishop, Okinawan Karate: Teachers, Styles and Secret Techniques, Tuttle Publishing, 1990, ISBN 0-7136-5666-2. .
  • Takayo Nakaya, Karatedo History & Philosophy
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