Carter Karate Dojo - Master Hohan Soken

HOHAN SOKEN was born on May the 25th, 1889. He began his training in 1902 at the age of thirteen. He was the only student of his uncle Nabe Matsumura, (grandson of the famous Bushi Matsumura). His training was to last 76 years. Soken had to work in the fields as a youth in spite of his Samurai heritage. This was due to a political reorganization in the Ryukyu Islands and all of Japan as a result of the Meiji restoration.

After ten years of basic training under Nabe Matsumura, Soken began learning the techniques of the white crane or Hakutsuru. This was in 1912 when he was twenty-three years old. According to Soken, this was a secret technique or training methodology which was confined to the Matsumura family. Bushi Matsumura had learned the white crane system in China. Soken's instruction in the white crane technique emphasized balance training.

Hohan Soken image

Master Hohan Soken (left).

To increase balance, Soken was instructed to practice his white crane kata and kumite while balancing on a floating slab of wood. Soken also sought out other instructors to study under, among them was Master Ushi no Tanme, of Nishihara Village, who practiced and taught kobudo that he had learned from an old samurai named Chikin Kraka. Master Chikin Kraka was also known by his Japanese name, Tsuken Mantaka. He is best known for teaching the "Chikin no Bo" kata to Hohan Soken, who continued training with both Sensei Nabe and Sensei Ushi.

Master Soken also trained for a while with Kenwa Mabuni (1889-1953) and Gokenki, a Chinese tea merchant living in Okinawa. Gokenki, Soken, Mabuni and several other Okinawans all trained together as a group. Gokenki's style was Hakutsuru Kenpo (white crane fist style) and he was from the Fukien coast of China.

In 1920 Master Soken moved to Argentina where he remained for 25 years. Upon his return to Okinawa in 1945 he found that karate had greatly changed, sport karate had all but replaced the ancient methods. Soken did not change, he valued himself as the last of the Old Masters. He refused to join some of the more fashionable karate associations, preferring to stay with the old ways.

He did much to cause the rebirth of interest in Kobudo. Master Soken was proficient with many kobudo weapons, however he taught mainly the Bo, Sai, Tonfa, Kama, Nunchaku, Kamagusari and surichin. During his time Master Soken was one of the top kobudo masters in Okinawa, and was president of the All Okinawan Kobujutsu Association.

Master Soken retired from karate in 1978, and passed on his system to Master Fusei Kise, naming him his successor and passing on his Menkyo-Kaiden to him. Grand Master Hohan Soken died on the 1st of December 1982, for many years he was the oldest living and participating karate master on Okinawa.

"I have taught you all I know. There is no more I can teach you. I am a candle whose light has traveled far. You are my candles to whom I have passed on my light. It is you who will light the path for others. Today I see around me the lights of Shaolin. The flame of tomorrow. My task is done, soon my flame will end. Teach the true spirit of karate-do and one day you may enter the Temple of Shaolin".