Matsumura Shorin Ryu Karate 

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By GEORGE W. ALEXANDER                                           
Hanshi,10th Dan, President, ISKKF

 
Okinawa, Japan is the birthplace of karate and Shorin Ryu karate is the oldest and most traditional form of this Okinawan martial art. The fighting strategy of Shorin Ryu Karate is predicated on pure self-defense. It uses "fast and hard" retaliatory kicks and punches to subdue an opponent and to end a confrontation quickly.

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Certain elements of fighting tactics long used in Okinawa as part of Shorin Ryu’s
strategy include the proper use of distance, speed and timing. Using distance (maai) correctly means engaging an opponent so as to be at a distance at which you must advance one step to attack, or retreat one step to defend.

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Shorin Ryu Karate's Philosophy of Self Defense

It must be recognized that real self-defense is not just about studying techniques contained in the Shorin Ryu karate system. Real self-defense is not about fighting. It is about awareness. The basic philosophy of Shorin Ryu's self-defense system is to detect and avoid threatening situations and if necessary, to break physical contact by escaping from it.