Our empty hand art is based on the Matsubayashi Shorin-Ryu Karate system. This system was founded by Grandmaster (Osensei) Shoshin Nagamine in 1947, and is considered one of the older traditional Okinawan Karate systems that have remained largely unchanged.


Shoshin Nagamine

Matsubayashi was derived by Osensei Nagamine in honor of two great Karate masters of Okinawa, namely Sokon Matsumura and Kosaku Matsumura. Osensei Nagamine started training karate at the age of seventeen in the year 1924. Although he had a number of teachers including Taro Shimabuku, Chojin Kuba and Kodatsu Iha, his primary teachers were Ankichi Arakaki, Chotku Kyan and Choki Motobu.


From left to right: Ankichi Arakaki, Chotoku Kyan, and Choki Motobu

Matsubayashi Shorin Ryu karate consists of 18 kata that have been unchanged since the styles inception, and seven yakusoku kumite exercises that Osensei Nagamine developed based on the fighting ability and influence of Choki Motobu, who remains a legendary figure in the history of Okinawan karate.

Two of the basic katas taught in many of today’s karate systems, namely Fukyugata Ichi and Fukyugata Ni were developed together by Grandmaster Nagamine and the legendary founder of Goju-Ryu karate Grandmaster Chojin Miyagi. In 1997 Nagamine sensei passed away and was recognized as an “Intangible Cultural Asset holder in the Field of Okinawan Karate and Martial Arts with Weaponry by the Okinawa Prefecture”.

Our syllabus includes bunkai, or fighting application from the eighteen kata which are used to better understand and apply the kata moves, as well as to sharpen ones karate skills in general. Matsubayashi Shorin Ryu practitioners also study “Kobujutsu” (weapons science). Weapons include bo, sai, tonfa, nunchaku and kama.

The Shinbukan Dojo of Rio Rancho is an official representative of the World Matsubayashi-Ryu Karate-Do Association (WMKA). The WMKA is currently under the direction of Soke Takayoshi Nagamine, the son of Osensei Shoshin Nagamine. Soke Nagamine holds the rank of 10th dan and is dedicated to preserving the teachings of Matsubayashi-Ryu Karate throughout the world. Soke Nagamine resides in Naha, Okinawa and teaches at the Kodokan Nagamine Karate Dojo, the general headquarters of the World Matsubayshi-Ryu Karate-Do Association.


Soke Takayoshi Nagamine