Finally got my password reset so I can access this blog again!

Japan Tsunami and Destruction

Tragedy in Japan

Fortunately Mr. Yamaguchi's family did not suffer any personal injuries during the recent earthquake and tsunami that hit Japan.  They remail at their homes in Tokyo, and the Honbu Dojo for I.K.G.A. Goju-Kai Karate-Do is still intact.

I pray for their continued safety and for the recovery efforts that will take years to complete.

One 2010 Goal Met

One 2010 Goal Met

On Sunday, June 27, 2010, I participated in a promotional examination at our Dojo.  Today, I checked our Dojo's website and noted that Sensei had promoted me once again.  It felt great to see that Sensei and the other examiners recognized that I had made enough progress over the past couple of years to qualify for a raise in my ranking within our system.  The black belt level that I have attained is not as important to me as the knowledge that I have gained over the years of training in Goju-Ryu Karate-Do.  When I think of all the fun I've had training with my Dojo mates on a weekly basis, and the time that Sensei has shared with all of us, I feel very privelegded and thankful for having been able to participate as a member of our Dojo.  

It feels great to have reached one of the goals which I set a couple of years ago. 

And now, it's back to hard training in anticipation of a future invitation from Sensei to attend another promotional examination sometime in the next three to five years. 

Sensei will let me know when he thinks I'm ready!

The Legend of Choki Motobu

The Legend of Choki Motobu

(Full Version)

Translated by Sanzinsoo

Remarks: This is a complete translation of the article written by Mr. Seijin Jahana, the original title "Choki Motobu, a Forerunner of Combative Karate" appeared in the monthly magazine "Aoi Umi" (Blue Sea) No.70 February 1978 issue (pages 106-110). This number features articles on Okinawan karate masters. The magazine was published in Okinawa but was already discontinued.

"I was in Okinawa in 1978. It seemed to rain soon in the early evening. I had to find his house soon, so I became hasty. A few drops of rain fell on my head when I succeeded in finding the home of Mr. Chozo Nakama, 80 years old, which was surrounded by a board wall.

When I was allowed to enter the house, the rain started falling. The ground of the courtyard was stamped flat. Maybe it was Mr. Nakama's training place of karate. There was a barbell got wet in the rain.

Mr. Nakama was awarded "Hanshi" (the highest title), 9th Dan (degree) black belt. He teaches karate at 7:30 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday and Friday at a community center in Sakiyama, Shuri, Okinawa. He learned karate directly from Choki Motobu (1871-1944). It was about 1940 that Choki Motobu opened his own Dojo (a training hall) in Nishishinmachi (Kumecho now), Naha city after returning to Okinawa from Osaka, Japan.

I visited Mr. Nakama to hear the stories about his teacher, Choki Motobu during that time.

Choki Motobu passed away at his mistress's home in Tomari, Okinawa at the year when World War Two broke out. He died at the age of 73. His life was always with karate and karate.

He was born in Akahira, Shuri, Okinawa as the third son of Motobu Udun (a feudal lord) in 1871. His elder brother was Choyu Motobu, the founder of Motobu-ryu karate. Choki Motobu was a rough fighter by nature. He began thrusting Makiwara (a thrusting board) when he was a child and studied karate in his own way. Genius shows itself even in childhood. "Let's play karate fight, Grandpa!" He often said to his uncle who was "Ufuchiku" (a police sergeant) as well as a teacher of Kobudo (Okinawan classical weaponry arts) and used to visit Choki's father's home to have a chat.

Since he became strong enough after training in his own way, almost every night he went to a bar district such as Tsujimachi, and challenged a man who looks strong to street-fighting. Because of this, his reputation among karateka at that time was very bad. No one at his age could defeat him. Maybe he thought his street-fighting was one of his karate training.

Choki's fighting skills were created in the real fights, although people frowned upon his street-fighting. They said his fighting skills were full of variety and amazing. He created his Kumite (sparring) techniques by himself. He rarely accepted disciples, as he was afraid that his Kumite (sparring) techniques might be "stolen".

Although Choki studied karate in his own way, in fact he had three teachers. His first teacher was Anko Itosu, but he was soon refused to see Master Itosu, as Master Itosu received complaints about Choki's street-fighting.

His second teacher was Shitsunen Tokumine. Master Tokumine was a heavy drinker. Choki brought a bottle of Sake (rice liquor) to him as a lesson fee. But later one day, Master Tokumine was very drunk and disorderly in Tsujimachi. He had a big fight with dozens of "Chikusaji" (policemen) there, and eventually he was arrested by the police and exiled to a remote island in Yaeyama (Ishigaki islands). He passed away in the remote island. Master Tokumine was a expert in karate and staff fighting arts. Chotoku Kyan alias Kyan Miigwaa (small eyes) visited Yaeyama to learn Kata of staff fighting arts from Master Tokumine, however, at that time Master Tokumine had already passed away. Fortunately the owner of a small inn where Master Tokumine once stayed, had learned the Kata of staff fighting arts directly from Master Tokumine, so he taught the Kata to Master Kyan. In Yaeyama today still remains the Kata of staff fighting arts whose name is "Tokumine No Kun" (The staff fighting arts of Master Tokumine).

After Master Tokumine was exiled to a remote island, Choki Motobu went to the karate Dojo of Master Kosaku Matsumora. When he asked the Master to teach him karate, he changed his name as Sesoko, not Motobu. He was afraid that Master Matsumora might also refuse to see him like his first teacher Master Anko Itosu. He was accepted by the Master Matsumora, but soon Choki's bad reputation of street-fighting disclosed his true name Choki Motobu alias Motobu Saaruu (monkey). The Master Matsumora called him and questioned.

"Why did you tell me a lie that your name is Sesoko?"

"It's true, Master. I wouldn't tell you a lie. My name is not only Motobu but also Sesoko. My mother's family name is Sesoko. I was brought up in my mother's village when I was a child."

"I see. Never tell a lie!"

"No, never!"

Then he was formally accepted as a disciple.

Choki was very frank and open-minded, so he did not care about money at all. He always spent all the money he had. It was his later period of his life. When Mr. Nakama visited Choki's home, Choki invited him to go for a walk. At that time Choki received a pocket money with the exact amount for a meal, a taxi and so on from his mistress who had been living with him since staying in Osaka. She was worried that he would spend all the money with him if she gave him some extra money.

Needless to say, Choki could not save money. He could not make money either. His horse-carriage business in Okinawa was failed, so he and his family went to Osaka, Japan in about 1921.

There is a famous story that Choki had a match with a professional boxer when he was in Osaka. He worked as a guard at a cotton factory. It was an owner of a rooming house where Choki lived who suggested him to play a match with a boxer. The owner found an advertisement in the newspaper that a promoter seeking an opponent of a Russian boxer, Johnson. He explained the advertisement to Choki who could not read letters, and for a joke he suggested Choki to apply for this offer. Choki agreed with his suggestion seriously at once. The owner of a rooming house was surprised to hear Choki's reply, but he made an application for Choki.

Well, on the day of the boxing match, the ringside was crowded with a lot of people. The tall and big Russian boxer versus short Choki.

That man (Choki) must be a fool!" said many spectators.

Choki was told to put on the boxing gloves, but he refused to put on them.

"He is really crazy!" said the spectators again.

In the first round, the big Russian boxer was driving Choki into a corner of the ring. The boxer was stronger and tougher than expected. "I cannot defeat him. I will lose." thought Choki. "But If I easily lose this match, I would be very very sorry for my Okinawan fellow students of karate." The first round was over with much difficulty for Choki.

In the second round, the professional boxer, Johnson maybe thought that this match was too easy for him. He charged toward Choki with less guard. Seeing the unguarded moment, Choki immediately jumped. The big body of Johnson fell down to the mat. In a moment the spectators could not understand what happened. Then, knowing Choki won the match, they shouted and applauded with admiration. Some of them excitedly threw their money and precious watches into the ring.Choki jumped and hit the back of Johnson's ear with his fist. Choki Motobu or Motobu Saaruu's jumping and karate skills were really amazing.

The match was reported widely all over the country by newspapers and magazines, so the name of Choki Motobu and the power of karate became very famous. Some people visited him for asking him to teach them karate.

Choki also taught at university by request. When he taught there, the Okinawan student acting as interpreter was always beside him, as Choki could not speak Yamatoguchi (standard Japanese language). The interpreter translated Choki's explanation of Kata etc in Uchinaaguchi (Okinawan dialect) into standard Japanese. His illiteracy and lack of education might be helping to make a bad image of Choki such as a rude and rough fighter who has no good manners and so on. But in fact, he was polite and very rigid in good manners not only for himself but also for his disciples.

In about 1937 or 1938 Choki was in Okinawa, while his family was left in Osaka. A judo teacher whose name is Sudo came to Okinawa from Japan to study karate. He was a black belt of 8th Dan (later he became 10th Dan). He visited Mr. Kojun Yamashiro who was also a judo teacher at the Second Middle School (now Naha High School). Sudo visited many karateka (karate players) in Okinawa. One day he came to Choki and challenged him to a match. Choki accepted the challenge. They made rules before playing a match, because they might be severely injured or damaged if they really fight each other with real karate techniques without any rule or restriction.

Choki and Sudo took a fighting stance, and watched sharply each other without moving. One minute passed. Two minutes passed. "I can't win. Please teach me karate!" said Sudo with loosening the stance. I suppose a true martial artist can see his opponent's ability and power if he look at the opponent's sharp eye when they face each other. Since that day, Sudo, a judo teacher came to Choki every day to study karate. He learned how to fight with a man wielding a knife, how he should respond by karate techniques if surrounded by many men, and so on. He studied practical karate by Choki Motobu, the pioneer of combative karate. There is another episode related to this match. When Choki met with Sudo to have a match, he wore Haori-Hakama(a Japanese traditional black kimono with a coat over it, a formal suit at that time). He thought an ordinary clothes was lacking good manners, so Mr. Nakama, his disciple rented Haori-Hakama, a formal clothes for him. Choki did not have any formal clothes.

There are very few books of Choki Motobu. It is regrettable that there is no comprehensive book of Choki's Kumite (sparring) techniques. I wish he had written such books. In fact, Choki had a plan for publishing karate books. There was the manuscript written at his dictation. When he was about to go to Osaka again, he asked Mr. Nakama to keep the manuscript for him. "Please send it to me immediately if I ask you." said Choki. It was a very thick manuscript. Mr. Nakama copied it in his four notebooks. Some days later, Mr. Nakama was asked to send the manuscript to Choki in Osaka soon. But eventually the book was not published. In fact, Choki sold his manuscript to someone else just for money. He had no choice but to sell it, because he needed money to pay the hospital. He had been in hospital due to ill.

Mr. Nakama's notebooks of the manuscript copy had been burnt to ashes due to air raid in Okinawa during World War Two. To whom or which publisher did Choki sell the original manuscript? Does that manuscript still exist?

The content of the manuscript consists of karate history, Kata, application of Kata, sparring techniques and so on. It must have been a comprehensive book of Choki Motobu's karate studies.People frowned on Choki's karate, as they thought his was just for the purpose of fighting. However, the truth was that he was always earnest or very serious about karate. Considering this, it is quite regrettable that Choki's comprehensive book made by all his life did not appear after all.

But it may be suitable for Choki Motobu who very rarely accepted disciples as he was afraid that his karate techniques might be "stolen". If he were still alive, maybe he would tell us not to "steal" other karateka's techniques but to create by ourselves.

Choki Motobu also known as Saaruu of Motobu was a legend even while he was still alive, because he was a strong man, and he had natural-born ability of martial arts. He sought a combative karate. He always challenged to street fights. So there were a lot of fighting stories about him. It made him a legend in the process of transmitting the exaggerated stories to the public. Some people says "That’s because he is a "Paafuchaa" (a braggart in Okinawan dialect). Most of his fighting stories are questionalble."

In fact I have found small discrepancy in the situation when I investigated stories about Choki, even among stories which are said to be heard directly from him. Maybe that’s why he was called a Paafuchaa.

The person whose ability is better than others got the best and the worst reputations at the same time in his or her days. Choki is not a exception, either. Even today the reputation about Choki and his karate varies depending on who talks about him.

Some say that Choki Motobu is the strongest warrior in Okinawa. With his combative karate, he contributed to promotion of karate and let people know how powerful karate is. Others say that his karate is just for fights, and it is out of the Way of Karate-Do. He is not "Bushi" but "Busaa". "Bushi" is a karate expert who is not only good at karate but also is very well-mannered and observes the proprieties. On the other hand, "Busaa" is good at fighting, but he just shows off his fighting skill. He is a violent man in a short.

Choki Motobu was called "Paafuchaa" (a braggart in Okinawan dialect), a great contributor to promotion of karate, a violent man. What kind of man was he?

Unfortunately, there are few articles written about Choki. Even if we find them, they tell us only about karate. There is no book written by Choki himself. He had been so enthusiastic about training in karate since childhood, he did not learn how to read or write. He was almost illiterate. I have a book entitled "Okinawa Kenpo Karate-Jutsu: Kumite by Choki Motobu" illustrated with photos of Kumite. But this book was written by dictation from Choki.

I need to interview directly with the persons who were close to Choki in order to find the true image of him. They talked about him that he was a strong fighter, but they talked less about his private life or his personality. One of them said to me, "Sorry, I can’t tell you about him. If I talk about him, it will sound as if I slander him."

Among them, I think the story talked by Mr. Nakama gave me the most real image of Choki Motobu who was also called Saaruu of Motobu. Therefore, I, Seijin Jahana, wrote this article based on the story told by Mr. Chozo Nakama.

End"

Zen Meditations

A Meditation from Daily Zen, a favorite link of mine.

"To become a bodhisattva:

You should be a mop.
I take care of the dirt,
And give clean things to others.
I'm almost nothing,
And I'm proud of that.
Strangers think I'm dust,
And I live with that disgrace,
I don't lose the truth of the heart.
I urge you, my disciples, to write these words
On the broad belt so you never forget.

    Jinkag Haesim (1178-1234)"

I like to check out Daily Zen and then it's time for my run!

Bamboo and Personal Fitness Results

There is an old saying about growing Bamboo:

The first year it sleeps
The second year it creeps
The third year it leaps!

I was thinking about bamboo on my run today.  If you plant bamboo in your garden it will take about three years before the bamboo shoots up to a significant height.  Which means that for a significant period of time as the plants gain strength nothing much can be seen of that strength.  The bamboo is getting stronger but no one can see that happening.  The bamboo's potential for great growth and beauty is not visible.  It's only after a somewhat long period of time before anyone can see the results of all the hard work that was going on under the surface for such a long period of time.  And then during the third year, after the bamboo has shot up to a great height, you hear people saying "Wow, what a beautiful bamboo garden, I didn't know you planted one!"

That's kind of the same thing that happens when you start a personal fitness routine.  You train hard every day and those around you don't see any immediate visible results.  Even though a lot of hard work has taken place for a long period of time.  And then after months and months of hard training and correct eating, you start hearing people say "Wow, you really look great, have you been working out?" 

Isn't it funny how much a person can change and grow before anyone else recognizes the beautiful changes and the great amount of growth that has taken place?

A lot of our personal growth happens on the inside, well out of sight of the casual observer.  I guess that's just the natural way of things. 

The same way that the bamboo grows.

Oral History about Kanryo Higaonna

"Oral History about Kanryo Higaonna handed down by disciples of Seiko Higa"

by Akio Kinjo

Translated by Sanzinsoo

Remarks: This is a part of the book "Karate Denshinroku” (= True History of Karate) written by Mr. Akio Kinjo, a karate researcher and a kungfu instructor in Okinawa. Pages 35-40 (Okinawa Tosho Center, 1999)

"I started researching on karate when I entered Ryukyu University in 1955, but soon I found it very difficult or almost impossible to do so due to a small number of books or written materials on karate. I visited the university library and many other large libraries to find valuable books on karate, but I could not find them. Even if I found a historical article regarding the origin of karate, it was always very simple and short sentences consisting of about five or six lines. Its content was also not so new to me.

Therefore, I started collecting oral history about karate. The most precious and concrete oral history was obtained from grand master Seiko Higa of Goju Ryu. At that time Sensei Higa established a karate Dojo (= a training hall) in front of Itoman Primary School. I practiced karate there. After the practice, I used to talk with Sensei Higa about karate. We were so absorbed in talking that we forgot about the time. His stories were not only interesting but also very important as materials for researching on karate.

Seiko Higa’s father is Seishu Higa. Seishu Higa is a distant relative of Kanryo Higaonna who brought karate of Naha style to Okinawa from Fuzhou city, Fujian province, China. As Seishu Higa and Kanryo Higaonna were good friends, drinking Sake (= rice liquor) they used to talk about Kanryo’s memories in Fuzhou, China and his karate training there. At that time Seiko Higa was still a boy and he sat beside his father and listened their conversation with much interest. That is why he had a rich and concrete oral history about Kanryo Higaonna.

There are two disciples of Seiko Higa who were handed down the oral history from him and know more details than me. One is the deceased Choshin Ishimine and the other is Saburo Higa, an acupuncturist. Sensei Choshin Ishimine was the best among disciples of Sensei Seiko Higa. When he was young, he was devoting all his time and energy to karate training with Sensei Higa. His performance of Suparinpe is so excellent that no one could do better than him. I think that in 1953 there were only five or six karateka who could perform Suparinpe well.

Sensei Ishimine taught me karate enthusiastically as he was not only my karate teacher but also my cousin. He also had “Bubishi”, the secret book of karate which was handed down from generation to generation by copying the book within the high-ranking disciples of Gojuryu. At that time I was a high school student and could not understand the content of the book at all, but I copied the “Bubishi” carefully. I still keep it at hand now. This precious book is very useful to solve the mysteries of karate.

The disciples of Sensei Choshin Ishimine are Mr. Yasuichi Ishimine, the chief instructor of Kobukan, Mr. Riki Uechi residing in Miyako Island, Mr. Tsuneo Kashima, the chief instructor of Miyako-Kobukan, Mr. Atsushi Kuwae, the chief instructor of Shumyokan in Yonabaru. They were also handed down the same oral history as mine. As for karate of Shuri style, I succeeded in collecting precious oral history from Sensei Choshin Chibana of Kobayashi-ryu, Sensei Chozo Nakama and Sensei Hohan Soken of Shorin-ryu Matsumura Seitoha.

Recently I also succeeded in collecting oral history from Sensei Seikichi Higa (Seiko Higa’s son), the president of Gojuryu International Karate Kobudo Federation, Sensei Shinpo Matayoshi, the president of All Okinawa Kobudo Federation, and Sensei Eiichi Miyazato, the president of Gojuryu Karatedo Association.

Based on the above-mentioned materials in Okinawa and the materials I obtained in Fujian Province, China when I studied kungfu there, I have been trying to solve the secrets of karate.

The oral history that I collected from Sensei Seiko Higa, Sensei Choshin Ishimine and Mr. Saburo Higa is as follows.

(1) The name of Chinese master of Kanryo Higaonna is phonetically: To Ru Ko or To Lu Ko or Ru Ru or Lu Lu or Ka Chin Ga Ru Ru or Ka Chin Ga Lu Lu or Ru Ru Ko or Lu Lu Ko. No one knows his exact name. It is so confused that no one knows which is correct, which is his surname and which is his own name. Chinese characters for his name are not available either.

(2) Wai Shin Zan and To Ru Ko were famous as two great kungfu masters in Fujian province.

(3) Wai Shin Zan was a military officer. To Ru Ko ran his own kungfu school as a chief instructor.

(4) To Ru Ko was not from Fuzhou. He immigrated to Fuzhou from other village or town. His house was near river or sea.

(5) To Ru Ko came to Ryukyu (= Okinawa) together with Wai Shin Zan as a military attache of Sappushi (= a kind of ambassador of Chinese Emperor).

Translator's Note: According to Seikichi Higa, To Ru Ko's visit to Ryukyu is questionable.

(6) No one knows the nickname of Kanryo Higaonna in China or how he was called by Chinese people.

(7) After arriving in Fuzhou, China, Kanryo Higaonna visited Wai Shin Zan to ask for kungfu training. But Wai Shin Zan did not accept him, because military officers were not allowed to teach martial arts to civilians. So he recommended Higaonna to go to the kungfu school of Master To Ru Ko.

(8) There were a lot of burnt-out incense cores at the front altar of To Ru Ko’s Dojo (= a training hall).

(9) Kanryo Higaonna worked as a ferryman during his early days in China.

(10) Kanryo Higaonna was not taught anything at all by To Ru Ko for some period just after joining the kungfu school, but he had to do household chores of To Ru Ko family. He only trained with implements or tools.

(11) When the river flooded, Kanryo Higaonna came to the home of To Ru Ko by boat and rescued his family. At the risk of his life, Higaonna saved To Ru Ko’s daughter from drowning when she was carried away by a heavy flood. He often talked about his memory of this very risky event to his disciples in Okinawa.

(12) After the flood subsided, Master To Ru Ko said to Kanryo Higaonna, “Thanks to your brave act, we were rescued from the flood. You have saved our life. We are very grateful to you for your help. As a reward I will take care of your traveling expenses for returning to your country, Ryukyu (= Okinawa). Tell me how much you need.” Then Kanryo Higaonna replied, “Master, I came to Fuzhou all the way from Ryukyu to learn kungfu. I have been holding on patiently until you teach me kungfu. As for the expenses for returning to Ryukyu, I think I can manage by myself. Master, please teach me kungfu!” Since then, Kanryo Higaonna became a formal disciple of Master To Ru Ko. He learned and studied hard many kungu secrets and in-depth techniques of kungfu from his master.

(13) On the night of August 15 of the old lunar calendar, the students of To Ru Ko and the students of Wai Shin Zan held a party on the boat to see the beautiful moon. At the party, there was a fight between Kanryo Higaonna and the strongest student of Wai Shin Zan.

(14) To decide who won or lost the fight, the masters held a competition of strength and Kata (= kungfu forms) between the two students. Kanryo Higaonna performed Kata very well with striking at lightning speed, kicking and very fast movements of his body. Seeing Kanryo Higaonna’s awesome and magnificent Kata performance, the strongest student of Wai Shi Zan accepted his master’s advice and was reconciled with Kanryo Higaonna.

(15) Kanryo Higaonna mastered kungfu so well that eventually he acted as an assistant chief instructor at the Dojo.

(16) One day Kanryo Higaonna asked the master for permission to return to Ryukyu (= Okinawa). The master replied to him, “I am so old that I cannot teach kungfu any longer. If you wish to return to your country, you have to continue teaching kungfu to my students here some years more so that some of them could become my successors.”

(17) Some years later, when Kanryo Higaonna was about to go back to Ryukyu, the master gave him a spear shaft that is cut off. He said to Kanryo Higaonna, “This is for you. This spear shaft was cut off when I fought with a tough opponent who was very good at sword fighting art. Although my spear was cut off, but I won the battle. It was my hardest memory. I give you this spear shaft as a keepsake. Keep this well with you.”

(18) When Kanryo Higaonna was going back to Ryukyu, Master To Ru Ko was very old. His eyesight was also bad. (This is an oral history from Sensei Eiichi Miyazato, one of senior students of Grand Master Chojun Miyagi.)

(19) Kanryo Higaonna’s karate of Naha style was created by Master To Ru Ko. He created it by combining his kungfu with techniques of various styles.

(20) The prototype of Sanchin that Kanryo Higaonna taught in the early days in Okinawa is as follows.

1- Different from today’s Sanchin, your hands should be always open hands (= Nukite or spear-hand), not closed hands or fists.

2- You strike with Nukite (= spear-hand) very quickly and bring back your hand to the basic Sanchin position.

3- The sound of breathing almost cannot be heard. When your Nukite is brought back to the basic Sanchin position, you make the short and sharp sound of breathing.

4- In the late days, Kanryo Higaonna modified the striking speed of Sanchin; changing the very quick striking into the slow motion.

(21) Chojun Miyagi went to Fuzhou, China on business of tea trading. After returning to Okinawa, he asked Sensei Kanryo Higaonna about Sanchin in China, “In Fuzhou, China, they were breathing with the sound ‘Haa Haa’ or ‘Fuu Fuu’ like a giant snake roaring when they performed Sanchin. Why don't we have such a breathing way?” Sensei Higaonna replied, “Theirs are authentic. And ours are authentic, too.” Then again Chojun Miyagi asked, “If so, will you teach me their breathing way with the sound?” Sensei Higaonna replied immediately, “You are too young to learn it.”

(22) After Sensei Higaonna passed away, Chojun Miyagi began teaching karate at a commercial school in Naha. About at that time, he modified Sanchin gradually. He changed open hands into closed hands or fists when he struck and pulled back. Later he made sounds when he was breathing in and breathing out. Eventually he made Sanchin of Goju-Ryu as we are doing now.
(23) Kanryo Higaonna was illiterate, so we have no written records by him.

(24) In China, if you wish to study kungfu, you have to pay a lot of money to your kungfu master. Sensei Higaonna called such a kungfu as Hanchinti (= a business karate or a making-money karate.)

(25) Sensei Seiko Higa said, “Sensei Kanryo Higaonna has mastered so many techniques of kungfu, because he was the formal direct disciple, not an ordinary student.”