Sochin Lineage to GKR

Developed by Seisho Aragaki based on his experience in Okinawa-te (the indigenous art of Okinawa) and his training in White Crane Kung Fu. Arakaki was born in 1840 in either Kumemura village (a Chinese settlement on the island of Okinawa found near Naha), or on the nearby island of Sesoku. He was an official in the royal court of Okinawa and as such held the title of Chikudon Peichin (which denoted a status similar to that of the Japanese Samurai). On 24 March 1867, he demonstrated Okinawan martial arts in Shuri city (then the capital of the Okinawa) to a visiting Chinese ambassador; this was a notable event, since experts such as other notable martial artists were still active at that time. Aragaki served as a Chinese language interpreter, and travelled to China in September 1870. His only recorded martial arts instructor from this period was Wai Xinxian (who taught white crane kung fu in the Fujian province).

Born in Shuri city Okinawa in 1889, he began his instruction at the age of 13, under the tutelage of the legendary Yasutsune Anko Itosu (who also taught Gichen Funakoshi). Mabuni was close friends with Chojun Miyagi (who would later create the style of Goju). Miyagi introduced Mabuni to his instructor Kanryo Higaonna (founder of Naha-te) and he began training in Naha-te. Later, Mabuni would found the style of Shito-ryu by taking the aspects of Shuri-te and Naha-te and suiting them to his style and body structure. Mabuni also trained under Higaonna’s instructor, Seisho Aragaki, where he likely learnt Sochin.

Yoshitaka is the son of the famous Gichen Funakoshi. He learned Sochin from Kenwa Mabuni and introduced it into Shotokan. Like most people who integrated a kata from another system, he modified it to suit the Shotokan system’s techniques and ideologies.

While many styles incorporate Sochin, GKR derives it’s from Shotokan karate.