was an Okinawan

martial artist Martial arts are codified systems and traditions of combat practiced for a number of reasons such as self-defense; military and law enforcement applications; competition; physical, mental, and spiritual development; entertainment; and the preserv ...

. Described as a "one punch artist" by some of his American students, Nakazato developed his

karate (; ; Okinawan pronunciation: ) is a martial art developed in the Ryukyu Kingdom. It developed from the indigenous Ryukyuan martial arts (called , "hand"; ''tii'' in Okinawan) under the influence of Chinese martial arts, particularly Fujia ...

sparring into "a fine fighting art". He gave many demonstrations in Japan as well as abroad and had "many well-known students in the USA", Nakazato was designated as an "intangible cultural asset holder" by

Okinawa Prefecture is a prefecture of Japan. Okinawa Prefecture is the southernmost and westernmost prefecture of Japan, has a population of 1,457,162 (as of 2 February 2020) and a geographic area of 2,281 km2 (880 sq mi). Naha is the capital and largest city ...

in 2000. He was awarded the

Order of the Rising Sun The is a Japanese order, established in 1875 by Emperor Meiji. The Order was the first national decoration awarded by the Japanese government, created on 10 April 1875 by decree of the Council of State. The badge features rays of sunlight f ...

, 5th Class with Gold and Silver Rays on November 4, 2007.Karate Shorinkan
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Training

He first started karate training in 1935 under Seiichi Iju (a former student of Shinpan Shiroma) at Minato ward, Sakai City, Osaka, staying with him until 1940. At the same time (i.e. 1936-1940), Nakazato trained in the kobudo weapons bo, sai, nunchaku, tonfa and nichokama, under Seiro Tonaki who was only a little older than himself and had at one time been a student of Sanda Chinen. In 1942, Nakazato joined the Japanese army, where he taught bayonet and military discipline to new recruits on the mainland. At the war's end, he returned to Okinawa to become a student of Chosin Chibana, whom he considered to be the "most eminent karate master of that time". In 1951 Nakazato helped Chibana open a dojo called Dai Ichi Dojo. After receiving his shihan license from Chibana in 1955, Nakazato opened his dojo at Aja, near Naha, calling it Nakazato Dojo. In the same year, Nakazato resumed bojutsu training, this time under Seiro Tonaki's teacher's son, Masami Chinen, with whom he stayed until 1958.

Later life and death

Nakazato taught many karate kata: Kihon Ippon, Kihon Nihon, Kihon Sanbon, Fukyu no Kata, Naihanchi Shodan, Naihanchi Nidan, Naihanchi Sandan, Pinan Shodan, Pinan Nidan, Pinan Sandan, Pinan Yondan, Pinan Godan, Passai Sho, Passai Dai, Kusanku Sho, Chinto, Kusanku Dai, and Gojushiho. Nakazato also created multiple weapons kata as well as the open hand form, Gorin Kata. Nakazato died August 24, 2016 at the age of 96 of

aspiration pneumonia Aspiration pneumonia is a type of lung infection that is due to a relatively large amount of material from the stomach or mouth entering the lungs. Signs and symptoms often include fever and cough of relatively rapid onset. Complications may inc ...

.「仲里周五郎さん死去　沖縄空手界をリード」
''Okinawa Times'' 沖縄タイムス. August 26, 2016.

North America Shorinkan Lineage

This lineage chart only reflects the original 7 black belts from Shugoro Nakazato and their Kyoshis.

References

Hanshi Judan Nakazato Shugoro Memorial Page

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Nakazato, Shugoro Karate in the United States 1920 births 2016 deaths Okinawan male karateka People from Naha Recipients of the Order of the Rising Sun, 5th class Ryukyuan people Shōrin-ryū practitioners