On 15 July 1907, I was born in Tomari-son, Naha City, of my father, Shoho and my mother Gozei. Though my physique was rather small, I was active and aggressive as any other healthy boys in my preschool days. Completing the compulsory education of primary school in March 1923, I entered Naha City-run 5-year commercial school.
However, when I was a second-year student of the school, I suffered from a gastroenteric disorder and was given medication for some time. But, because of the inefficacy of the medication, I had to resort to a diet, while practicing karate at the backyard of a neighbor friend, Mr. Chojin Kuba. It was in 1926 and I was 17 years of age.
Through the hard work both at school and training of karate, I succeeded in recovering from illness, making me quite confident of good health. When I reached my senior year, I had a chance to participate, as a leader of the karate club, in an annual martial arts event of kendo and karate among various schools. In those days, I began, earnestly, working out every night at the ground of Tomari Primary School, under the guidance of old master, Mr. Kotatsu Iha.
After graduation in March 1928, I started full-scale practice, becoming the disciple of Mr. Taro Shimabokuro of Shuri City, who was senior to me by one year. It was my daily task to cover the 8 km road between Shuri and Naha on foot to master the art of karate. Thanks to the warmhearted encouragement of brother Taro, hope was aroused in me; I was enamored with the charm of martial art, and thus my appetite for karate surpassed that of eating. Under the guidance of another sensei, Ankichi Arakaki, I made further progress in the skills of karate.
Recovery of health was complete then; I was 162 cm tall with a marvelously developed physique. In 1928, I was examined for conscription and passed it as a class 'A' infantryman, and was assigned to the 47th Infantry Division stationed in Oita Prefecture, Japan. In April of the same year, I was dispatched to skirmishes in Sainan, China, and in July the next year, returned to Okinawa after an honorable discharge from military service.
Thinking about my future profession in which I might be able to utilize the skills of karate, I decided on the police force. In 1931, I was appointed a policeman of Okinawa Prefecture.
During my first assignment days at Kadena Police Station, from December 1931 through August 1936, I was deeply influenced by the direct guidance of the most famous sensei, Mr. Chotoku Kyan, who became my second teacher.
In April 1936, I was sent to the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department as a trainee policeman. During a six-month period, I had a chance to receive advice about peculiar kumite movements from the then-celebrated master of karate, Mr. Choki Motobu, in Hongo ward, Tokyo.
On the recommendation of sensei Chojun Miyagi, founder of Goju-Ryu, I was given the title of Renshi in May 1940 from the Great Japan Butoku Association at the Butoku Festival held in Kyoto, Japan.
Realizing the existence of common essence between kendo and karate, I began practicing kendo in 1938. After assiduous efforts, I was awarded a Sandan in kendo in 1941. In December 1941, I was dispatched as a trainee to the Police University in Tokyo and demonstrated the police-karateman's mysteries of karate before a large audience of the Metropolitan Police Special Guard Division.
My duty as a chief of an emergency ration section of Naha Police Station during World War II put me in a very dangerous situation in the fiercely fought battlegrounds of the island. Hearing that Lieutenant General Ushijima had committed suicide on June 22, 1945, I realized the absurdity of continued fighting and surrendered to the U.S. Armed Forces with three fellow policemen.
While engaged in the transportation of casualties in Iraha village, I happened to find on the road a book entitled "Introduction to Karate" by sensei Gichin Funakoshi, by which I determined to lead a life of a karateman and find hope to struggle against adversities.
In July 1947, I opened a temporary dojo named Matsubayashi-Ryu Kododan Karate and Ancient Martial Arts Study in Naha City. During the war, Okinawa was a scene of carnage, eradicating distinctive culture and landscape. Young people had lost their spiritual guidance. A matter requiring immediate attention was to implant in the minds of youngsters an indomitable spirit through karate.
In January 1951, I was promoted to superintendent and chief of police at Motobu District Police Station. I was busy preparing for the All Ryukyu Judo Contest, gathering young policemen. Our Motobu team had only 60 men, but we won the victory, beating 13 participating stations. All members of our team, including me, were promoted to black belts.
In January 1953, I built a full-scale karate dojo in Naha called "Matsubayashi-Ryu Karate Kodokan." I also served three terms in the Naha City municipal assembly. Even at the nadir of my fortune after some business failures, I continued the practice of karate.
In 1963, I read "Gorinsho" (Book of Five Wheels) by Miyamoto Musashi and was much moved. These pioneers of martial arts opened my eyes to re-orient my karate to the togetherness of fists and Zen. I resolved to adopt Zen meditation as part of karate practice ever since. I became a disciple of Zen priest Sogen Sakiyama and began Zen meditation courses within the dojo.
Four classes of karate are held daily in my dojo, and during each class, a 15-minute zazen (Zen meditation) is given for the strengthening of minds. Under the conviction that the togetherness of Zen and karate is the one and only way to master the real way of karate, I am enjoying a karateman's life with the spirit of health and longevity.
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