Master Shinzato Yoshihide
The arrival of the Saints
Due to the great difficulties of the postwar period, Shinzato decided to accept the invitation of an uncle who had emigrated to Brazil and took a ship, landing at Santos on January 15, 1954, where he would settle in the town of Praia Grande . Once we arrived, filled with the spirit of adventure, Shinzato began working on the farm where she planted mainly watercress, becoming then marketer in Santos. During this period, Shinzato started practicing karate in the back of his house, where he taught the eldest son and the children of some members of the local Okinawan colony.
The foundation of the Okinawa Association
Shinzato In 1962 he founded his first academy in Santos, the Association Okinawa Shorin-ryu Karate-Do of Brazil, who would later become a strong association. 5 years later, he founded a national organization, the Union Shorin-ryu Karate-Do in Brazil, with hundreds of affiliated clubs and gyms.
Although closely linked with the martial spirit of karate, Shinzato has given much importance to the sporting aspect of the fight, encouraging the practice of karate competition, without which, these days, a martial art does not survive, especially with the advent of karate Olympic sport after the recognition of the International Olympic Committee.
While teaching in the back of his house in Praia Grande for some time after his arrival in Brazil, only on June 3, 1962 Yoshihide Shinzato founded his first school, the Academy of Karate-Do Santos, on the street in Santos Bras Cubas. On December 15, 1962 the academy was transferred to the Street November 15, no. 198. Three years later, on June 10, was renamed Association Okinawa Shorin-ryu Karate-Do in Brazil, she was transferred again to the street General Board and then to Avenida Senador Feijó, 219, 2nd. walk on May 15, 1976. Today the academy, (also known as Shin shu kan - named after the ideograms that make up your own name, the Shin Shu or Shinzato and Yoshi of Yoshihide, and Kan meaning Academy) is located on Avenida Senador Feijó, always in Santos, where it was transferred in January 2000. His dojo is often visited by karatekas (all tracks and grades), not only in Brazil but also abroad. In it are realized the most important courses are attended by practitioners, including other styles and is considered the seat of the Union Shorin-ryu Karate-Do Brazil, and meetings and meetings where major decisions are taken of the entity. Quite spacious and well equipped with makiwara [2] (a wooden board for callus hands and feet), sunatawara (sandbags for the training of punches, kicks and cutlery), and fitness machine (though still using the old implements invented by teachers from Okinawa, such as bundles of bamboo and ceramic jars filled with sand), the Academy receives more than 200 students per day.
Those records have been through more than 7000 school male students and more than 300 women. In academic classes are taught in the morning and afternoon on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, and afternoon on Tuesdays and Thursdays. In almost all lessons the Master Shinzato part with their valuable lessons, which are successful techniques yakusoku-kumite - training for personal defense. Their method incorporates a class full gym (with almost an hour long), base attack and defense, kata, self defense techniques, fighting competition, a practice with ancient weapons and training equipment for strengthening and physical theory of karate where the basement is included biophysical and biochemical and Zen Buddhist philosophy. The main aim is to achieve physical and mental strength of the practitioner through a balanced harmony of interaction and the construction of an ethic of perfect moral conduct.
Among the students stand out Yoshihide Shinzato karatekas famous, some national and international champions of the Brazilian, South American and Pan-American, other prominent politicians from Santos. For their great work in promoting national and international karate for the sake not only of the sport, but also character building of youth who practice this wonderful sport, Shinzato has received many awards, the most famous of them the title of Citizen Santista given by the city of Santos in 1983. Okinawa was also recognized his work and Miyahira received in 1986, the title of the ninth Dan Hanshi. In the Brazilian Confederation of Shinzato Karate is considered the eighth. Dan
Every last Sunday of each month are conducted special training for black belts (which are mandatory for those who aspire to the highest degrees). Courses are offered arbitration by the Union with the consent of the Brazilian Karate and Karate Federation of São Paulo. In other states is also large participation of affiliates in courses organized by local federations. Several tournaments are held at state and municipal levels, but once a year we conducted a championship style Shorin Ryu which all affiliated clubs and gyms typically participate. At the end of each year the Union under the aegis of Yoshihide Shinzato, makes from the Shorin-ryu Karate-Do Bonenkai, a big celebration party where demonstrations are held and refresher courses kata.
Changes in Okinawa Shorin
From time to time, Shinzato traveled to Okinawa to recycle your karate with Choshin Chibana, always bringing the news of the island to Brazil, seeking to avoid the degeneration of style due to the distance from the centers where the Shorin-ryu is practiced in Okinawa .
After Chibana's death in 1969, Shinzato spent to maintain closer relations with Katsuya Miyahira [3], the successor of Chibana Shorin style of the line in Okinawa Kobayashi. In parallel, Yoshihide Shinzato teamed up with Master Kanei Katsuyoshi (died 1993), then president of the International Okinawa Kobudo Association, seeking to supplement the curriculum of the Shorin-ryu with the techniques of fighting with traditional weapons of Okinawa ...
Visits to the Master of Master Miyahira Shinzato
Miyahira visited Brazil in 1977, participating in celebrations of the 15th anniversary of the founding of the Association Okinawa Shorin-ryu Karate-Do of Brazil and the 10th anniversary of the Shorin-ryu Karate-Do Brazil, and in 1991 in commemoration of the 20th. anniversary of the Association, when he made statements and provided courses for kata karatekas Brazilians. In 1992, Shinzato assembled a team with the best athletes in style and participated in Okinawa, the Uchinanchu Festival, where he made statements and visited famous teachers and academics on the island.
The connection of the karate master Shinzato
When asked, Yoshihide Shinzato usually answer that for him, karate lies in: discipline, responsibility, harmony, humility and dignity.
In addition, states that when he arrived in Brazil, it was very difficult to establish, but according to an old phrase from their ancestors that says "three years on the rock," achieved its objectives through the efforts and participation of their students, and as the understanding of the Brazilian people who welcomed him with great affection and enthusiasm.
Regarding the technique of karate, Shinzato explains that the practice of kata is the essence of art. However, the practice of kihons should also be emphasized that the learning is complete, it has both developed and systematized kihons throughout his life, making the style Shorin one of the most well-grounded in this topic.
The book Kihon
In 2006, Mestre Shinzato publishes a book which shows his great vision about karate, Shorin presenting style and recording for posterity the kihons and kata of the style are: Naihanchi Shodan, Nidan Naihanchi, Naihanchi Sandan, Pinan Shodan , Pinan Nidan, Pinan Sandan, Pinan yondan, Pinan Godan, Itossu the Pass, the Pass Matsumura, Kusanku Sho, Dai Kusanku, Chinto, Jion, Gojushiho, unshiu, Teisho, Koryu Pass (the latter two recently added by Master Katsuya Miyahira) and Ryuko (this recently built by the Master himself Shinzato), which stands as the most important Naihanchi the Kusanku and Pass.
When asked what Shinzato karate teacher more important for Brazil, he replies that he has pioneered the master Harada (Shotokan style), practically the first to introduce a struggle in our country. Asking, then, on those who are still alive and active, "said Koji Takamatsu, the Wado-ryu, and Juichi Sagara, the Shotokan.
Mestre Shinzato and his family
Yoshihide Shinzato has three children who also practice karate assiduously. The oldest is the one born in Okinawa: Masahiro Shinzato, currently ranked as a 9th Dan, and until 1999, was president of the Federation of Karate-do Paulista. His middle son, graduated in aeronautical engineering from the Technological Institute of Aeronautics, Nelson Mitsuhide Shinzato, 4 th Dan is the youngest, Eraldo Kazuo Shinzato, an engineer from the Federal University of São Carlos and is one of Dan
Shu Shin Kan abroad
With the growing number of practitioners of Shorin-ryu Karate-Do in neighboring Brazil, such as Uruguay, Argentina and Bolivia, where under the tutelage of Mestre Shinzato, officials of these countries decided to found in 1991, the International Union Shorin-ryu Karate-Do Federation. While in Argentina the Shorin-ryu was already represented by the Master Shoei Miyazato (eighth dan), a direct disciple of Katsuya Miyahira, this left Okinawan karate activities relating to health reasons, causing the Master Miyahira Shinzato delegated the coordination of style in that country. The founding of the International Union, Shinzato now has a more organized control of activities, now not only in Argentina but also in other countries of South America where there is the presence of Shorin-ryu. There are also representatives in the United States and Australia.
Yoshihide Shinzato hopes that this international body to grow further in coming years, especially now that karate was officially recognized by the International Olympic Committee. Moreover, Shinzato already taken the first steps to register the style in the WKF - World Karate-do Federation (substitute the first WUKO - World Union of Karate-do Organizations - now extinct), which is the international body representing the sport before the International Olympic Committee. This done, if done, must bring a huge reputation for style Shorin lineage Kobayashi, worldwide.
Tributes
Citizen Santos - Municipality of Santos (June 23, 1972)
Spring Medal - Brazilian Geographic Society - São Paulo (1978)
Grand Cross - Order of Merit Municipalist - Society of the city state - Sao Paulo (1994)
Defender of Cultural Property - City of São Paulo (31 March 2001)
Medal of Honor - Brás Cubas - Municipality of Santos (June 16, 2001)
8 th Dan by the World Karate Federation (WKF)
9 th Dan - kobujutsu Shin Shu Kan
9 th Dan by the Federation of Karate-do (FPK)
9 th Dan by the Brazilian Confederation of Karate-do (CBK)
10 ° Dan - Okinawa Shorin-Ryu Karate-do
Commander in the autumn the Government of Japan
