Motobu Chōki, a renowned Okinawan karate master and founder of the Motobu-ryū style, was born on 5 April 1870, in Akahira Village, Shuri, Ryūkyū Kingdom. He was the third son of Motobu Chomo Udon, a high-ranking Anji (quasi-nobility), and belonged to a branch of the Ryukyuan royal family known as the Motobu Udun (“Motobu Palace”), one of the most prominent families in Okinawa.
In contrast to his elder brother, Motobu Choyu, who received a proper education in Confucian classics and the Japanese language and was taught the family’s ti system, Chōki’s education was neglected. This disparity is attributed to the custom of the era, where formal education and privilege were primarily reserved for the firstborn son. It is believed that Motobu resented his upbringing and developed a fierce temper in childhood, growing up without academic ambition. However, he considered himself physically talented and aspired to be the strongest man in Okinawa.
Without formal instruction, Motobu Chōki largely trained himself, relentlessly striking the makiwara punching board. His aptitude and determination compensated for the lack of formal training. He gained a reputation for being rather aggressive and was known for challenging strong young men in Tsuji, the red-light district, rarely being defeated.
His martial arts journey included studying under several masters. At the age of 12, he and his older brother Chōyū were invited to be taught karate by Itosu Ankō. Other teachers included Sōkon Matsumura, Sakuma Pechin, and Kōsaku Matsumora. However, it is noted that he was “no one’s disciple” in the words of Higa Yuchoku, suggesting his independent learning approach. Similarly, there are questions about the depth of instruction Motobu received from the great masters, as they were reportedly suspicious of his aggressive behaviour. Motobu even entered Itosu’s dojo but was soon expelled because of his attitude of always wanting to prove himself.
A significant turning point occurred when Motobu was defeated by a man named Itarashiki, who was older and famous for his kakedameshi (fighting). This defeat led Motobu to devote himself to karate with unprecedented intensity, meticulously reassessing his opponent’s technique and strategy. Eventually, he sought formal instruction from Kōsaku Matsumora, developing his technique to a high standard and mastering kata, despite initially disliking it. Matsumora taught him the Naihanchi and Passai kata. Motobu also studied Jigen-ryū.
Due to his social position and wealth, Motobu Chōki did not have to work in his youth or as an adult, which allowed him to spend extensive time learning and practicing karate. However, he was reportedly unable to save money or efficiently run a business. He was not the “ruffian” he was often portrayed as, but rather a gentleman befitting his social background, whose speech was polite, authoritative, and masculine. He emphasised good manners to his students. Despite this, his Japanese language skills were lacking, and he often relied on Okinawan interpreters when teaching on the mainland. Some accusations of illiteracy stemmed from his family’s use of Uchinaguchi (Okinawan) as a form of social protest against the Japanese rule, and he found Japanese difficult to master as an adult. He did author two books on karate, Ryukyu Kempo Karate Jutsu: Kumite Hen and Okinawa Kenpo Tode-jutsu, Kumite Edition, discrediting claims of illiteracy.
Physical Prowess and Fighting Style Motobu Chōki became known for his agility, earning him the nickname Motobu no Saru (“Motobu the Monkey”). His fighting style was characterised by fast hand techniques and direct kicks to the opponent’s knees and groin, controlling the opponent’s hands or body during counterattacks. He carried his hands relatively high when blocking and striking, indicative of southern Chinese boxing, and chambered his fists high (around nipple level) for better defence and attitude. His favourite technique was the keikoken-zuki (forefinger-knuckle punch), which he developed through intensive makiwara training from childhood. He believed that a posture that is too wide is impractical and that mobility is essential for effective response, stressing free, instinctive, and intelligent movement without telegraphing intentions. Motobu famously stated, “When you fight, you must do so fiercely, otherwise the opponent could seriously hurt you … once it’s been established that a fight is about to ensue, the most important thing is to win. There is no other alternative to survive in a desperate situation”.
Motobu moved to Osaka, Japan, in search of employment. In November 1922, he famously participated in a “boxing vs judo” match in Kyoto, where he defeated a tall, burly foreign boxer. This spectacular victory was initially misattributed to Gichin Funakoshi in the press, supposedly to support Funakoshi’s role in spreading his Japanised version of Shotokan karate. Motobu’s victory instantly made his name known throughout Japan. Subsequently, he opened dojos in both Osaka and Tokyo and taught at various universities. In 1926, he published Ryukyu Kempo Karate Jutsu: Kumite Hen, a book focused on sparring, to differentiate it from Funakoshi’s book, which emphasised kata.
In late 1926 and 1927, Motobu briefly returned to Okinawa. On 7 January 1927, he demonstrated wood-board breaking and kumite for Jigoro Kano, the founder of Judo, who was visiting Okinawa. Kano was greatly impressed, and Motobu was introduced as “Okinawa’s Number One” in kumite.
Motobu was often considered Gichin Funakoshi‘s “diametric opposite in character and karate style,” and the two men never seemed to get along. Motobu publicly insulted Funakoshi multiple times, comparing his karate to a guitar—beautiful on the outside but hollow within. He also suggested Funakoshi was deceitful. Motobu did not think highly of Itosu’s abilities, whose new-style approach was passed to Funakoshi and then used in Japan. Motobu’s training was based on kumite (practical fighting experience), whereas Funakoshi’s was more focused on kata techniques. Despite their personal differences, their collective impact on karate’s growth and direction remains significant.
Motobu famously emphasised the Naihanchi kata, though he also taught Seisan, Passai, Shirokuma, Wanshū, and Jitte. He taught his own interpretation of Naihanchi, which included ti-like grappling and throwing techniques. He credited Naihanchi with containing all the knowledge needed to become a proficient fighter. In the early days of karate training, it was common for students to spend two to three years practicing only Naihanchi/Tekki under strict observation. Motobu firmly believed that the principles of kata never changed, regardless of street encounters. His 1926 Kumite Drills, important to his legacy, are seen as applications of the Naihanchi Shodan kata.
Motobu Chōki taught many students who became noteworthy practitioners in their own right:
- Chōsei Motobu (his son), who still teaches the style his father passed on.
- Hironori Ōtsuka, founder of Wadō-ryū. Ōtsuka studied under Motobu.
- Shōshin Nagamine, founder of Matsubayashi-ryū, who started training under Motobu Chōki at age 31.
- Yasuhiro Konishi, founder of Shindō Jinen-ryū. Konishi also studied under Motobu.
- Tatsuo Shimabuku, founder of Isshin-ryū. Shimabuku studied with Motobu for approximately one year.
- Katsuya Miyahira, founder of Shōrin-ryū Shidōkan. Miyahira studied directly under Motobu in Okinawa.
- Shigeru Nakamura, founder of Okinawa Kempō.
- Tatsuo Yamada, founder of Nihon Kempō Karate-dō.
- Sannosuke Ueshima, founder of Kushin-ryū.
- Kōsei Kokuba (Yukimori Kuniba), founder of Seishin-Kai.
Motobu returned to Okinawa in the autumn of 1936, visiting colleagues to discuss the state of karate-dō on the mainland. He spent considerable time researching ancient kata and kobudo before returning to Tokyo. He made another return trip to Okinawa in the spring of 1939, remaining there until his death. Motobu Chōki passed away peacefully on 15 April 1944, at the age of 74, in a rented home in Naha’s Sogenji district.
Motobu Chōki’s legacy is immense. He is regarded as one of Okinawa’s greatest masters of practical karate techniques. His contributions included providing ample evidence that karate was a practical and effective self-defence tool. His son, Chōsei Motobu, continues to teach the Motobu-ryū style. Motobu-ryū is based on the “secret” Motobu family ti system and has a depth that cannot be easily grasped. Its secret principles are simple: “Relax the body and throw your opponent with softness,” meaning to neutralise an aggressor by utilising their own hardness and force. It also includes practice with traditional Okinawan bladed weapons like katana, naginata, and yari, employed in a unique Okinawan fashion. The Motobu Udun Tomb in Ganeko, Ginowan, is a cultural property and historical site that is a spot for karate tourists.
Karate Kata Step By Step 