Yasuhiro Konishi (小西康裕, Konishi Yasuhiro) (1893–1983) was a profoundly influential Japanese master, credited as the founder of the Shindō Jinen-ryū (神道自然流) style of karate. He played a crucial role in the development and acceptance of modern karate on mainland Japan.
Konishi was born in 1893 in Takamatsu, Kagawa, Japan. His martial arts journey began at a young age, starting with Muso Ryu jujutsu in 1899. By the age of thirteen, he began training in kendo, and later expanded his studies to include Takenouchi-ryū jujutsu and judo. In 1915, he enrolled at Keio University in Tokyo.
Konishi’s first exposure to “te” (the precursor to karate) came through Tsuneshige Arakaki, an individual from Okinawa. After leaving his job in 1923, Konishi dedicated himself fully to martial arts by opening his own training facility, the Ryobu-Kan (“The House of Martial Arts Excellence”), where he initially provided instruction in kendo and jujutsu.
His pursuit of karate led him to train with many of the era’s most esteemed masters, giving him an incredibly diverse foundation:
- He studied under Gichin Funakoshi, the founder of Shotokan karate.
- He also trained with Motobu Chōki, who was an instructor to Konishi and other prominent figures.
- Kenwa Mabuni, the founder of Shitō-Ryū, was another significant teacher. Mabuni resided at Konishi’s house for ten months between 1927 and 1928.
- Konishi’s extensive training also included instruction from Chōjun Miyagi, the founder of Gōjū-ryū, and Chōshin Chibana, who developed Shorin-ryū karate.
- He notably studied under Morihei Ueshiba, the founder of Aikido. Ueshiba provided feedback on Konishi’s own kata creations, once remarking on his Tai Sabaki kata, “The demonstration you did just now was satisfactory to me and that kata is worth mastering”.
Among his notable students was Hironori Ōtsuka, the founder of Wadō-ryū karate, who also studied under Konishi, Funakoshi, and Motobu. Other students included Kiyoshi Yamazaki, Sho Kosugi, and Shoji Nishio.
Yasuhiro Konishi was among the first Okinawan karateka to introduce and teach karate on mainland Japan. He was instrumental in shaping modern karate and ensuring its acceptance within Japan. His contributions to kata development were significant:
- He was known for his comprehensive knowledge of kata.
- He collaborated with Kenwa Mabuni to develop the kata Seiryu.
- Konishi himself created new forms, including a kata named Tai Sabaki (“body movement”), which was unique for being an unbroken sequence of actions. He later developed two additional forms based on the same principles, naming them Tai Sabaki Shodan, Tai Sabaki Nidan, and Tai Sabaki Sandan.
Konishi’s philosophy extended beyond mere physical technique. He believed that Budō training was a means to build character and foster harmony between the body, mind, and art. He saw karate and Zen as different facets of the same core principle, expressing this conviction in a poignant poem: “Karate is not to hit someone. Nor to be defeated. It is to avoid trouble.”
Despite being less famous internationally than some of his contemporaries, Konishi is recognised as one of history’s most significant Budō masters. He was a successful businessman, a dedicated teacher, and an active political figure who tirelessly worked to bring respectability to martial arts. His enduring efforts are a major reason why karate holds the esteemed position it does today. Konishi passed away in 1983.
Karate Kata Step By Step 