Courtesy of:  

Carlos Varon, Shihan Shotokan, 7th Dan

KOJF International Member of Shihan Board.

Kenjirou Kawanabe was my Sensei, my mentor, my friend and my second father. He lived from 1931-2022 and lived a very frugal and humble life but always true to his Budo. He was one of those Shotokan masters you never hear, read or seeked publicity but knew he was always there to share his knowledge and love for Budo.

I want to share with you his story and insight into Budo and while it might not help perfect your punch, kick or block it might just make you think in a way that can alter your approach to the martial arts.

This narrative was done over a period of time and visits and much has been left in his own words and will be shared over a series of postings.  Travel along with me and meet 'The Last of the Great Masters".

"Kawanabe Karate-do", is a Budo Martial Art developed over many years by Master Kenjiro Kawanabe of Atsugi Japan and has its roots founded in modern day Karate as developed by Master Gichin Funakoshi. Master Kawanabe was born in 1931 in Atsugi Japan and from 1950 to 1954 he studied English literature at Waseda University. During his university years he also joined the University Karate Club where he first met Master Funakoshi.

In 1953, Kawanabe succeeded the now Master Tsutomu Oshima, the founder of Shotokan Karate in the United States as captain of the Waseda University Karate Club. Funakoshi Sensei was present in the Waseda dojo at least once every month until Master Kawanabe's graduation in the spring of the 1954. Master Funakoshi was a major influence on Kawanabe while he was at the Waseda Dojo. 

 
Kawanabe recollects Funakoshi Sensei's gentle voice that used to encourage him to become the man who can be identified with Karate, as if said “If it is Kawanabe, then it is Karate, if it is Karate, then it is Kawanabe." In 1957, Master Kawanabe opened his first Karate Dojo in Atsugi Japan and celebrated the 50th anniversary in the year 2007 and 60th anniversary in 2017 in Atsugi.
Kawanabe Karate-do was also strongly influenced by the study and training in the art of Jujitsu, or as it is known in Japan today as Shin'eiTaido, developed by Master Hoken Inoue, nephew of Ueshiba Morihei, the founder of Aikido.

Master Kawanabe studied about three years, between the 29th-year and 32nd-year of the Showa period (1954-57), under Master Inoue. From Master Inoue, Kawanabe learned where strong power came from; a combination of physical training and theory. He believes that with a continuous steady endeavor of proper training, uniting theory and application, one can produce such a wonderful power. In roughly three years of training, one will normally learn to understand the technical forms, through memorized actions only. In order to utilize skills for a real situation one has to endure reasonable practice in bujutsu and to master the breathing technique to create power. Since then his philosophy and goal of Karate-do, has been the way of bujutsu, one that must be able to be applied to all, including aikido and kendo.

Another major influence to Master Kawanabe's style was Sensei Tadao Okuyama. Through the study of the ken (wooden sword), Master Kawanabe learned of the Hachiriki (8 powers or forces) and incorporated the techniques into open hand as well as with the ken.

Hachiriki is described as the forces that give the universe its life: movement, release, contraction, unification, calm, solidification, expansion, and division. The philosophy of training in Master Kawanabe's early days was a physical practice and only for the body to learn without questioning.

Sensei Okuyama worked as one of three instructors at the Army Nakano School, which was a training school for the secret service agency during the World War II. Sensei Okuyama, the youngest senior of the instructors, was thirteen years older than Master Kawanabe and with whom he had the deepest friendship. Okuyama Sensei announced his "Kotodama Tsurugi"(Sword of Spiritual Words), and Master Kawanabe was one of many who learned his philosophy.

Kawanabe Karate-do has its main emphasis on the development and harmonization of mind, body and spirit through training of the breath, Hachiriki techniques and relaxed, flexible footwork.

 

 Kawanabe Karate-do movements become natural when performed correctly and studied over time. The practice of the Hachiriki provides a natural source of vitality and energy, through the application of the principles of harmony and relaxation, and avoiding brute physical force. Kawanabe Karate-do is also one of a few schools where Karate was not considered a competition sport.

Karate is taught as a martial way or art, BUDO. The efforts are directed towards the development of a strong mental and physical discipline coupled with a spiritual harmony, all through the practice of Karate and Hachiriki techniques.

Master Kawanabe firmly believes that, even though Karate is an excellent self-defense method and a physical activity of great qualities, it is fundamentally a way towards mental and spiritual development. Kawanabe believes that the traditional budo that has roots deep in the heart of the Japanese people since ancient times must be transmitted to the younger generation in some form.

The objectives of the budo must include these conditions, and they can be summarized as follows:

1. To possess a factor of self-defense with the most use of physical development trained through specially designed practice of “Hachiriki“, creating an ideal power and movement harmonized with the breath.

2. To train oneself spiritually under the study of "Do", hopefully leading to self enlightenment. In short, this is the idea, the spirit and also the technique of Sensei Funakoshi’s traditional Karate-do.

Here ends the introduction to Master Kenjirou Kawanabe..... We will follow up with a two part interview  with further insight into the beginnings of Shotokan, Waseda and the future growth of Karate-Do.

Shihan Carlos Varon
Kawanabe Karate Do East Coast Representative
Queens, NY-USA