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The earliest records of Martial Arts practice in Korea date back to about 50 B.C. These earliest forms of Korean martial arts are known as 'Tae Kyon'. Evidence that Martial Arts were being practiced at that time can be found in tombs where wall-paintings show two men in fighting-stance. Others reject this evidence and say that these men could be simply dancing. Thus, the exact beginning of the practice of martial arts in Korea is still debated, but most believe that Chinese monks introduced the martial arts into the northern provinces of Korea during the fourth century.

The art flourished at first only on temple grounds with spiritual aspects intricately intertwined with the physical techniques. In the seventh century, due to intense fighting and violence between the three kingdoms Koguryo, Paekje, and Silla, the skills were passed on to the general public for self protection.

After winning the war against Paekje in 668 A.D and Koguryo in 670 A.D., Silla unified the kingdoms under a central government. The Silla period lasted until 935 A.D. and was a time of building and creativity. An elite group of young noble men emerged during this time, calling themselves the Hwa-Rang Do. They traveled throughout the country training their bodies and spirits through the practice of various forms of martial arts including Tae Kyon and Soo Bakh Do. Their moral code is the philosophical background of modern Tae Kwon Do.

 In 935 A.D. the kingdom of Silla was overthrown by the warlord Kyonghum who established the kingdom of Koryo from which the Western name of Korea was derived. Koryo remained strongly martial in spirit and produced some of the nation’s finest soldiers. The Koryo Dynasty declined after five hundred years of rule and was replaced by the Yi Dynasty, which held learning and scholarship in highest esteem causing the practice of Tae Kyon to decline as well. Confucianism replaced Buddhism as the state religion and military arts fell into disrepute. For four centuries, the political fortunes of Korea declined along with its interest in Tae kyon.

The final blow came when the Japanese overran Korea in 1910. During this occupation of Korea, the Japanese tried to erase all of the Korean culture, including a ban on practicing Tae Kyon. Though Tae Kyon was barely alive at the time, this order was not as detrimental as one might expect. Finding life oppressive at home, many Koreans left to study and work in China and Japan, where there were no restrictions on the practice of martial arts. As a result, the practitioners of Tae Kyon were exposed to and influenced by other forms of martial arts.

After World War II, when Korea gained independence, interest in self-defense methods was revived and many experts opened dojangs. They returned from all parts of the Orient and proceeded to blend the various new and old styles into the modern Korean system practiced today. In 1955, General Choi Hong Hi suggested the name Tae Kwon Do, for the Korean art of self-defense, which was quickly adopted by the masters of the art.

Genealogy of Tae Kwon Do

Grand Master
Dr. Yoon Kwe Byong

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Grand Master                                     Grand Master
Tae Hong Choi (WTF)                             David Machin (ITF)

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Master Kowa Chhe

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Hanshi Toshihiro Oshiro
8th Dan Kobudo

Toshihiro Oshiro, Hanshi, started studying Karate at the age of 6. He has continued training for the past forty plus past years and has earned advanced degrees in Kobudo (8th Dan), Judo and Kendo. He is now 8th degree black belt in Shorin-ryu Karate (Matsubayashi).

Shihan Oshiro moved to the USA in 1979 when he retired from his position of detective for the Okinawan/Japanese Police Department. He has been teaching Karate and Kobudo since then in his San Mateo Dojo.

Chief Director of  RBKD (Ryuku Bujustsu Kenkyu Doyukai), an organization dedicated to the research and development of Okinawan Martial Arts, Shihan Oshiro is considered the premiere National Martial Arts Weapons expert in the United States.

An Introduction to Yamanni Chinen-Ryu Bojutsu


By Martin Nobida

           Yamanni Chinen-ryu kobujutsu, or Yamanni-ryu, is a traditional weapons martial art that originated in Okinawa. The principle weapon used in the style is the roku-shaku bo, or six-foot staff. The style has been described as one of the most dynamic and devastating of the Okinawan weapons styles, most probably because of its distinctive wide and flowing strikes, which contrast greatly with the short and choppier movements characteristic of other weapons styles that trace their roots to Okinawa.

          Many of the major modern Okinawan-based bojutsu styles have their roots in Yamanni-ryu, with their founders getting at least some training with Yamanni-ryu masters. As such, many kata, or prearranged fighting sets, of various styles share the same names as Yamanni-ryu kata. And though their sequences are similar, the individual techniques and body dynamics are very different and, arguably, much less sophisticated. Unlike other modern Okinawan kobudo styles, which have become mainstream as a result of successful efforts to propagate them, Yamanni-ryu had remained relatively secretive and guarded. Recently, however, through the efforts of the current grandmaster, Chogi Kishaba, and his premiere student, Toshihiro Oshiro, the style has been gaining widespread exposure around the world. In recent times, other traditional Okinawan weapons, such as the sai, tonfa, kama, and nunchaku have been incorporated into the system; the philosophy for manipulating these weapons is very similar to that used for the bo--namely, techniques should almost always be large and flowing.

          Yamanni Chinen-ryu takes its name from the Chinen family, which was a prominent aristocratic family in the Ryukyu islands. According to many historians, the legendary martial artist "To-de" Sakugawa brought a staff-fighting art from China to Okinawa sometime in the late 1700s. The Chinen family, which was entrusted with the security of Ryukyu nobles, adopted and further developed this art over the course of a few generations. As such, this style of bojutsu is not a product of the peasant classes. Like most martial arts of the time, the techniques were passed on mainly within the family. Legend has it that Sanda Chinen, the grandmaster of the style, dreamt of a bouncing bo one day. This gave him inspiration for developing bo swings that rapidly recover into kamae or continue on in a rapid succession of strikes, for which Yamanni-ryu is so well-known today. Kishaba-sensei trained under Sanda Chinen’s grandson Masami Chinen. His principle students include Oshiro Toshihiro and Shinzato Katsuhiko whom he taught privately throughout the ’70s. In 1992, Kishaba-sensei opened a small dojo in Naha, Okinawa, and there has been teaching small classes of students for the very first time. In the United States, Oshiro-sensei, as the leading authority of the style outside of Japan, is "under orders" from Kishaba-sensei to propagate the art around the world. In addition to running a successful dojo near San Francisco, where students from all styles have come to benefit from his knowledge and experience, he has conducted numerous demonstrations and seminars around the United States, and is in demand in Japan, Germany, France, Panama, and elsewhere. Oshiro-sensei has also released a Yamanni-ryu video, which is available from Tsunami Video.

Genealogy of Yamanni Ryu

Grand Master Chinen Umikana
(1799 – 1881)

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Grand Master Chinen Sanda
(1884-1925)

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Grand Master Chinen Masami
(1898-1978)

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Grand Master Kishaba Chogi
(1934-present)

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Grand Master Oshiro Toshihiro
(1949-present)

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Master Kowa Chhe

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Grand Master David Machin
7th Dan Tae Kwon Do

Master David R. Machin was born 1949 in Puerto Rico.  He moved to the United States at the age of six.  Growing up in China Town had a major impact on his decision to start martial arts.  China Town was a rough place to live and Master Machin enjoyed fighting as a child.  He was also inspired while watching the old men practice Tai Chi.

Master Machin has, to date, over forty years of martial arts experience and has practiced over seven different martial arts styles.  Master Machin’s major styles include Kempo Karate, Tae Kwon Do and Eagle Claw, all of which he has practiced for over fifteen years.  Master Machin practiced Tae Kwon Do under a number of different instructors, in the Moo Duk Kwon style and has achieved the rank of Master Instructor and 7th degree black belt.  Master Machin practiced Eagle Claw under Master Leung Shum and has achieved the rank of Master Instructor.  He practiced Kempo Karate under Hiro Miyata Sensei.

Master Machin has also practiced a variety of different styles, such as Goju Karate, which he practiced under Joseph Lopez, as well as Master Gichin Yamaguchi, for over twelve years.  As a requirement for his Eagle Claw training, Master Mahcin also studied Wu Style Tai Chi for seven to eight years and separately studied Okinawan Goju-Ryu for over twelve years.

Master Machin has been featured in several various publications for, among others, Master Lung Shum.  Master Machin also served as a Representative Chairman for the AAU (Amateur Athlete Union; the parent organization of the Olympic Committee).  In 1984 Master Machin opened his first school on Avenue H and ran it until 1995, at which point he retired from teaching.

Master Chhe met Master Machin in 1982 or ’83 at Master Lung Shum’s school.  Master Chhe describes Master Machin as very easy-going and a good teacher, one who gave a lot of leeway in learning.  Master Chhe flourished under Master Machin’s guidance and became the first student to open a school in 1993.  Master Machin describes Master Chhe as “one of the best students I had.”  Another successful student of Master Machin’s is Matthew Augustine, who has also opened his own school in Manhattan.

Master Chhe always speaks fondly of Master Machin; however, he also remembers “once, when he was upset, he put his fist through the door like it was paper.”  Master Machin has left a lasting impression on Master Chhe, Chief Instructor Duke Chhe, among several other students.  Master Machin continues to be a very talented and caring teacher and an especially dedicated and skillful martial artist.

Currently, Master Machin operates a new school in Staten Island, New York, Machin Do Center.

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SiYae Leung Shum
Great Grand Master Eagle Claw Kung Fu

SiYae Shum began the study of Kung Fu and Tai Chi Chuan at the age of eight under the guidance of his godfather Ng Wai Nung who was one of the leading Kung Fu practitioners of his time ( SiYae means Great Grand Master).  The Eagle Claw system is a Northern Chinese martial arts style with an emphasis on clawed hand positions and catching and controlling the opponent.  Ng Wai Nung had a small school in Kowloon where SiYae Shum trained diligently as he grew to manhood.  

SiYae Shum would stretch and practice Tai Chi every morning, then train in his godfather's school where he would perfect his forms and fighting techniques.  His favorite techniques were quick low kicking and catch.   When Ng Wai Nung was called away to teach in Singapore, SiYae Shum and his training brother, Shum Man Lock, stayed behind to care for the school for three years.  When Ng Wai Nung returned, SiYae Shum continued training with him until SiYae left for the United States in 1971.

When SiYae Shum arrived in America he was a stranger.  Nevertheless, working in New York City's Chinatown, SiYae Shum persevered in making friends and began teaching martial arts privately.  In 1972, Master Hong of the Kung Fu Tiger Claw system organized a martial arts tournament in which he asked SiYae Shum to perform his technique and act as a judge during competitions.  SiYae Shum's technique was so impressive that one audience member, Don Larkin, sought him out and asked SiYae to teach him.  Don Larkin would become SiYae Shum's first American student.  Soon afterwards, in 1974, SiYae Shum opened America's first Kung Fu Eagle Claw School on 28th Street in New York City.

SiYae Shum has also taught Wu style Tai Chi alongside Eagle Claw since he opened his first school.  SiYae believed the two styles complement each other thoroughly, like yin and yang.  Eagle Claw develops stamina and strengthens muscles, while Tai Chi benefits the body's internal organs, blood circulation and chi. The very principles of clarity, definition and fluidity of movements found in Eagle Claw Kung Fu are fundamental in Tai Chi. SiYae Shum has said that Tai Chi is "hard like steel, soft like cotton, slow and steady like chasing after an ant."  Much like in Eagle Claw, the purpose of each practitioner of Tai Chi is to achieve perfect form and concentration, and a harmony between mind and body.

SiYae Shum believed that it is important to learn the requirements of good form in order to fully understand Eagle Claw Kung Fu.  SiYae often said, "It takes three days to learn a form, but three years to master it."  SiYae's philosophy is derived from the way he was taught by SiYae. First he would learn the general sequence of movements, then he would break the form down into segments, practicing each segment until every movement was perfect.  Then SiYae would check the form to see if technique and power were accurate.

According to SiYae Shum, a good form must be graceful, powerful, and natural.  Every movement must flow into the next like a piece of music. However, each flowing movement must have its own purpose and must not be distorted with others.  The student performing the form must be confident in his technique and skill.  Each movement should seem like he is fighting an invisible opponent whom the student can defeat with a single technique in the form.

SiYae Shum has taught thousands of students over a period 28 years in America.  He has been featured in American and Hong Kong based magazines such as Inside Kung-fu and Fighting Arts.  SiYae Shum has also taught Eagle Claw and Tai Chi Chuan through videos, and authored two famous books, Eagle Claw Kung Fu Classical Northern Chinese Fist and Wu Style Tai Chi Chuan Gah Gee.

Ying Jow Pai (Eagle Claw Kung Fu)

Eagle Claw Gung Fu (Faan Tzi Ying Jow Pai) is known for its peculiar and powerful gripping techniques and for its intricate system of locks, takedowns, and pressure point strikes as well as long strikes. Eagle Claw is one of the oldest, most complete, most complex and devastating of the surviving Northern Shaolin styles. The style is said to have started in 1130, at a time of Mongolian incursions into northern China, when General Ngok Fei learned techniques from a Shaolin monk named Jow Tong. Ngok Fei adapted and taught these techniques (which he called "Elephant Style) to his army which went on to many battlefield victories. Later during the Ming Dynasty the hand techniques were combined with the Faan Tzi system by a monk, Lai Chin, thus creating the system now called Northern Eagle Claw. During the 1800's, the system was passed along to the Lau family. In the 1920's one of the top fighters in all of China was Eagle Claw master Chan Tzi Ching. One of his top students was Ng Wai Nung who went on to assist the famous Eagle Claw Grandmaster Lau Fat Mon. Recent inquiries to mainland China indicate that the only qualified instructors of Eagle Claw left in the world are either in America or Hong Kong.

Genealogy of Ying Jow Pai

Ngok Fei
(1250 A.D.)
108 Fighting Techniques
General of Sung-Dynasty
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Shaolin Temple
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Lai Chin
Combined 108 movements with Faan Tze
Faan Tzi Ying Jow Pai- Northern Eagle Claw
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Toa Gai-Noble
1644-1910 Ching Dynasty
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Far Shing
Ho Bac-now Beimo
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Lau Shu Chum
Lau Family
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Lau Shing & Yuo
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Lau Kai Man                         Chan Tzi Ching
3rd Son                                     Sister’s Son
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Lau Fat Mon
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Ng Wai Nung
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Shum Leung
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Machin David
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Chhe Kowa

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