One of the greatest Karata-ka's of the 20th century is the grand master of Okinawan Shorin-ryu karate, Hohan Soken. In spite of his fame, the story of Hohan Soken's career in the martial arts has rarely been told.
Hohan Soken was born on the Island of Okinawan on May 5th, 1889. This was the 24th year if the Meiji period; history now calls the time period the "Meiji Restoration". It was a time of great political upheaval. The old Ryuku society was being completely modernized as were all areas of old Japan. The old society of Samurai, lords and nobleman was giving way to a new society. The old samurai was being forced to abolish his way of life, to cut off his top-knot hair style and work at whatever job he could find, usually working in the fields as a common peasant. As if political troubles were not enough, the Ryuku Islands experienced numerous typhoon's and epidemic of disease which had caused wide spread death and destruction. So, for Hohan Soken, born into one of Okinawa's most prominent Samurai families, the future wasn't certain.

As a young lad, Mr. Soken was forced to work in the fields besides the peasants. So matters might have gone throughout Hohan Soken's life except for his uncle, Nabe Matsumura, who was Okinawa's leading Karate masters. Nabe Matsumura had learned his art from his grandfather, the great SOKEN "Bushi" MATSUMURA. The famous Bushi Matsumura was Okinawa's most famous samurai. (He founded Shorin-ryu Karate) Living past the age of 90, Bushi Matsumura made his grandson, Nabe Matsumura, the heir to his Karate system. So, following the way of his ancestors, Hohan Soken began his Karate training at the age of 13 under the guiding hand of his uncle, Nabe Matsumura. (also known as Napee Tanme)

Working in the fields by day and in the Dojo at night was a rigorous schedule that developed physical strength and mental discipline. Following the custom for karate students, young Hohan Soken also sought out other Karate Master's to teach him. At the same time he began training under his uncle, Mr. Soken also began training with another karate master, USHI KOMESE (Ushi Tanme) of Nishi-hara village near the beach. Ushi Komesu was famous for his Kobudo techniques.

At the age of 23 Master Nabe Matsumura began training young Soken in the secrets of the White Crane. or Hakutsura. Many men coveted the knowledge of the White Crane, even the venerable master, Gichin Funakoshi sought training in this technique but was refused. Master Nabe Matsumura taught the White Crane only to Hohan Soken. Master Soken continued training under his uncle and Ushi Komesu in Okinawa until the 1920's when he left the Island to live in Argentina.

During the late 1920's and throughout the 1930's, Karate in Okinawa under the Japanese influence underwent a certain amount of change. Karate became more of a sport. Tournament sparring was ­introduced, stances became longer and wider. The Japanese were molding Karate into a sport like Judo and Kendo.

Meanwhile Hohan Soken was living in South America; therefore his Karate did not undergo the changes that Karate in Japan. Hohan Soken researched his Kata and techniques, making variations where needed. After 1945 he returned to Okinawa. He was 56 years oldMaster Soken found Karate greatly changed. Unhappy with the changes he found, Master Soken refused to join the more fashionable Karate Associations. He soon set about to teach his style of Shorin-ryu; "Matsumura-Seito karate and Kobudo. On Okinawa during this time there were few organized methods of teaching Kobudo. Master Soken researched Kata and sent his students to learn from other Sensei's throughout Okinawa. Grandmaster Soken was active in the Okinawan Historical Society and president of the Okinawan Kobujitsu Association.

Master Soken introduced the Pinan Kata's into the Matsumura-Seito system; his favorite Kata is the White Crane kata or Hakutsura. He is the 3rd generation since "Bushi Matsumura" to learn this Kata.