GRAND MASTER HOHAN SOKEN was born on May the 25th, 1889. He began his training in 1902 at the age of thirteen. He was the only student  his uncle Nabe Matsumura, (grandson of the famous Bushi Matsumura). His training was to last 76 years. The Kusanku kata that Bushi Matsumura        inherited from Sakugawa played an important role in Soken’s karate training. After Soken had practiced basics for ten years, his uncle told him that he    was now ready to begin learning real karate. In 1912, Soken began learning Hakutsura or “white crane”. To increase balance, Soken was instructed practice his white crane kata and kumite while balancing on a floating slab of wood. (Pictured Master Kise Fusei, Grandmaster Soken Hohan and Shihan Barry Packham, Okinawa 1973.

Soken also sought out other instructors to study under, among them was Master Ushi no Tanme, of Nishihara Village, who practiced and taught kobudo that he had learned from an old samurai named Chikin Kraka. Master Chikin Kraka was also known by his Japanese name, Tsuken Mantaka. He is best known for teaching the “Chikin no Bo” kata to Hohan Soken, who continued training with both Sensei Nabe and Sensei Ushi.

Soken also sought out other instructors to study under, among them was Master Ushi no Tanme, of Nishihara Village, who practiced and taught kobudo that he had learned from an old samurai named Chikin Kraka. Master Chikin Kraka was also known by his Japanese name, Tsuken Mantaka. He is best known for teaching the “Chikin no Bo” kata to Hohan Soken, who continued training with both Sensei Nabe and Sensei Ushi.

In 1920 Master Soken moved to Argentina where he remained for 25 years. Upon his return to Okinawa in 1945 he found that karate had greatly changed, sport karate had all but replaced the ancient methods. Soken did not change, he valued himself as the last of the Old Masters. He refused to join some of the more fashionable karate associations, preferring to stay with the old ways.

He did much to cause the rebirth of interest in Kobudo. Master Soken was proficient with many kobudo weapons, however he taught mainly the Bo, Sai, Tonfa, Kama, Nunchaku, Kamagusari and surichin. During his time Master Soken was one of the top kobudo masters in Okinawa, and was president of the All Okinawan Kobujutsu Association.

Master Soken retired from karate in 1978, and passed on his system to Master Fusei Kise, naming him his successor and passing on his Menkyo-Kaiden to him. Grand Master Hohan Soken died on the 1st of December 1982, for many years he was the oldest living and participating karate master on Okinawa.