Seiyo-No Shorin-Ryu Karate/Kobudo proper name is
ZEN KOKUSAI SEIYO-NO SHORIN-RYU KARATE/KOBUDO RENMEI
(The International Western Shorin-Ryu Karate/Kobudo Union).

The proper name of the Art is: SEIYO-NO SHORIN-RYU KARATE/KOBUDO. SEIYO-NO implies a WESTERN system. It is a compilation of Kyokushin, Shuri-Te and Taekwondo- Karate systems. The founder of the system is Harold J. Mead who started his martial arts training in 1958. Other martial arts that have influenced Seiyo-No are Judo, Jujitsu, Jutsu, Shito-Ryu Karate, Shotokan-Ryu Karate and Kobudo (Weapons).
Each one of the systems studied, had a weapons component that every student studied if they qualified. That is, if they reached a certain grade level or the head instructor trusted them enough that he would start their Kobudo training.

Matsumura, Sokon (1797-1889) was responsible for organizing the Shuri-Te system and carrying on the teachings of the Shuri-Te martial arts. Shuri-Te is charactertized by speedy movements and was a more offensive style. Naha-Te had more forceful movements and was more defensive in nature. Tomari-Te was an offshoot of Shuri-Te. Matsumura, Sokon also is considered the founder of the Shorin-Ryu school. The three systems on Okinawa Shuri-Te, Naha-Te, and Tomari-Te all evolved today which is now known as Shorin-Ryu.

The Shorin-Ryu system has been the progenitor of many contemporary karate styles, Shotokan-Ryu and Shito-Ryu, for example. Ultimately, all modern styles of karate that evolved from the Shuri-Te lineage can be traced back to the teachings of Bushi Matsumura. This includes Taekwon-Do (Korean Karate).

Taekwon-Do was founded in 1955 by General Choi Hong Hi, a member of the Korean Army. According to General Choi, Taekwon-Do is the synthesis of Taekyon, an ancient Korean form of unarmed combat that employs mainly kicking and karate, the Japanese martial that relies mainly on hand techniques. General Choi, the Father of Taekwon-Do studied karate in Kyoto, Japan. His repertoire of karate kata included: Heian, Bassai, Empi, Rohai, Kujsanku, Tekki, Jitte, Hangetsu and Jion.

Kyokushin Karate was developed by a Korean born individual named Oyama Masatatsu, a naturalized Japanese, was a courageous, brilliant synthesizer of karate techniques. Oyama began his study of Japanese karate-do under the influence of Yamaguchi Gogen's Goju teachings. Oyama already had extensive knowledge of Chinese Shaolin and Korean combat arts (Subak, Tang-Su, Kwonpup, Tae-Kwon-Do, and Pakchigi), but his study of Goju karate-do focused his experience and enabled him to devise his own eclectic system.

Oyama's system, (Kyokushin Karate), was developed essentially with the idea of combat in mind, in a style spiritually toned by Zen concepts. The Kyokushin style is definitely ado form, constituting a way of courage. Oyama was uncompromising in regard to the fact the all karate-like systems were originally combative arts and must remain so if they were to deserve the name of karate.

The idea of one punch, one kick to achieve victory over an opponent pervades Oyama's teachings. The training methods are unique as they are severe. Elements of Korean, Chinese, Japanese, Okinawan, and Toi-Muay fighting arts have been used by Oyama in a sincere attempt to build an efficient system of self-defense. Perhaps one of Oyama's greatest assets, was his ability to teach his style as a functional part of the students daily routine.

Seiyo-No Shorin-Ryu Karate/Kobudo is characterized by more circular than linear movements, a minimum of a least two actions on each technique, neutralization of an aggressor by a joint manipulation technique (along with the basic kicking and punching), and finally there is a spirit of combat morality, which is defensive in nature and is intrinsic to classical bujutsu and applies today in modern society. Violence is to be met and controlled by restraining those responsible for it, not by taking their lives.

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