Q & A with the President of NAMKA 

Q. What is the purpose or mission of The North American Matsubayashi-ryu Karate Assoc.?

A. Our mission is to keep the original Matsubayashi-ryu style that Grandmaster Shoshin Nagamine developed intact so it will not to be continually watered down and eventually die out. 

Q. What is the difference between you and the other Matsubayashi-ryu organizations?

A. Our association is about training, keeping up the standards, studying the style, making sure the teachers are teaching correctly, and  constantly growing as martial artists, we are working on the future.  

Q. What is the difference from what you teach and the other Matsubayashi-ryu schools and organizations?

A. There are so many organizations and independant schools that teach variations of the style, the reason is, people teach based on individual interpretation rather than proper technique or understanding the big picture. We teach proper foundation and execution of technique as well as developing techniques. We teach efficiency in movement, learning how to generate power, speed etc. Once the techniques are developed then you can use them effectively with any interpretation.  

Q. How does that effect the kata when kata has so many workable variations and interpretations?

A. My point exactly, in Matsubayashi-ryu the execution of techniques in kata are done one way, and they should never be changed in kata. People change the technique or the execution of the technique based on their interpretation of the movement. There is a physiologically and scientific way to execute a technique based on body structure regardless of interpretation. There is a basic bunkai for each kata to make sure the techniques are done correctly with the correct understanding of the essence of our style, anything after that is bunkai-oyo which gives the opportunity to explore other interpretations with your properly developed technique. 

Q. So what is the essence of Matsubayashi-ryu?

A. Well first and formost is to develope self. Second is the essence of in-close fighting. 

Q. In-close fighting?

A. Absolutely, Matsubayashi-ryu uses body shifting, quick hands and feet and once inside after the initial attack, or as the initial attack, we can use any type of throw or sweep if we choose.  

Q. Does Matsubayashi-ryu have throws and takedowns? Are these throws and sweeps found in kata?

A.  Kata is a framework with which to work and learn from, each movement including turns puts you in a fighting position, some of these positions can be followed up with a Judo throw, Aikido throw or a good leg sweep. Kata teaches many things when studied and training with a good teacher. 

Q. Have you ever been asked "is this technique a block or a strike"?

A. Yes, I always answer with can be both but....... with good body shifting and proper execution of techniuqe and focus on the target to be attacked, no need to block. 

Q. Who can join the NAMKA and why should they?

A. The NAMKA is open to all practitioners of Matsubayashi-ryu who have left organizations because of negative results throughout the years or independant Dojo's who need some place to go to better their karate through quality teaching and training and want to perpetuate Matsubayashi-ryu into the future intact for the next generation.