RYUKYU JAPAN KARATE-DO

12245 Poway Road Unit B Poway CA 92064, USA  |  1-858-883-4156  |  contact@ryukyujapankarate.com​

What is Ryuei-ryu?
Ryuei-ryu (劉衛流) is an Okinawan style of karate with distinctive Chinese kung fu influences. Originally a secret family style passed down through the Nakaima family, it was first made public in 1971 by Kenko Nakaima. Today, Ryuei-ryu is practiced both as Karate and Kobudo, incorporating traditional Okinawan weapons into its training.

Chinese Origins
The roots of Ryuei-ryu trace back to Norisato Nakaima (1850–1927), who traveled from Okinawa to Fuzhou, China, in the 1870s. There, he studied under a Chinese master known as Ru Ru Ko (Ryu Ryu Ko). Nakaima brought these techniques back to Okinawa, passing them down privately through his family for decades.

Key Characteristics

• Blended Style: Ryuei-ryu combines Chinese boxing techniques with traditional Okinawan karate, creating a unique flavor that sets it apart from other Okinawan styles.
  

• Unique Movement: Known for its distinctive footwork, the style incorporates “hopping” shifts and zigzag movements.
  

• Hand Techniques: Emphasizes open-handed strikes, alongside sideways and inward shifting for both offense and defense.
  

• Simultaneous Actions: A hallmark of Ryuei-ryu is its ability to perform offense and defense simultaneously, often executing multiple techniques in a single movement.
  

Public Teaching
For many decades, Ryuei-ryu was taught exclusively within the Nakaima family. In 1971, Kenko Nakaima decided to open the style to the public, officially naming it Ryuei-ryu.

Global Reach
Pan-American Expansion: In 1979, Kyoshi Tomohiro Arashiro introduced Ryuei-ryu to the United States. The Okinawa Ryuei Ryu Karate Kobudo (ORRKKO) organization, headquartered in San Diego, California, now oversees Ryuei-ryu in the Americas.

International Recognition: Ryuei-ryu gained worldwide fame through Tsuguo Sakumoto, one of Kenko Nakaima’s first non-family students, who won multiple World Union of Karate-Do Federation (WUKO) kata championships in the 1980s, performing Ryuei-ryu’s Anan kata. Another celebrated practitioner is Ryo Kiyuna, a 4-time WKF World Champion and Olympic kata champion.

International Presence: Today, Ryuei-ryu is practiced in countries including the USA, Argentina, Chile, Mexico, and various nations in Europe and Asia.