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| Country of origin | Naha, Okinawa,Japan |
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| Founder | Higaonna Kanryō (Naha-te) Choki Motobu (modern) |
| Arts taught | Karate |
| Ancestor arts | Okinawan martial arts (Shuri-te),Quanfa,Baihequan |
| Descendant arts | Goju-ryu,Shito-ryu,Shuri-ryu,Ryūei-ryū,Shotokan |
| Practitioners | Robert Trias |
Shōrei-ryū (昭霊流,Shōrei ryū) is a style ofOkinawankarate and is one of the two styles ofkarate as mentioned in the 'Ten Precepts' ofAnkō Itosu, alongsideShōrin-ryū.[1] It was developed at the end of the 19th century byHigaonna Kanryō inNaha, Okinawa, Japan.
Shōrei-ryū means "the style of inspiration" and certain martial arts scholars[who?] believe that the termShōrei is derived from the Shoreiji Temple[2] located in eitherFujian or Mount Jiulian ofLongnan, Jiangxi.[3]
Little is known about the origins of Shōrei-ryū, but it was influenced in its early development byShuri-te.Kanryo Higashionna originally studied Shuri-te withSokon Matsumura and learntquanfa from ChineseWai Xinxian (assistant ofXie Zhongxiang). Higaonna later traveled to China to perfect his skills, which he probably succeeded in because he learned many new kata fromFujian, the home ofBaihequan (Chinese 白鶴 拳, Pinyin báihèquán) and adopted it in his style. The teachings of this temple provided the basis for theNaha-te style of Okinawan karate.
Following passing of Higaonna Kanryo, the style began to take a new direction and became a purely "internal" combat style. This was due in large part to the influence ofChoki Motobu.[4]
Although Motobu's sensei style is still considered Naha-te, it actually had nothing to do with Higashionna. When Motobu became the leader of Shōrei-ryū, he began to guide his development in another direction, mainly because he trained with Anko Itosu of the Shuri-te style, a disciple of the greatSokon Matsumura.[5]
The main features of Shōrei-ryū are the use of open hands, circular block techniques, and kicks to thegedan (lower-level) area.
In addition, the use of short and hard techniques in close combat in combination with throwing techniques is a specialty, especially from thesanchin andshiko-dachi stances. Great importance is also attached to training on themakiwara.
Another peculiarity is that the handling ofKobudō weapons such asbo,tonfa orsai is also very practiced.
Shōrei-ryū originates various kata that would be used in descendant styles likeGōjū-ryū and others.[6]
| Gekisai dai ichi (撃砕大一) | Seisan (十三手) | Anan (阿南) |
| Gekisai dai ni (撃砕大二) | Shisōchin (四向戰) | Ohan ( ) |
| Saifā (碎破) | Kururunfa (久留頓破) | Peiho ( ) |
| Sanchin (三戰) | Sūpārinpei (壱百零八手) | Sōchin (壮鎮) |
| Tensho (転掌) | Pachu ( ) | Niseishi ( ) |
| Seienchin (制引戰) | Heiku ( ) | Useishi ( ) |
| Sansēru (三十六手) | Paiku ( ) | Unsu (雲手) |
Modern descendants of Shōrei-ryū include styles such asGōjū-ryū andRyūei-ryū. Gōjū-ryū is considered the direct evolution of Shōrei-ryū.[7]
TheShitō-ryū style also contains many elements of Shōrei-ryū, sinceMabuni Kenwa was a student of Higaonna, and even theShōtōkan style contains kata from Shōrei-ryū, which, however, did not get there directly, but were passed on to Funakoshi Gichin and his students via Mabuni Kenwa.[8]
TheShōrei-ryū name (alternatively, Goju-Shorei-Ryu and later, Shorei-Goju Ryu) was also used for the style of karate brought to theUnited States byRobert Trias.[9] Later, Trias used the nameShuri-ryu, although some lineages still use the Shorei Ryu name. This style should not be confused with traditional Shōrei-ryū. Trias's karate incorporated elements from Naha-te, Shuri-te,Tomari-te, and others.
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