(Valencia, CA) — The master-level practices of Okinawa’s karate techniques have often been closely guarded secrets. Among the most closely guarded of these secrets is that of hakutsuru — also known as the “white swan.” Legendary martial artist Hohan Soken is one of the few people in the history of karate who was privy to its inner workings. BlackBeltMag.com is proud to present the story of the man and the coveted hakutsuru.
In BlackBeltMag.com’s new FREE Guide — History of Karate: The Role of Master Hohan Soken in Hakutsuru (White Swan), the Most Coveted of Okinawa’s Karate Techniques — martial arts history enthusiasts will discover the story of one of Okinawa’s revered masters of advanced karate techniques.
This classic article from the archives of Black Belt magazine tells the story of young Hohan Soken, who began to practice karate techniques under the tutelage of his uncle, Nabe Matsumura, one of the region’s top masters. This training in karate techniques molded the young man into a formidable martial artist whom Matsumura deemed worthy of the knowledge of the hakutsuru (white swan) — a secret technique that was sought by many but found by few.
In BlackBeltMag.com’s new FREE Guide — History of Karate: The Role of Master Hohan Soken in Hakutsuru (White Swan), the Most Coveted of Okinawa’s Karate Techniques — a chapter in the history of karate is revealed as readers learn how such a technique was kept a secret — and why.
“Despite mass interest in the rough-and-tumble world of mixed martial arts, we’ve found that our audience craves information about traditional martial arts history,” says Raymond Horwitz, Black Belt magazine’s director of digital media. “The history of karate seems to be of particular interest right now, so we were happy to put together this piece to share with our online audience. Hohan Soken’s story has a little bit of everything — secrets, old photos and a personal connection to larger historical happenings. He was connected to some of the ‘household names,’ if you will, in the history of karate. Although his name may not hold the same cachet in some circles as other, more famous names, its his connection to the secret hakutsuru technique that helps secure his place in the larger history of karate.”
This mini-biography of Hohan Soken features archival photos of the karate master practicing elements of the fabled hakutsuru in traditional karate garb. Also featured are photos of Hohan Soken’s uncle and sensei, Nabe Matsumura, as well as Hohan Soken’s prize pupil, Fusei Kise, an accomplished martial artist who would go on to teach American soldiers many of his master’s karate techniques at the Kadena Air Base in Okinawa.
This FREE Guide from BlackBeltMag.com — History of Karate: The Role of Master Hohan Soken in Hakutsuru (White Swan), the Most Coveted of Okinawa’s Karate Techniques — is available for download as a PDF now atblackbeltmag.com/free-guides.