Seisho Arakaki 1840-1920

Arakaki was born in either Kummura Village, Okinawa, or the island of Sesoku. He was a member of the royal court in Okinawa, and thus held the title of "Chikudon Peichin." Being fluent in Chinese, Arakaki was requested to go to China by the court in 1870.

In China it is believed that Arakaki studied Monk Fist Boxing and the only name associated with his training is Wai Xinxian from Fuzhou.

Arakaki was known for teaching a style similar to Higashionna. Arakaki taught the kata's Sochin, Unshu, Niseishi and staff (bo) Kata to Kenwa Mabuni. Arakaki is believed to have had as students Tsuyoshi Chitose, founder of Chito Ryu, Gichin Funakoshi of Shotokan and Kanken Toyama of the Shudokan School. He is noted in history for being responsible for passing down several significant Kata. According to some historians Arakaki, though a recluse, was the king’s Bushi and a legendary and enigmatic figure of early karate. Mabuni also studied the Sai (a large fork like weapon) from another Bushi by the name of Tawada Shinkazu (Peichin).

Little else appears to be known of Master Arakaki other than that he was an accomplished Chinese Kempo teacher who had studied a Fukien style. He was the first teacher of Higashionna from 1867 to 1870 and taught Kenwa Mabuni Bo and Sai techniques, including various weapons forms.

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