Lineage

Shinpō Matayoshi 

Shinpō was born on 27th December 1921 in Kina, Yomitan. He began training with his father Shinkō at the age of four. His father also introduced him to his friends and Budō colleagues. Thus, Shinpō began to study with Chotoku Kyan in 1928 , then with his father’s friend, Chōjun Miyagi, for a short period and then with Seiko Higa, with whom he built a strong relationship. 

In 1935, he began training with his father’s old friend Go Kenki and continued to do so until the end of World War II. 

In 1960 he moved to a small house behind Seiko Higa’s dōjō, being one of his most advanced students; he taught Kobudō in Higa’s dōjō and in many other places on the island. 

In 1970 he founded the Ryūkyū Kobudō Renmei  (Ryūkyūs Kobudō Federation), with the aim of practicing and preserving the Okinawan weapons arts. In 1972 the organization changed its name to Shadan Hojin Zen Okinawan Kobudō Renmei or the Okinawan Kobudō Federation Co. Ltd (ZOKR) and received official acknowledgment in Okinawa from the Dai Nippon Butokukai. Shinpo became the first ZOKR President and he remained in charge for 25 years, until his death.  

In 1976 he bought a field in the district of Sobe in Naha where he built a new house for his family; on the ground floor was the dōjō, which he called Kōdōkan (光道館) or “place of the Bright Way.” The kanji “kō” (光), which means light or brightness, was taken from his father’s name, Shinkō, to honor his memory.  

Shinpō sensei was the representative of the Dai Nippon Butokukai for the Okinawan prefecture. On 10th October 1987 he was officially recognized for his ability and his efforts to promote and preserve Okinawan martial arts, receiving the 10th Dan and the title of Hanshi from His Imperial Highness Higashi Fushimi Jigo, president of the Dai Nippon Butokukai. 

In 1995 he held a seminar in Italy assisted by his student Andrea Guarelli sensei, teaching techniques of bō,  sai,  tunkuwa,  nunchaku,  kama,  ēku and sansetsukon. They also trained together the style of the White Crane.  

Matayoshi Shinpō  sensei died on September 7th 1997 in Naha. 

He will be remembered as one of the most prominent figures in the development of Okinawan martial arts after World War II. He left behind some expert students who transmitted his teachings, among these the only one who has received the rank of 10th Dan is Shusei Maeshiro sensei. 

Andrea Guarelli 

Andrea Guarelli was born in Verona, Italy, in 1961. He began practicing Karate at the age of twelve and then added the practice of Okinawan Kobudō.  

After several successful competitions at national and international level, he decided to dedicate himself exclusively to the study and teaching of Budō. 

In the 80’s he went to Taiwan and then to Okinawa, where he trained with the Kobudō headmaster Shinpō Matayoshi and the headmaster of Gōju-ryū Karate Eiichi Miyazato, both 10th Dan, travelling since then to Okinawa at least once a year.  

In 1990 he was designated as responsible for Italy by the Zen Okinawan Kobudō Renmei.  

In 1997 Master Shinpō Matayoshi gave him the rank of 6th Dan and the title of Kobudō Renshi.  

In 1999 he participated in the demonstration in commemoration of Master Matayoshi’s death anniversary in Okinawa. In the same year he went to China (Fuzhou) where he trained in the White Crane style with master Jin Jingfu. 

In 2003 the Okinawa Gōju-ryū Karatedo Kyokai (Master Koshin Iha) gave him the title of Karate Kyoshi.  

In 2008 on the occasion of a seminar in Cape Town, South African TV dedicated a report to him in the National program of martial arts “The Warrior.” He went to Okinawa and China (Yongchun) where the local TV filmed him at Confucius’ temple. He trained with M° Su Yinghan of the White Crane style.  

In 2009 he was nominated member of the directive council of the important association Yongchun Yiyun Society of Yongchun (Fujian – China). He was also designated as responsible for the White Crane style in Italy.  

In 2011 he was invited to demonstrate a White Crane form in the temple dedicated to this style in Yong Chun, China. The demonstration and his interview were recorded and transmitted by Taiwanese TV. His name is engraved in the White Crane temple wall where the genealogy of this style’s masters is illustrated, from the founder, Fang Qiniang, to the 12th generation which includes him. 

In 2012 the Okinawan Association Kenshikai (Master Tetsuhiro Hokama) gave him the rank of 8th Dan in Karate.  

He is a member of the National Association of Olympic Athletes and Italian National Team Members and he’s the founder and president of the International Matayoshi Kobudō Association (I.M.K.A.). 

He has taught seminars of Karate and Matayoshi Kobudō in many countries from different continents. He has also written and published 4 books about Martial Arts: “Il Bō – Il bastone di Okinawa” (Mediterranee, Roma, 1998), published also in German (Weinmann, Berlin, 2002); “Karatedō Nagewaza” (2010); “Sai Jutsu – L’arte del tridente di Okinawa” (2013); and “Okinawa Kobudō – storia e techniche” (2014), published also in English (Skyhorse, New York, 2016) and Spanish (Shinden, Barcelona, 2020). 

In July 2022 I.M.K.A. organized a major event in Verona (Italy) in memory of the centenary of the birth of Shinpō Matayoshi sensei. 

On November 30th, 2022 he received the rank of 9th Dan and the title of Hanshi from Shusei Maeshiro sensei.

On August 4th, 2024 he received the rank of 9th Dan and the title of Hanshi from the Okinawa-Ken Kobudō Renmei (Okinawa Prefecture Kobudō Federation沖縄県古武道連盟). On the same occasion, Okinawa-ken Kobudō Renmei (沖縄県古武道連盟) awarded master Andrea Guarelli the “Kōrōshō” recognition for his services to the dissemination of Okinawan kobudō in Europe and around the world.