It has become apparent that the history and lineage of the Isshinryu system, for those interested in how the past affects the current moment and thus the future, is open to discussion due to the lack of written historical documentation. Many have taken it upon themselves to research and gather as much information as possible trying to glue together those facts, if indeed they can be classified as facts, into a picture of the system and its founder Shimabuku Tatsuo Sensei.
It begins with a fact, the Okinawans do not take seriously the same things westerners take seriously so many, many things are just not documented. Then we have to consider that the information on Isshinryu is anecdotal, which means it could well be distorted by time and by generations of retelling. There is probably no way to know the objective truth of any of it.
One historian of note had made the written comment that his encounters with Okinawans over a three or more year period of time living on the Island speaks to this lack of concern for such things. So it is a matter of subjectively piecing together data as best as one can to piece together the story. Considering this lack of interest on the Okinawans part this puts the history in the system to questions.
Then there are those historians who spend a great deal of time and effort trying to piece it all together through discussions with those who lived during those times, who practiced martial arts and who trained with Tatsuo-san and his teachers, i.e. "The chronological order of Tatsuo's formal teachers as being: Motobu Choyu (1st; 1924/1925), Kyan Chotoku (2nd; c. 1927-c. 1938/1939), Motobu Choki (3rd; 1941-1942), Chojun Miyagi (4th; 1946-1947)."
The quote about time and generational affects distorting the information becomes heavy, a burden that in and of itself as affected by the persons perceptions and the context of the discussions as affected by human memory, context of the discussion and one very important aspect of Asian culture, the need to keep a sense of balance and harmony. This sometimes forces them to say things that they might not to keep a harmonious atmosphere especially when pushed by western standards of the need to know and to understand beyond intuitive learning, etc.
Lastly, the arts were influenced greatly by the introduction into the school systems along with the hardships and barriers created by the war. The war from both the Japanese influences as the governing body of Okinawa as well as the American influences as the victors of the war would naturally result in a holding back in teaching the cultural art of karate, etc. It may simply be a matter of holding dear what is there heritage and allowing only that which keeps harmony out when discussing it with westerners.
Now that Okinawan and American relations has grown closer and the Okinawans are finding their cultural karate has potential to be a economic boon for their peoples the effort to gain back the history and lineage means that more and more information will be forthcoming with one big "BUT." It is still about that information still being anecdotal and distorted by time and generational retellings as well as digging into the frailties of human memories. We as humans all suffer from those frailties and memories do change each and every moment.
My advice is that we should all come together to compare notes - regardless of sources, etc. Then we should do our best to come up with one history and lineage that all can accept and be done with it. The continuous egoistic pride driven mental state of "I am right and you are wrong" should be set aside for the continuity of the system, both technical and academic (being the history and lineage, etc.).
Then again I may be spitting against the wind.
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