Sokon 'Bushi' Matsumura was born on Okinawa and began training at the age of 14 with Satunuku 'Tode' Sakugawa.

By the time he was 20 he was already a skilled "Tode" martial artist. Since Sakugawa died in 1815 it is very likely that Matsumura also studied with some of Sakugawa's senior students.

Matsumura served as a close advisor and bodyguard to three Ryukyuan kings - Sho-Ko, Sho Iku and Sho Tai. This position enabled him to travel widely to Fuchou, Satsuma and the Fukien Shaolin Temple where he studied several forms of Chinese boxing and Jigen-ryu sword fighting.

Matsumura also studied under a Chinese master named Channan (Chiag Nan) who was a diplomat sent to Shuri, from China. He formed two kata from what he had learned from Channan (Chiag Nan), they were Channan Sho and Dai. Later these names were changed to Pinan shodan and Nidan.

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