represent a true expression of the various kata. Shimabukuro continued teaching at his dojo in Agena until his retirement in early 1972. He passed his legacy over to his son, Kichiro Shimabukuro, Eiko Kaneshi was also considered for this honor. Death Shimabukuro died from a stroke at his home in the village of Agena on May 30, 1975 at the age of 66. Modifications from traditional forms Some of his modifications to karate are: The Sunsu kata: a kata exclusive to Isshin-ryu, Sunsu consists mostly of techniques from other kata that Tatsuo found useful and important. Reversing the Naihanchi kata, going left first, rather than right. NOTE: The Tomari Naihanchi starts in this fashion so Tatsuo did not change this. Legacy Some call him a non-traditionalist, but he had a foot in both worlds. Some kata were modified for use with shoes but his students still trained barefoot when outdoors. Often techniques were taught differently on different days. Once Shimabukuro was sitting drinking awamori with some students. He asked them while pointing toward some bottles "which bottle is best"? Some picked the larger bottles, some the smaller. Tatsuo said that the shape of the bottle was not important. He indicated all bottles were good, that there was no "best bottle" and that all bottles served a purpose. In 1980, Shimabukuro was the first person inducted into the International Isshin-ryu Karate Association's Isshin-ryū Hall of Fame. References Okinawan male karateka Martial arts school founders 1908 births 1975 deaths Gōjū-ryū practitioners 20th-century philanthropists Shōrin-ryū practitioners