Sokon Matsumura was born into a well-known shizoku (noble) family who lived in the Okinawa town of Yamagawa. As an adult he found work as bodyguard for the last three rulers of the Ryu Kyu Islands. The Ryu Kyus are a bunch of islands south of Japan, of witch Okinawa is the largest.

In his life Matsumura visited China twice to learn Chinese martial arts.

One of Matsumura's lesser known students was Bushi Takemura who settled down on the northern part of Okinawa as a farmer. Takemura created a version of Kushanku Kata which is still practised in Gensei Ryu Karate today.

It was at this time Takemura came to know the Kishimoto family, of which Soko Kishimoto (1866- 1945) became Takemura's student.

Takemura died 85 years old.

Soko Kishimoto was born in the town of Yabu which is situated in Northern Okinawa. Even as a youngster Kishimoto was prone by a bad temper and the will to learn Okinawa-te (Original name for Okinawa-karate). Besides Okinawa-te he also came to learn Kobudo (weapons training); particularly Sai (short trident) and Bo (long staff) were emphasised.

Kishimoto later moved to an area close to the town of Nago. Here he came to be known as Nago No Agari. While he was young, Kishimoto was known as a bit of a ruffian; however as he grew older he also grew calmer. It is known that Kishimoto was challenged by the young and promising Ankichi Arakaki (circa 1927). This resulted in Arakaki's death.

Kishimoto only had eight students throughout his life. Unfortunatly Kishimoto died in 1945, during The Battle of Okinawa.