Fukuno Shichirouemon Masakatsu (福野七郎右衛門正勝) was the founder of Ryōi Shintō-ryū Jūjutsu (良移心当流 柔術). Between 1626 – 1627, he studied ‘Torite no jutsu’ (捕手の術 – hand taking) & ‘Kenpō’ (拳法 – fist striking method) from Southern Shaolin Monastery or ‘Nan-Shaolin’ (南少林) Chinese monk Chin Genpin (陳元贇).

In this interesting Blog article, published on the Ryukyu Bugei 琉球武芸 website, by Andreas Quast - he decribes what Itosu Ankō (糸洲 安恒) (1831 – 1915) known as the 'Father of modern Karate' had to say about Chin Genpin:

"Kenpō jūjutsu
Posted on November 28, 2021 by Andreas Quast
According to Okinawan samurai Aka Pēchin (1721–1784), jūjutsu was practiced in Ryūkyū already in the 18th century. Regarding unarmed martial arts in Okinawa, it was no less than the father of modern karate, Itosu Ankō, who noted that historical karate was probably influenced by the teachings of Chin Genpin (1587–1674) in Japan, albeit indirectly. The terminology used to describe the teachings of Chin is kenpō jūjutsu, meaning a historical Japanese martial arts systems with an initial Chinese influence which places emphasis – but is not limited to – striking and kicking, i.e., on impact techniques.

This text is quoted from: Okinawan Samurai: The Instructions of a Royal Official to his Only Son (Ryukyu Bugei) (Volume 4)

Fujita Seiko (1958) confirms this view. In his book on kenpō jūjutsu, he noted that “This book is about the art of war called kenpō, i.e., the punching and kicking techniques as handed down in various factions of distinguished Japanese martial arts schools.” Kanō Jigorō, the founder of jūdō, said, “assuming that Chin Genpin introduced jūjutsu than it could only have been the styles of kenpō and hakuda, which occurred in China between 1658 and 1672.” Kanō describes kenpō as a method which “according to contemporary Chinese sources mainly consisted of kicks and punches.”

According to experts, Ryūkyūan martial arts were influenced by classical Japanese martial arts already earlier:

During the Keichō era (1596–1615), torite […] became popular in Japan. Torite is nothing but the techniques of yawara, that is, an original form of jūjutsu. […] Besides, martial arts such as kenpō (karate), bōjutsu, and sumō have been performed since ancient times and are characteristic skills of Okinawa (Majikina 1923)."

© 2021, Andreas Quast. All rights reserved.

Reference: Quast Andreas (2021), 'Kenpō jūjutsu' https://ryukyu-bugei.com/?p=9691 (accessed 12:50hrs 17th February 2023)

Itosu picture from: http://www.wayofleastresistance.net/.../the-face-of-itosu...

Chin picture from: 'Chin Genpin no Kenkyū' (陳元贇の研究 - Research into Chin Genpin) by Komatsubara Tō (小松原 濤). Publ. 1972.