Ryū Ryū Ko
| Ryū Ryū Ko 劉龍公 | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1793 Beijing, Qing dynasty China |
| Died | 1882 Fujian, Qing dynasty China |
| Other names | Liu Long Gong or Xie Zhongxiang |
| Style | Fujian White Crane, Whooping Crane-style |
| Teacher(s) | Unknown |
| Other information | |
| Notable students | Higaonna Kanryō, Arakaki Seishō, Norisato Nakaima |
Ryū Ryū Ko (Chinese: 劉龍公 Okinawan: ルールーコウ fl. 1793 - 1882), also known as Liu Long Gong, was a Chinese martial artist who most likely practiced the Fujian White Crane style of Kung Fu. His most notable students included many of the founders of different Okinawan martial arts which later produced Karate. These students included Higaonna Kanryō who founded Naha-te which became Gōjū-ryū. The kata Sanchin, taught in Gōjū-ryū and many other Naha-te based styles of Karate, was originally taught by Ryū Ryū Ko.
Because most of what is known about Ryū Ryū Ko has been passed down by his students, as an oral history, his exact identity, or even his very existence, has been disputed by critics. The research of Tokashiki Iken indicates that he also went by the name of Xie Zhongxiang (謝宗祥), a man born in Changle, Fujian. The Fuzhou Wushu Association issued a statement disputing the results of Tokashiki Iken's research regarding Ryu Ryu Ko.
Other aliases include Xia YiYi (謝如如), in local Fukian Dialect, or Xie RuRu, in modern Mandarin. The names Xie Ru Ru, Ru Ru Ko and Ryū Ryū Ko are considered terms of endearment amongst friends since the suffix ”Ko“ (哥) means "Brother".
The research conducted by Filip Konjokrad points toward RyuRyuKo being Liu Long Gong (劉龍公), not Xie Zhongxiang.