Sōkon Matsumura

Sōkon "Bushi" Matsumura
松村 宗棍
Born1809
Yamakawa Village, Shuri, Ryūkyū Kingdom
Died1899
Shuri, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan
StyleShuri-te,
Teacher(s)Kanga Sakukawa, Annan, Iwah
Other information
Notable studentsAnkō Asato, Ankō Itosu, Motobu Chōyū, Motobu Chōki, Kentsu Yabu, Nabe Matsumura,Hanashiro Chomo, Chōtoku Kyan, Gichin Funakoshi

Sōkon Matsumura (松村 宗棍, Matsumura Sōkon) was one of the original karate masters of Okinawa. The years of his lifespan are reported variously as 1809–1901 or 1798–1890 or 1809–1896 or 1800–1892. However, the dates on the plaque at Matsumura's tomb, put there by Matsumura's family, clearly state that he was born in 1809 and died in 1899 at approximately the age of 90 years old.