Matsumura more than anyone else has a claim to having made karate a distinctly Okinawan art, distinct from Chinese ch'uan fa. He started training in the art of Okinawa-te with Sakugawa at the age of 14. He was determined to become the greatest fighter in the land.

He became master of military affairs in the royal court, a highly important position as it would have meant that he was responsible for the safety of the King. After the capture of Okinawa by the Satsuma Clan in 1609, the King was required to spend half the year in Kyushu. Matsumura naturally travelled with the King and it was during this time that Matsumura learnt the sword fighting art of Jigen Ryu Kenjutsu.

Legend has it that Mutsumura was given the title Bushi, meaning warrior, by the King Sho Ko after he fought a bull unarmed. The King had announced that, as entertainment, his great bodyguard, Matsumura, would fight a raging bull unarmed (some accounts say that the bull was a present from the Emperor of Japan). Everyone was invited to watch the great spectacle. Matsumura had no choice but to accept the challenge or lose face so, on the appointed, day he turned up face the bull. He stared into the bull's eyes and it turned round and bolted. He had beaten it just by looking at it!