Kenwa Mabuni (1889 – 1952) was born in Shuri, Okinawa and was a weak, frail child. Considered by many to be the “guru” of Karate, he originated the Shito Ryu style, which combines the influences of Shorei Ryu and Shorin Ryu.
When Kenwa Mabuni moved to Osaka, his style was called Hanko Ryu (half-soft style), before he officially founded Shito Ryu (Funakoshi = Shotokan; Mabuni = Shito; Miyagi = Goju; Ohtsuka = Wado) when the 4 main styles of karate were introduced to the Dai Nippon Butoku kai. The word Shito was Mabuni’s way of honoring his two greatest teachers: Higashionna [shi], who taught Naha-te style, and Itosu [to], who taught Shuri-te style. Mabuni first trained with Itosu, Ankoh from age 13 to 27, with whom he became proficient with such weapons as the bo and Sai. At 20, Mabuni began to train with Higashionna of Naha, a Shorei-ryu master who brought from China most of the Naha-Te Kata (Kururunfa, Seienchin, Sochin…) popularized by Goju Ryu. Kiyoda Juhatsu, a student of Miyagi’s, was one of 3 men in history to train with two leading masters of the art at their time. The other to men to train with these masters were Toyama (1888-1966) and Gusukuma Shimpan (1890-1954). Mabuni also trained under Arakaki. In 1913, at the age of 23, he joined civil law enforcement and became a detective. Then he met Arakaki Seisho, who did a lot of traveling as an interpreter for the Government, and his student Su uji Peichin (1840-1920), who taught Higaonna. During his travels Arakaki learned Niseishi and Unshu from the Fuchou Province and brought them over with him. Peichin first taught Higaonna before he moved to Kojo. (Kojo family – Matsu Higa).
Kenwa Mabuni also studied with Sueshi and Tawada.
In 1927, Mabuni demonstrates karate for Jigoro Kano, the founder of Judo. The ranks in karate came from kendo and the belts ranking system and gi (uniform) came from Jigoro Kano. At 37 years of age, Mabuni opens his first dojo. He founded it with Chojun Miyagi, and called it the Chinese Martial Arts Research Society of Okinawa. His home was considered a Mecca for karate. Chojun Miyagi was the founder of Goju Ryu.
Mabuni’s Five principles of strategy
1. Rakka (Dropping Flower): power is generated by sudden impact
2. Ryu Shu (Running water): blending (be like water)
3. Kusshin: vertical maneuvering (up and down)
4. Teni (change): by initiating, manipulating miai (critical distance), or tai sabaki (body shifting) [ten = change; Teni = changing]
5. Han Geki: countering
Kenwa Mabuni is quoted as saying, “Those who master Karate understand the importance of cooperating with the infinite rather than continuing to resist the inevitable.”
Mabuni, Kenwa Soke died in Osaka, Japan on 23 May 1952, leaving his name and art in the heart of each Shito-ryu Karate-ka
During November 1960, due to the colossal efforts of Master Manzo Iwata(1924-1993), an eastern headquarters was finally established. At the same time, the western headquarters was re-established by Master Mabuni's eldest son, Master Kenei Mabuni. Over the years, both headquarters conducted special events, seminars and tournaments until the First All-Japan Shito-ryu Karate-do Championship was held in April 1964. In February 1973, the two headquarters merged to become the Japan Karate-do Shito kai. With the culmination of various Shito-kai groups around the globe, including Cuba, Russia, Mexico, USA, Canada and Asia among others, the establishment of the 'World Shito-ryu
Karate-do Federation' was at the Shito-ryu Congress meeting in Osaka in March 1993.