Karate originated as a martial art thousands of years ago and was brought to Japan from China, Taiwan and Okinawa. Many of the famous karateka, or bushi as they were known in Okinawa, experimented and developed their skills in such provinces as Suri, Naha and Tomari. But unlike judo and kendo, karate was a secret art, unknown to the general public. There was no fixed system until approximately 1907 when Yastune Itosu of Shuri and Kaneryo Higaonna of Naha – both of whom are regarded today as two of the most influential teachers of Okinawan karate – gained a good following for both of their own special styles. Instructor Itosu taught the Nai-huan-chi form and Higaonna taught Sanchin which was later developed into the present day GOJO-RYU style of Chojyun Miyagi.
The SHITO-RYU system was devised by Kenwa Mabuni who had studied under both Itosu and Higaonna. Born in 1893, Mabuni was the 17th-generation son of a famous samurai named Onigusuki. Mabuni was keenly aware of the accomplishments of his brave ancestors and, wanting to overcome poor health, began intensive karate training at the age of 13. He also studied weapon techniques of the bo, sai, tonfa, kama, and nunchaku from Master Aragaki. By mixing the teaching of Itosu and Higaonna, and using their initials, he developed a new system and coined it SHITO-RYU. He instructed the secrets of his art to Okinawa’s police, constabulary and self-defense forces, and also made frequent visits to Japan prior to 1920 to instruct the art. In 1929 Mabuni made a permanent move to Osaka to teach at universities and police departments. He died in May 1957 at the age of 64, but his system remains one of the four major style in Japan.