Kenwa Mabuni 1889-1952

KENWA MABUNI was born in Shuri, the 17th generation descendant of one of the bravest warriors of Okinawan nobility. As a child, Kenwa Mabuni wanted so very much to be like his great ancestors, but, unfortunately he was very sickly and weak. In 1902, at the age of 13, Kenwa Mabuni was taken to the most famous martial artist in Shuri, master Ankoh Itosu, to improve his health. From that day forward, he never missed a day of training until he was approximately 20 years old.

In 1909, encouraged by master Itosu to further expand his knowledge of the martial arts, and on the advice of his best friend Chojun Miyagi, Kenwa Mabuni, began taking lessons from master Kanryo Higashionna of Naha, until the great master's death in 1915.

During this period, Kenwa Mabuni was also receiving instruction from master Seisho Arakaki (1840-1918) of Naha, who taught a similar style to master Higashionna. Master Arakaki was an accomplished Kobujutsu teacher and taught Kenwa Mabuni BO and SAI techniques, including various weapons forms. He was also being influenced by a Fukien, 'White-Crane-Fist' master named WU XIAN GUI (pronounced GO KENKI in Japanese) at the time.

Upon hearing of Master Itosu's death in 1915, Kenwa Mabuni was so upset that legend indicates he built a shrine in front of Master Itosu's grave and looked after the gravemarker. He would come to the grave site and diligently practice his kata daily, for over a year, to pay respect and honour to the great master.

Completing the required military service after graduating from high school, Kenwa Mabuni eventually became a policeman. By 1918, Kenwa Mabuni had become an important figure in the martial arts community and was respected by his peers. Around this time, he established a research and study group at his home. Various participating members included Chosin Chibana, Gichin Funakoshi, Anbun Tokuda, Shinpan Shiroma, Choju Oshiro, Seicho Tokumura and Hoko Ishikawa.

It was later in the same year, that Kenwa Mabuni was to have the great honour of demonstrating his martial arts in the presence of Prince Kuni and Prince Kacho at the Okinawa Normal School. While Gichin Funakoshi was sent, as the official representative to introduce Okinawan 'TODE' to mainland Japan in 1922, Kenwa Mabuni and the research group members including, Juhatsu Kiyoda, Choyu Motobu, Go Kenki and Chojun Miyagi continued to train together.

In 1924, Kenwa Mabuni and Chojun Miyagi, were asked to take charge of the training sessions, even though they were still fairly young. During these sessions, actual kumite was stressed to increase their physical techniques and strength. It is said that, when a student wanted to learn more from a master, the master would simply invite the student to attack him freely, all the while, blocking and shifting his body while constantly asking the student, "Now, do you understand?" and encouraging them to attack, again and again.

Between 1925-1927, Japan's leading government sanctioning martial arts body, eventually accepted Okinawan 'TODE' as a member. It was during this period that the generally accepted reading of the KANJI (particular style of written characters) for "TODE' meaning 'CHINA-HAND' was changed to the Kanji of 'KARA-TE', meaning 'Empty-HAND'. The reading of the Kanji was not widely accepted, especially in Okinawa, until much later in 1936-1937.

The Japanese government's martial arts sanctioning organization, the Dai Nippon Butoku-Kai, began to demand the different groups applying for membership be more specific in the description of their Karate systems, and pressured them to name their systems. Kenwa Mabuni originally named his system 'HANKO RYU' (Half-Hard style), but, later changed it to reflect the deep respect he felt towards his two great masters, ITOSU and HIGAONNA. Using the alternative reading of the Kanji for 'ITO' from master ITOSU's name, (which can also be read as 'SHI' ), and 'HIGA' from master HIGAONNA's name, (which can be interpreted as 'TO' ), Kenwa Mabuni created the new name, 'SHITO' for his style of Karatedo.