The History of Shito Ryu Karate Do
Shito Ryu karate is one of the four main styles of karate in Japan. It was founded by Mabuni Kenwa Sensei(1889-1952). Mabuni Sensei began studying karate under Itosu Yasutune when he was 13. He studied under Itosu Sensei until Itosu Sensei's death. Then Mabuni was introduced to Higaonna Kanryo by his friend Miyagi Chojun, the founder of modern Goju Ryu. In this was, Mabuni Sensei was able to learn both Shuri-te(Itosu) and Naha-te(Higaonna).

In addition to learning Shuri-te and Naha-te, Mabuni Sensei was aslo able to study with Arakaki Seisho, another Naha-te practitioner, who taught Mabuni the Unshu, Sochin, Niseishi, Arakaki-sai and Arakaki-bo katas. Mabuni, along with Chojun Miyagi and others, was also able to study White Crane Kung Fu from Woo Yin Gue ( Go Ken Ki). It was from Woo that Mabuni learned Niipaipo, Paipuren and Hakutsuru.
Go Ken Ki, with Mabuni Sensei on the background.
In 1929, Mabuni moved to Osaka and began teaching at several dojo's including the Seishinkai, the dojo of Kokuba Kosei, the founder fo Motobu-ha Shito Ryu. In 1934 Mabuni named his style "Shito Ryu". The name comes from the first Chinese character of both of Mabuni's teachers, Itosu and Higgaonna. In 1939, Mabuni officially registered his style as Shito Ryu with the Dai Nippon Butokukai, the national sanctioning body for martial arts in Japan at the time. Also in 1939, Mabuni formed the Dai Nippon Karate-Do Kai, the forerunner of the present day Shitokai, led by Mabuni's eldest son, Mabuni Kanei.

Mabuni Kenwa died on May 23, 1952 at the age of 63. After Mabuni's death several of his leading students separated and formed their own organizations. Sakagami Ryusho formed the Itosu Kai, presently led by his son, Sakagami Sadaaki in Japan and by Demura Fumio in the United States. Tani Chijiro formed Tani-ha Shito Ryu and named his organization the Shuko Kai. Kokuba Kosei, because of his also studing under Motobu Choki, named his organization Motobu-ha Shito Ryu Seishin Kai.  Hayashi Teruo, a student of Kokuba Kosei, traveled to Okinawa and studied under Shoshin Nagamine, the founder of Matubayashi Shorin Ryu and under Nakaima Kenko, the head of Ryuei Ryu. After returing to Japan, Hayashi incorporated Okinawa Kobudo and several Ryuei Ryu kata in to his own style, the Hayashi-ha Shito Ryu Kai.

The Hokuyo Kai is decended from Mabuni Sensei through Iwata Manzo Sensei and Ito Shiro Sensei to Mitsuchi Noriyuki Sensei.  The Hokuyo Kai was founded in 1993 and its headquarters are located in Sapporo, Japan.
Hosted by www.Geocities.ws

1