History of Shito-Ryu

Kenwa Mabuni, the founder of Shito-Ryu style, was born in Shuri, Okinawa in 1889. In the early days in Okinawa, "Te" was practiced and handed down in small groups. The two greatest masters at the time were Yasutsune (Anko) Itosu (1830-1915) (master of Shuri-Te) in Shuri, capital of Okinawa and Kanryo Higashionna (1852-1915) (master of Naha-Te) in Naha, Okinawa. While these two men represented the highest authority at the time, there was significant difference between their systems of instruction. Itosu emphasized speed and agility, while Higashionna placed more importance on hardening of the body in close fighting and emphasized the use of circular motions. Ankoh Itosu and Kanryo Higashionna may be the most influential names of modern karate-do as the Shotokan founder, Gichin Funakoshi was a student of Ankoh Itosu and the Goju-ryu founder, Chojun Miyagi was a student of Kanryo Higashionna.

Kenwa Mabuni (1889 -1952) initially practiced under Itosu, then with permission from his master Itosu and encouragement from his friend, Chojun Miyagi, went to the town of Naha to study under Higashionna. Mabuni was skilled not only in Karate, but he also practiced weaponry. He also had good expertise in Baihe Quen (White Crane) Kenpo. In 1915, he moved to Osaka, Japan and started to teach in his house. He taught at police stations and universities to spread Karate in Japan. He established "Okinawa Karate Kenkyu Kai" in 1925. He opened a Dojo in Nishinari ward in Osaka in 1935, and he named his style Shito-Ryu. He founded his own new style of Karate based on the teachings of his two great masters.

He blended both Shuri-Te and Naha-Te to form his new style, Shito Ryu. It is a combination of both teacher's names as well as styles. He took the first character of each of his teacher's names. The first character representing Itosu's name is pronounced "Shi" (she), and the first character representing Higashionna's name is pronounced "To" (tow), Ryu means style.

Shito-Ryu is effectively a combination of Shotokan and Goju Ryu as Shotokan has a lineage from Shorin-Ryu (from Shuri-Te) and Goju-ryu, comes from Shorei Ryu (from Naha-Te and Tomari-Te). Shotokan emphasizes on long linear stances and physical power while Goju-ryu uses shorter stances and internal breathing techniques (Hard and soft - breathing out constitutes being hard and breathing in, soft). Shito-Ryu is broad yet distinct from other styles. It emphasizes on shorter stances, speed and Kihon (basics).

Kenwa Mabuni later (in 1931) named his organization as "Dai Nippon Karate-Do Kai, Shito-Ryu". Mabuni established credibility by receiving a first Renshigo for a Karate master from Dai Nippon Butoku Kai (The most authoritative of all martial art societies in Japan at the time). After World War II, he renamed his organization as " Nippon Karate-Do Kai, Shito-Ryu".

Kenwa Mabuni died in 1952. His sons inherited the Shito-Ryu tradition and continued to teach. However, some of Kenwa Mabuni's Shihan group opened their own schools.

Regardless of what others may claim, only the following people have been recognized as Shihan of Shito-Ryu from Kenwa Mabuni: Ryusei Tomoyori as Kenyu-Ryu, Ryusho Sakagami as Itosu Kai, Masaru Watanabe as Seiki Kai, Chojiro Tani as Shuko Kai, Hakuryu Seki as Hakuryu Kai. Kenei Mabuni, the elder son of Kenwa Mabuni inherited the founder's organization with the support of his mother. He kept the founder's syllabus, personal technical notes, textbooks and records. He feels that his mission is to teach what his father left for the world.

Shito-Ryu is one of the four major styles in the world today, and is considered the most technically correct system. It is one of the 4 major Karate styles recognised by the World Karate Federation, others being Shotokan, Goju Ryu and Wado Ryu.

Today, Shito Ryu has spread worldwide. Today Karate as a whole is practiced as a sport. In Shito Ryu, under competition conditions, the Kumite (Free-Sparring competition) is semi-contact. In Katas, Shito Ryu has the most number of Katas that a karate-ka can choose from to perform during competition. This is due to the fact that the Shito Ryu style is effectively a combination of 2 major streams of Okinawan styles, Shorei and Shorin. Consequently, Shito Ryu has a vast store of Kata to draw upon.

The only authorised Shito Ryu School in India is the Alan Thilak Shito Ryu Karate Do.