Kenwa Mabuni, Founder

Shito-ryu is one of four systems of karate-do accepted by the World Karate Federation for international karate competition. It was founded by Kenwa Mabuni (1889-1952), descendent of a Okinawan warrior family, specifically Kenio Oshiro.

Master Mabuni, like other famous martial arts masters, is said to have been a physically weak child who took up the study of the martial arts in an effort strengthen himself. He studied various Okinawan arts with some of the most renowned karate masters, including Ankoh Itosu (1830-1915) and Kanryo Higaonna (1853-1915). The name "Shito-ryu" was a composite of the Chinese pictographs that represented the first portion of these highly regarded masters' names. Master Mabuni's school of karate was formally organized in Osaka, Japan in 1934, and officially named Shito-ryu in 1939.  Shito-ryu has since spread throughout the world.

 

Kenei Mabuni, Soke

Master Kenei Mabuni (1918 -   ), son of Master Kenwa Mabuni, took part in the organization of the World Shito-ryu Karate-do Federation in 1993.  He was named the second Soke (designated master) of Shito-ryu upon the death of his father in 1952.

 

 

 

 

Manzo Iwata, Shihan

Iwata Shihan (1924-1993) began studying Shito-ryu at the age of 10 years old.  While studying at Toyo University in Tokyo, he came under the tutelage of Master Mabuni.  He was recognized as one of Master Mabuni's top students. He received his shihan diploma from Master Mabuni in 1944, and became the president of Shito-kai Karate-do Kanto District.

 

 

Shoko Sato, Kyoshi

Shoko Sato Kyoshi serves as the Pan-American Director of the World Shito-ryu Karate-do Federation (WSKF). He began his study of Shito-ryu as a teenager under Manzo Iwata, a direct student of Master Mabuni. As a student at Toyo University in the late 1960s, Sato Kyoshi led the university karate team to victory in the prestigious All Japan Karate Championships. Shortly after graduating from Toyo University, Sato Kyoshi was called upon by the WSKF to spread the art of Shito-ryu in Latin America. Since then his influence has spread across the globe.

 

This represents only a partial history of some notable instructors in the Mid-Atlantic Shitokai Karatedo lineage.  Visit Sato Kyoshi's web page for more information on the history of Shitoryu and karatedo in general.