Kenwa Mabuni: Shito-ryu Karate
"Those who master Karate understand the importance of cooperating with the infinite rather than continuing to resist the inevitable."
Kenwa Mabuni was born in Shuri,...
Chotoku Kyan and Chito-Ryu Karate
Chotoku Kyan was probably the most influential of O'Sensei's Tote instructors and Chito-ryu is abundant with Kyan influences. We can see this in numerous...
Choyu Motobu: Okinawan Karate
There is a large amount of technical and historic information available about the art that Choyu Motobu inherited from his father and passed on...
Choki Motobu: Okinawan Karate
Choki Motobu was born on April 5, 1870 and died on April 15, 1944. He was born in Akahira village in the Shuri region...
Anko Itosu: Father of Modern Karate
Born in Shuri, Okinawa, Japan in 1831, Itosu trained under karate greats Sokon "Bushi" Matsumura and Kosaku Matsumora. His good friend Yasutsune Azato recommended...
Azato Anko: A Short Story About My Teacher Part One
Azato's School Days and Martial Arts
Part One
By Gichen Funakoshi
Translated & Edited by Patrick & Yuriko McCarthy
Editor's Note: This article is the first of two...
Pat Burleson “Grandfather” of Open Tournament Fighting in America
Pat Burleson, acknowledged as the “grandfather” of open tournament fighting in America, having won numerous national titles before retiring from competition in 1966. Mr. Burleson...