Okinawan Karate
Okinawan Karate developed from Ryukyuan martial traditions and later formed many lineages; it is a cultural family, not one uniform style.
Karate history
Okinawa Karate Kaikan
The Okinawa Karate Kaikan is a prefectural training, exhibition and research facility in Tomigusuku dedicated to preserving and communicating Okinawan Karate.
Masutatsu Ōyama
Masutatsu Ōyama founded Kyokushin Karate and built an international full-contact organisation whose history later became closely intertwined with popular legend.
Hironori Ōtsuka
Hironori Ōtsuka founded Wadō-ryū by developing Karate through his prior study of Shindō Yōshin-ryū jūjutsu and Japanese budō.
Kenwa Mabuni
Kenwa Mabuni founded Shitō-ryū Karate, drawing especially on the teachings of Ankō Itosu and Kanryō Higaonna and a broad study of Okinawan kata.
Chōjun Miyagi
Chōjun Miyagi was the Okinawan Karate teacher who named and systematised Gōjū-ryū from the Naha-te tradition associated with Kanryō Higaonna.