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    • Kenwa Mabuni

    摩文仁 賢和
    Japan
    b. 1889-11-14, ShuriBorn 1889-11-14, Shuri
    d. 1952-05-23, TokyoDied 1952-05-23, Tokyo
    id_cardfamily_historyconversion_path
    39.8

    Description

    Okinawan karate master and founder of Shito-ryu. He studied Shuri-te under Anko Itosu and Naha-te under Kanryo Higaonna, combining both traditions. He was regarded as the foremost authority on Okinawan kata and their applications. He moved to Osaka in 1929 to spread karate in mainland Japan and registered Shito-ryu with the Butokukai in 1939.

    Teachers (2)

    • Itosu Ankō
      sports_martial_artsKarate Confirmed
      Confirmed
      Independent sources state it.
      The evidence establishes the claim: it is sufficient and consistent, and any conflicting evidence is resolved.
      (1902–1915)
      fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
      Frederico Muñoz
      Researcher, Martialis
      3 sources expand_more
      fact_check
      Independent sources state it.
      “he began his instruction in his home town in the art of Shuri-Te (首里手) at the age of 13, under the tutelage of the legendary Ankō Yasutsune Itosu”
      — Kenwa Mabuni (Wikipedia EN)link history info
      “Kenwa Mabuni was a student of both Higaonna and Yasutsune Itosu. Mabuni founded the style of Shito Ryu that preserved the teachings of both Higaonna and Itosu”
      — Cramer, Mark I.. (2018). The History of Karate and the Masters Who Made It: Development, Lineages, and Philosophies of Traditional Okinawan and Japanese Karate-doinfo
      “Mabuni Kenwa (1889–1952), who combined the Naha di of Higashionna with the Shuri di of Itosu Anko to create the Shito Ryu.”
      — Green, Thomas A.; Svinth, Joseph R.. (2010). Martial Arts of the World: An Encyclopedia of History and Innovation info
    • Higaonna Kanryō
      sports_martial_artsNaha-te Confirmed
      Confirmed
      Independent sources state it.
      The evidence establishes the claim: it is sufficient and consistent, and any conflicting evidence is resolved.
      fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
      Frederico Muñoz
      Researcher, Martialis
      2 sources expand_more
      fact_check
      Independent sources state it.
      “Kenwa Mabuni was a student of both Higaonna and Yasutsune Itosu. Mabuni founded the style of Shito Ryu that preserved the teachings of both Higaonna and Itosu”
      — Cramer, Mark I.. (2018). The History of Karate and the Masters Who Made It: Development, Lineages, and Philosophies of Traditional Okinawan and Japanese Karate-doinfo
      “His students included Kyoda Juhatsu (1887–1968), founder of the To On Ryu; Miyagi Chojun (1888–1953), founder of the Goju Ryu; and Mabuni Kenwa (1889–1952), who combined the Naha di of Higashionna with the Shuri di of Itosu Anko to create the Shito Ryu.”
      — Green, Thomas A.; Svinth, Joseph R.. (2010). Martial Arts of the World: An Encyclopedia of History and Innovation info

    Lineage

    • Naha-te Higaonna Kanryō ← Arakaki Seishō · 2 generations

    Member of (1)

    • corporate_fareKarate Kenkyukai Probable
      Probable
      Single source.
      The evidence favours the claim and nothing credible contradicts it, but it falls short of establishing it.
      fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
      Frederico Muñoz
      Researcher, Martialis
      1 source expand_more
      fact_check
      Single source.
      “This group included Gichin Funakoshi, Chojo Oshiro, Chomo Hanashiro, Chotoku Kyan, Chojun Miyagi, Kenwa Mabuni, Go Ken Ki [Wu Xiangui] (Chinese Master of White Crane Boxing), Kentsu Yabu, Chuhatso [Juhatsu] Kyoda, and Moden Yabiku.”
      — Cramer, Mark I.. (2018). The History of Karate and the Masters Who Made It: Development, Lineages, and Philosophies of Traditional Okinawan and Japanese Karate-doinfo

    Students (7)

    • Taira Shinken
      sports_martial_artsShito-ryu Confirmed
      Confirmed
      Taira became a student (deshi) of Kenwa Mabuni in 1934; documented in both Wikipedia and JKR-UK
      The evidence establishes the claim: it is sufficient and consistent, and any conflicting evidence is resolved.
      (1934)
      fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
      Frederico Muñoz
      Researcher, Martialis
      2 sources expand_more
      fact_check
      Taira became a student (deshi) of Kenwa Mabuni in 1934; documented in both Wikipedia and JKR-UK
      “In 1934, Taira became a student (deshi) of Kenwa Mabuni”
      — Taira Shinken (Wikipedia EN)link history info
      “In 1934, Taira became a student (deshi) of Kenwa Mabuni Sensei.”
      — Shinken Taira - JKR-UKlink
    • person
      Ryusho Sakagami
      sports_martial_artsShito-ryu Probable
      Probable
      Sakagami studied under Kenwa Mabuni, founder of Shito-ryu, and helped him open dojos in the Osaka area
      The evidence favours the claim and nothing credible contradicts it, but it falls short of establishing it.
      fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
      Frederico Muñoz
      Researcher, Martialis
      2 sources expand_more
      fact_check
      Sakagami studied under Kenwa Mabuni, founder of Shito-ryu, and helped him open dojos in the Osaka area
      “With the support of Sakagami Ryusho, he opened a number of Shito-ryu dojo in the Osaka area”
      — Kenwa Mabuni (Wikipedia EN)link history info
      “Sakagami Sensei would produce one of kobujutsu most famous students [...] Fumio Demura”
      — Shinken Taira - JKR-UKlink
    • person
      Ōtsuka Hironori
      sports_martial_artsKarate Probable
      Probable
      The Wado-ryu Wikipedia article records that Otsuka also studied with Kenwa Mabuni to broaden his knowledge of karate
      The evidence favours the claim and nothing credible contradicts it, but it falls short of establishing it.
      fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
      Frederico Muñoz
      Researcher, Martialis
      1 source expand_more
      fact_check
      The Wado-ryu Wikipedia article records that Otsuka also studied with Kenwa Mabuni to broaden his knowledge of karate
      “To broaden his knowledge of Karate, Ōtsuka also studied with other prominent masters such as Kenwa Mabuni of Shitō-ryū and Motobu Chōki.”
      — Wadō-ryū - Wikipedia (EN). Wikipedia (English) link history info
    • person
      Nakama Chōzō
      sports_martial_artsShito-ryu Probable
      Probable
      EN Wikipedia lists Kenwa Mabuni among the teachers Nakama also studied with
      The evidence favours the claim and nothing credible contradicts it, but it falls short of establishing it.
      fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
      Frederico Muñoz
      Researcher, Martialis
      1 source expand_more
      fact_check
      EN Wikipedia lists Kenwa Mabuni among the teachers Nakama also studied with
      “however, Nakama also studied with Chomo Hanashiro, Chōtoku Kyan, Kenwa Mabuni, Choki Motobu, and Kentsu Yabu.”
      — Chozo Nakama - Wikipedia (EN). Wikipedia (English) link history info
    • Masatoshi Nakayama
      sports_martial_artsShito-ryu Probable
      Probable
      Own account only; two kata, at Funakoshi's request.
      The evidence favours the claim and nothing credible contradicts it, but it falls short of establishing it.
      fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
      Frederico Muñoz
      Researcher, Martialis
      1 source expand_more
      fact_check
      Own account only; two kata, at Funakoshi's request.
      visibilityFirst-hand
      “Masatoshi Nakayama says: “When we visited Master Mubuni, Master Funakoshi told me to learn Gojushiho, and Nijushiho, so we could study them more carefully. So Kenwa Mabuni taught me these kata.”
      — Cramer, Mark I.. (2018). The History of Karate and the Masters Who Made It: Development, Lineages, and Philosophies of Traditional Okinawan and Japanese Karate-doinfo
    • person
      Mabuni Kenzō
      sports_martial_artsShito-ryu Possible
      Possible
      Single source; it implies the relation but does not state it.
      Some evidence points to the claim, but it is thin, indirect, or in unresolved conflict with other evidence.
      fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
      Frederico Muñoz
      Researcher, Martialis
      1 source expand_more
      fact_check
      Single source; it implies the relation but does not state it.
      alt_routeIndirect
      “Kenzo Mabuni, the second son of the founder of Shito Ryu, believes that each person should spend three years and three months learning a single kata and its bunkai.”
      — Cramer, Mark I.. (2018). The History of Karate and the Masters Who Made It: Development, Lineages, and Philosophies of Traditional Okinawan and Japanese Karate-doinfo
    • person
      Mabuni Ken'ei
      sports_martial_artsShito-ryu Possible
      Possible
      Single source; it implies the relation but does not state it.
      Some evidence points to the claim, but it is thin, indirect, or in unresolved conflict with other evidence.
      fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
      Frederico Muñoz
      Researcher, Martialis
      1 source expand_more
      fact_check
      Single source; it implies the relation but does not state it.
      alt_routeIndirect
      “Kenei Mabuni, Kenwa Mabuni’s eldest son, agrees with his father on the importance of teaching proper bunkai technique with each kata.”
      — Cramer, Mark I.. (2018). The History of Karate and the Masters Who Made It: Development, Lineages, and Philosophies of Traditional Okinawan and Japanese Karate-doinfo

    Sources

    Kenwa Mabuni (Wikipedia EN)link history info
    Kenwa Mabuni - JKR-UKlink

    Identifiers

    https://martial.is/entity/01KYJCSK3HM7WV1EJPH94Q18T2
    Wikidata VIAF

    Cite and reuse

    CC BY-SA 4.0expand_more
    Plain text
    Muñoz, Frederico (YEAR_PLACEHOLDER). Kenwa Mabuni. In Martialis: Martial Arts Lineage Database. https://martial.is/entity/01KYJCSK3HM7WV1EJPH94Q18T2 - CC BY-SA 4.0. Accessed ACCESSED_DATE_PLACEHOLDER.
    BibTeX
    @incollection{martialis_01KYJCSK3HM7WV1EJPH94Q18T2, author = {Muñoz, Frederico}, title = {Kenwa Mabuni}, booktitle = {Martialis: Martial Arts Lineage Database}, year = {YEAR_PLACEHOLDER}, url = {https://martial.is/entity/01KYJCSK3HM7WV1EJPH94Q18T2}, urldate = {ACCESSED_DATE_PLACEHOLDER}, note = {CC BY-SA 4.0} }
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