Teachers (1)

• 
  Matsumura Sōkon

  linkShuri-te 2

  Probable

  Well-documented student of Sokon Matsumura, mentioned in multiple historical sources including Funakoshi's writings

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source

  fact_check

  Well-documented student of Sokon Matsumura, mentioned in multiple historical sources including Funakoshi's writings

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "In a 1934 article, Funakoshi noted that Asato and Itosu had studied karate together under Sōkon Matsumura."

  — Ankō Asato - Wikipedialink

Students (8)

• 
  Motobu Chōki

  linkShuri-te 3

  Confirmed

  EN Wikipedia states Motobu was invited at age 12 with his brother to be taught karate by Ankō Itosu and studied under him for seven or eight years; the Motobu-ryu official history confirms Itosu was hired at the Motobu Udundi when Motobu was 12 (kazoe)

  (1882-1890)

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  2 sources

  fact_check

  EN Wikipedia states Motobu was invited at age 12 with his brother to be taught karate by Ankō Itosu and studied under him for seven or eight years; the Motobu-ryu official history confirms Itosu was hired at the Motobu Udundi when Motobu was 12 (kazoe)

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "at the age of 12, he and his older brother Motobu Chōyū were invited by Ankō Itosu to be taught karate... He studied under Itosu for seven or eight years."

  — Motobu Chōki - Wikipedia (EN). Wikipedia (English) linkinfo

  "幼少の頃より武に興味を示し、数え年12歳のときに首里手の大家・糸洲安恒先生を本部御殿に招聘して、長兄・朝勇先生と共に正式に師事されました。"

  — 本部朝基先生 - 本部流 (Motobu-ryu official)linkinfo
• 
  Kyan Chōtoku

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source

  fact_check

  Geoffrey Gaudion's account states Chofu Kyan asked three masters - Sokon Matsumura, Anko Itosu and Pechin Oyadomari - to teach his son; the Itosu connection appears only in this source, hence level 2

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "At that time there were three noted karatemen in Okinawa: Sokon Matsumura in Shuri, Anko Itosu, also in Shuri, and Pechin Oyadomari in Naha. Chofu asked the three of them to teach his son karate."

  — Gaudion, Geoffrey E.. Shoshin Nagamine and Some of His Masterslinkinfo
• 
  Kenwa Mabuni

  linkKarate 3

  Confirmed

  Mabuni studied Shuri-te under Anko Itosu from age 13 for many years; extensively documented

  (1902-1915)

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source

  fact_check

  Mabuni studied Shuri-te under Anko Itosu from age 13 for many years; extensively documented

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "Began his instruction in Shuri-Te at the age of 13 under the tutelage of Anko Yasutsune Itosu"

  — Kenwa Mabuni (Wikipedia EN)linkinfo
• 
  Kentsū Yabu

  linkShuri-te 3

  Confirmed

  The peer-reviewed Svinth article cites Dave Lowry stating Yabu's teacher was Anko Itosu; corroborated by Tanzadeh and the Karate Page, which notes Yabu acted as Itosu's shihan-dai

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  3 sources

  fact_check

  The peer-reviewed Svinth article cites Dave Lowry stating Yabu's teacher was Anko Itosu; corroborated by Tanzadeh and the Karate Page, which notes Yabu acted as Itosu's shihan-dai

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "On the other hand, Dave Lowry has written that Yabu's teacher was Yasutsune 'Ankoh' Itosu (Lowry, 1985, 11). Because both Matsumura and Itosu were well-known karate teachers of the day, probably Yabu studied with both men at different times."

  — Svinth, Joseph R.. (2003). Karate Pioneer Kentsu Yabu, 1866-1937. Journal of Combative Sportlinkinfo

  "He began training in ti, an early form of karate, under the guidance of Ankō Itosu, one of the most respected masters of the time and a key figure in modernizing and systematizing karate."

  — Tanzadeh, A.. Kentsū Yabu 屋部 憲通 - A. Tanzadeh linkinfo

  "it is commonly accepted that Kentsu Yabu was a shihan-dai (師範代, assistant instructor) for Anko Itosu when he taught karate at the Okinawa Prefectural Normal School"

  — Steinbrecher, Olaf. (2024). Did Kentsu Yabu teach Passai? - The Karate Page. The Karate Pagelinkinfo
• 
  Hanashiro Chōmo

  linkShuri-te 2

  Probable

  The Wikidata P1066 claim links Hanashiro to Anko Itosu, and the EN article frames Hanashiro as Itosu's assistant until Itosu's death in 1915 - an assistantship that implies close tutelage but is not explicitly a teacher-student relationship

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source

  fact_check

  The Wikidata P1066 claim links Hanashiro to Anko Itosu, and the EN article frames Hanashiro as Itosu's assistant until Itosu's death in 1915 - an assistantship that implies close tutelage but is not explicitly a teacher-student relationship

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "Hanashiro later on became Itosu's assistant and remained so until his Itosu's death in 1915."

  — Chōmo Hanashiro - Wikipedia (EN). Wikipedia (English)linkinfo
• 
  Gusukuma Shinpan

  linkShuri-te 3

  Confirmed

  EN Wikipedia states Gusukuma began the study of karate with Anko Itosu at the age of thirteen; corroborated by his student Seikichi Iha's Fighting Arts interview describing Gusukuma's Itosu-derived lineage

  (1903)

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  2 sources

  fact_check

  EN Wikipedia states Gusukuma began the study of karate with Anko Itosu at the age of thirteen; corroborated by his student Seikichi Iha's Fighting Arts interview describing Gusukuma's Itosu-derived lineage

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "At the age of thirteen, he began the study of karate with Anko Itosu."

  — Shinpan Gusukuma - Wikipedia (EN). Wikipedia (English)linkinfo

  "Among his students were Yoki Uema (1920 - 2011, founder of Shorin-Ryu Shubukan), Seiichi Iju (who was the first teacher of Shuguro Nakazato, the founder of Shorin-Ryu Shorinkan, and who taught the latter the kata Gojushiho), Seitoku Ishikawa (1925 - 2013) and Seikichi Iha (born in 1932)."

  — Iha, Seikichi. (2020). The Teachings of Shinpan Gusukuma Sensei - By Seikichi Iha Sensei. The Karate Pagelinkinfo
• 
  Funakoshi Gichin

  linkShuri-te 2

  Probable

  Well-documented student-teacher relationship mentioned in multiple historical sources, though only Wikipedia is cited

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source

  fact_check

  Well-documented student-teacher relationship mentioned in multiple historical sources, though only Wikipedia is cited

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "Anko Asato (安里 安恒, Asato Ankō, Azato Yasutsune in Japanese, 1827 – 1906) was a Ryūkyūan master of karate. He and Ankō Itosu were the two main karate masters who taught Gichin Funakoshi, the founder of Shotokan karate."

  — Ankō Asato - Wikipedialink
• 
  Chibana Chōshin

  linkShuri-te 3

  Confirmed

  EN Wikipedia states Chibana began his study of martial arts under Anko Itosu in 1899 at about age 15 and trained under him for thirteen years until he turned 28; the Kata Step by Step biography of Chibana confirms the 1899 start, thirteen years of training until 28, and the five years of solo practice after Itosu's death

  Uchi deshi (1899-1912)

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  2 sources

  fact_check

  EN Wikipedia states Chibana began his study of martial arts under Anko Itosu in 1899 at about age 15 and trained under him for thirteen years until he turned 28; the Kata Step by Step biography of Chibana confirms the 1899 start, thirteen years of training until 28, and the five years of solo practice after Itosu's death

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "Choshin began his study of martial arts under Ankō Itosu in 1899 when he was about fifteen years old... for thirteen years until he turned 28, Choshin trained under Itosu."

  — Chōshin Chibana - Wikipedia (EN). Wikipedia (English)linkinfo

  "Chibana began his formal martial arts training under Itosu Ankō in 1899, at the age of fifteen... continuing his training until he was 28. After Itosu's passing at the age of 85, Chibana continued his practice independently for another five years before opening his first dojo."

  — Karate Master Chibana Choshin - Kata Step by Step linkinfo

Honors (1)

• receipt_longpechin 2

  Probable

  Low-rank Ryūkyūan Pechin (samurai class) as documented in Wikipedia biography

  Title

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source

  fact_check

  Low-rank Ryūkyūan Pechin (samurai class) as documented in Wikipedia biography

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "A low-rank Ryūkyūan Pechin, Itosu was small in stature, shy, and introverted as a child."

  — Ankō Itosu - Wikipedialinkhistory

Sources