Kenwa Mabuni

摩文仁 賢和
Japan
Born 1889-11-14, Shuri
Died 1952-05-23, Tokyo
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

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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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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