The Man Who Reshaped Okinawan Karate.

Anko Itosu (1831–1915) transformed Okinawan karate from a privately taught martial art into a structured system suitable for school education. His reforms helped preserve karate and laid the foundation for its spread across Japan and eventually the world.

Based on documented Okinawan and Japanese sources, this book explores Itosu's life, his teaching methods, the creation of the Pinan kata, the importance of Naihanchi, the 1908 "Ten Precepts of Karate", the students who carried his legacy into modern karate, among many other topics.

Separating documented history from later interpretation and oral tradition, this book offers a clear and historically grounded look at one of the most influential figures in karate history.

This book explores the life and legacy of Chōshin Chibana, founder of Shōrin-ryū and one of the key figures in modern Okinawan karate. It follows his upbringing in Shuri after the fall of the Ryūkyū Kingdom, his training under Ankō Itosu, and the historical and cultural changes that shaped his karate.

The book examines the development of Shōrin-ryū, the preservation of Shuri-te traditions, the impact of war and modernization, and the technical principles that defined Chibana’s teaching. It also explores the major branches that emerged after his death and the continued effort to preserve his legacy in modern karate.