Grand Master Kenwa Mabuni 1889-1952

       The founder of the Shito Ryu Karate system he was born on Nobember 14th 1889, in Shuri the Island of Okinawa. He was the descendant from the 17 generation one of the bravest (bushi), family warriors Samurai of Ryukyu Kingdom Kenio Oshiro. The Shito Ryu Karate Do style was devised by Grand master Kenwa Mabuni who had studied under Master Itosu who lived in Shuri at age 13 and at age 20 he studied under Master Kanryo Higaonna who lived in Naha. From Master Itosu he mastered the quick and lighting (Shorei) the Shuri-te techniques; from Master Higaonna mastered the slow (Shorin), Naha-te techniques emphasizing dynamies, dynamic, breathing and muscular control. Using the best and proven of all the techniques he had mastered, he formed the Shito Ryu System. He dedicated the name Shito from his two famous sensei(Masters) SHI' pronounced in Japanese character for Itosu' and TO' pronouced in Japanese character for HIGA' today, Shito Ryu Karate Do as one of the three major Styles of Karate Do in Japan; and is taught all over the World.

 Soke Tsukasa Mabuni 

  She is the first born daughter of Master Kenzo Mabuni two daughters therefore,  "Tsukasa means to translate or to manage. She was apointed by the Japan Shihan Kai supreme council to assum position to take the command as the Soke of Shito Ryu Karate with the Nippon Karate Do Kai Hombu home dojo. Soke Tsukasa Mabuni the governing body for the International Shito Ryu Karate Do Kai therefore, the Shito Ryu USA Karate Do Kai, Shito Ryu USA Shihan Kai. She inherit the name of the Organitation Nippon Karate Do Kai with the name of Shito Ryu Karate and, the Grandfather's Shito Ryu Karate Syllabus.

Soke Kenzo Mabuni

5/30/1927-6/26/'05

       Was born on May 30th 1927 at Akahira-Machi Shuri, City in Okinawa. Soke Kenzo Mabuni was the second born son of Gran Master Kenwa Mabuni. His family moved to Kansai, District of Japan. In 1929 when he was two years old he remained in his father's house until 2005. He obtained permission from his father and,  joined his father's school when he was 13 years old therefore, he has been in Shito Ryu Karate for 60 years. Soke's obtained shodan on August 1st 1943. He was jyudan 10th dan Soke's was well respected master not only in Japan throughout the World.  His Organization Nippon Karate Do Kai was founded by his father in 1939. After his father's death in 1952  Soke's mother Mrs. Kame made him the 2nd Soke Governor of Shito Ryu Karate the succsessor to his father's Organization. When Soke Kenzo was asked by his mother to take over the style of Shito Ryu and, the name of the Organization Soke Kenzo Mabuni was unsure at that time and could not decide at the time what to responde. He went into seclusion what became two years retreat. Soke Kenzo Mabuni decided to accept this historical therfore, great responsibility he became the inheritor of his father's linage. His father left him the Shito Ryu name with complete syllabus with the association name Nippon Karate Do Kai. Undobtedly, Nihon Karate Do Kai remain intact to these day. He followed his father's syllabus exaclty the way iwas written down in 1929 interestingly, that's why he called Seito Shito Ryu then, pure true Shito Ryu Karate. Soke Mabuni Kenzo in 1993 traveled to Las Vegas, by invitation from his good friend Ozawa, and conducted pure Shito Ryu Karate seminars was the first time the western world saw for the first time pure style of Shito Ryu karate.  Interestingly, 1994 a group of Shito Ryu Karate senior instructors from the USA requested acceptance for direct students of Soke Kenzo Mabuni the year was the year 1994 when the Shito Ryu USA Karate Do Kai, Shito Ryu USA Shihan Kai and, the Pacific Karate Do Institute was stablished into Nihon Karate Do Kai.