Peichin Takahara was an educated person at that time. He is the person who draws the first maps of Okinawa. He comes from a Samurai Family and a superb fighter. He was the teacher of To-De Sakugawa, the father of Karate.
To-de Sakugawa Kanga (1733-1815):
Known as The father of Karate Master Sakugawa was born in 1733 in Shuri, Okinawa. He studied the art of Samurai Sward from Peichin Takahara. At Takahara s death he named Sakugawa as To-De Sakugawa. To-De (Chinese Hand) was the name used for Karate before 1930 s. Sakugawa improved his techniques under Master Kusanku (A Chinese Martial Arts Expert). Sakugawa s main student was Sokon Matsumura, the founder of Shuri-te . He made Kusanku and Sakugawa No Kun (bo) kata.
Bushi, Sokon Matsumura (1792-1815):
The founder of Shuri-te. He studied martial arts under famous Tode Sakugawa. He was the bodyguard to three Ryu Kyu kings. Bushi is the rank which can be translated as warrior. He made few students the famous one was Itosu Anko who was the founder of Shorin system and teacher of many leading Karatekas. Matsumura put the foundation to Shuri System. Nabe Matsumura is the one who learned Matsumura s secret family style of Karate. It was the foundation of Matsumura Seito Shorin Ryu (Houhan Soken) later. His other students were Anko Azato, Chotsu Kuwae, Sanda Chinen, Chochu Itarashiki, Peichin Kinjo, Peichin Sakihara,Chofu Kyan, Chosho Chibana, Peichin Kyuna, Ryosei Kuwae.
Anko (Iron Horse) Itosu (1827-1906):
Master Itosu was the most influential Karate teacher in the later 19th century and the beginning of 20th century. He was the teacher to many leading Karate teachers. He did a great job to the spreading of Karate. He was the person who introduced Karate to the Okinawan school system. He made the five Phinan Katas at the age of 77 for the beginners. He made lot of changes in Katas. He made new versions of Naihanchi, Kushanku, Pasai katas. His students were Choshin Chibana (Kobayashi {Shorin} Ryu), Kentsu Yabu(Shorin Ryu), Chomo Hanashiro(Shorin Ryu), Chotoku Kyan(Shobayashi{Shorin Ryu}), Gichin Funakoshi(Shotokan), Kenyu Kudekan, Choki Motobu(Shorin Ryu), Choren Yamakawa, Mouden Yabiku(Famous Kobudo Master),Anbun Tokuda, Choujyo Oshiro, Kanken Toyama, Kenwa Mabuni(Shito Ryu), Shinpan Gusukuma(Shorin Ryu).
Hanshi,Chosin Chibana- 10th Dan(1885-1969):
Hanshi, Chosin Chibana was the best student of Itosu. He is called "the father of modern Shorin Ryu". He named his system of Shorin Ryu as Kobayashi Ryu. He is the first 10th dan in Shorin Ryu. He gained many prices and honours to his great work in Karate. He lost many of his good students in the II World War. But before he died he promoted five of his students to 9th Dan. They are Yuchoku Higa(Shorin Ryu Kyudokan), Chozo Nakama, Katsuya Miyahira(Shorin Ryu Shidokan), Shugoro Nakazato(Shorin Ryu Shorinkan) and Kensei Kinjo. The famous Karatekas Ankichi Arakaki(1899-1929), Seitoku Ishikawa and Katsuyuki Shimabukuro were also Chibana's students.
Master, Jinan Shinzato:
Direct student of Master Chojun Miyagi the founder of Goju Ryu. A teacher of Hanshi Yuchoku Higa before Chibana.
O' Sensei, Shoshin Nagamine -10th Dan (1907-1998):
Master, Nagamine was a student of Chotoku Kyan, Ankichi Arakaki and Choki Motobu and the founder of Matsubayashi (Shorin Ryu). He was famous for his zen philosophy included into the Karate system. Kyoshi, Jintatsu Higa has learned Karate by him.
