Evolution of Shito-Ryu




  To understand the evolution of Shito-Ryu, we must look to the masters of Okinawa that helped shape the style.  The record concerning the evolution of Shito-Ryu is, fortunately, very well defined.  One of the first great masters of Okinawa was Tode Sakugawa.


Tode Sakugawa
   Tode Sakugawa was born in Shuri in 1733 and died in 1815.  At the age 17, Tode Sakugawa began his martial arts training under an Okinawan monk named Peichin Takahara.  At age 23, Sakugawa was advised by Takahara to leave and train under Kusanku, a Chinese master in Kung Fu.  For the next six years, Sakugawa learned all that he could from Kusanku.  Sakugawa learned valuable lessons from Kung Fu and went on to become a great master himself.  Tode Sakagawa was an important factor in the development of "Te" on the Okinawan Islands.  Sakugawa was credited with forming several "Bo" kata, which are still practiced today.  In addition, Sakugawa also created "Dojo Kun" which has become a tradition with many styles, including our own.  When Tode Sakugawa was 78, he taught his greatest student, Sokon Matsumura the art of "Te".

Sokon Matsumura
   Sokon Matsumura was born on Okinawa in 1796 and lived until 1893.  During this time, Matsumura had learned karate well and went on to become chief of the military for the King of the Ryukyu Islands(Okinawa).  Matsumura also was credited with the formation of Shuri-Te.  Among the many students Matsumura taught, Yasutsune Itosu was one of his greatest students.  Yasutsune Itosu, is also read as "Anko" in Japanese kanji.

Anko Itosu
   Itosu was born in 1830 in Shuri and died in 1915.  It is Itosu's style of Shuri-Te which was used to create Shito-Ryu in 1930 by Kenwa Mabuni.  Itosu was a large individual, well known for his strength and power.  He was the first Okinawan master to teach karate in the public school system.  Itosu's hard dynamic style was influential to many others including Kenwa Mabuni, Gichin Funakoshi, and other important Okinawan master.
   Another master who's style was influential to the creation of Shito-Ryu was Kanyro Higashionna.

Kanyro Higashionna
     Higashionna was born in Naha in 1845 and died in 1915.  Higashionna is credited with creating Naha-Te in 1890.  As a young boy, he traveled to China and learned Kung Fu from a Chinese master.  Higashionna was instrumental in the introduction of the Sanchin stance and kata.  Naha-Te eventually became Gojo-Ryu. The hard style of Shuri-Te and the slower more circular moves of Naha-Te were critical to the formation of Shito-Ryu.  The founder of Shito-Ryu was Kenwa Mabuni.

Kenwa Mabuni
   Kenwa mabuni was born on Okinawa in 1890 and died in 1957.  Mabuni took the benefits of both styles and created Shito-Ryu in 1930.  Even until today, Shito-Ryu has become one of the largest practiced styles of karate.  Shito-Ryu is also considered one of the four major styles of karate still practiced in Japan today.  Along with karate, Mabuni also incorporated "Kobu-do" or weapons in his system, learning from a weapons master named "Aragaki".  Upon Mabuni's death, some of his students formed several sub styles of Shito-Ryu.  The person responsible for creating Itosu-Kai Shito Ryu was Ryusho Sakagami.

Ryusho Sakagami
   Ryusho Sakagami was born on Okinawa in 1915 and died in Dec of 1994.  In 1953, Sensei Sakagami established the Itosu-Kai Shito Ryu style in Yokohama, Japan.  Sensei Sakagami was the Sensei of our chief instructor, Sensei Fumio Demura.  Sensei Sakagami was very knowledgeable about various styles of karate and kobu-do.  He became senior supervisor of the Federation of All Japan Karate-Do Organizations as well as being head of Itosu-Kai Shito Ryu.  One of Sensei Sakagami's best known students is Sensei Fumio Demura.

Fumio Demura
     In 1961, Sensei Demura became formal All Japan Kumite Champion.  After winning this title, Sensei Demura traveled to Okinawa to learn more karate from masters Chibana, Uechi, Nagmine and Yuchoku Higa.  In addition, Sensei Demura studied kobu-do for many years under the legendary master Shinken Taria while he was living in Sensei Sakagami's dojo.  Sensei Demura was invited to the United States in 1965 by Dan Ivan.  Sensei Demura was the first person to introduce Shito-Ryu to the United States.  In Addition, he also began teaching Okinawan Kobu-do.  In 1969, Sensei Demura was inducted into the Black Belt Hall of Fame as "Instructor of the Year".  In 1975, Sensei Demura was again inducted into the Black Belt Hall of Fame as "Man of the Year".
   During the late 60's, interest in karate was growing in the United States.  In 1967, Sensei Demura was one of the first people to create a professional karate show for the Japanese Village & Deer Park in Buena Park, California.  This new business was the top rated show at Japanese Village for 7 years, until the Park closed in 1974.  After the closing, Sensei Demura moved the show to the Las Vegas Hilton, where it was known as the "Karate/Samurai Show" for many years.
   Over the years, Sensei Demura has established Shito-Ryu around the world and has taught thousands of students.  In addition to promoting karate, Sensei Demura has appeared and supervised many movies including: Mortal Combat, Rising Sun, Showdown in Little Tokyo as well as his most famous role as "Miyagi" in the "Karate Kid" movies.  Sensei Demura has been influential in the promotion of several karate tournaments including:  Japan Expo Championships and the International Goodwill Karate-Do Championships.  These tournaments have become large and well known over the years. Sensei Demura's dynamic style has made him a leading figure in the world of karate today.  Many of his more well known students include: Bruce Lee, Chuck Norris, Sho Kosugi, Steven Segal and many others.
    Sensei Demura is also highly regarded as a weapons expert with knowledge in Kama, Bo, Nunckuku, Sai, Tonfa, Oar and other areas such as: Iaido, Batto and Kendo, as well as having an extensive background in Judo, Aikido and other karate styles.  Sensei Demura was able to learn weapons from the greatest weapons expert of his time, Shinken Taira of the Ryukyu Kobudo Hozon Shinko-Kai.
   Sensei Demura established the Shito Ryu Karate-Do Genbu-Kai organization in 2001.  It is this continued quality of experience that has allowed Shito-Ryu to prosper and grow over the years.  The variation of hand and leg techniques as well as the extensive number of katas has made Shito-Ryu one of the most successful styles known to the world today.
 
 

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