Isshin-Ryū is a style of Okinawan karate created by Tatsuo Shimabuku in approximately 1947/1948. Isshin-Ryū karate is largely a synthesis of Shorin-ryū karate, Gojū-ryū karate, and kobudō. The name means, literally, "one heart method". In 1989 there were 336 branches of Isshin-ryū throughout the world, most of which were concentrated in the United States.
Matsubayashi-Ryū (松林流), is a style of Okinawan karate founded in 1947 by Shōshin Nagamine (1907–1997). Its curriculum includes 18 kata, seven two-man yakusoku kumite routines, and kobudō (weapons) practice.
Shōrinjiryū Kenkōkan Karate (少林寺流拳行館唐手) is a style of karate founded by Kōri Hisataka (1907–1988) shortly after World War II in Japan.
Tatsuo Shimabuku was an Okinawan, Japanese martial artist. He is the founder of Isshin-ryū style of karate.
Chōjun Miyagi was an Okinawan martial artist who founded the Gōjū-ryū school of karate by blending Okinawan and Chinese influences.
Eiichi Miyazato was a leading Okinawan master of Goju-ryu karate. He was a senior student of Chōjun Miyagi, founder of the Goju-ryu style. Miyazato held the rank of 10th dan in karate and 7th dan in judo; on his death, he was honoured with the degree of 8th dan in judo.
Motobu Chōki was an Okinawan karate master and founder of Motobu-ryū. He was born into a branch of the Ryukyuan royal family, and at the age of 12, he and his older brother Motobu Chōyū were invited by Ankō Itosu to be taught karate.
Chitō-ryū (千唐流) is a style of karate founded by Dr. Tsuyoshi Chitose, (1898-1984). The name of the style translates as: chi (千) - 1,000; tō (唐) - China; ryū (流) - style, school, "1,000 year old Chinese style." The character tō (唐) refers to the Tang dynasty of China. The style was officially founded in 1946.
Ryūkyū Kempo (琉球拳法) sometimes spelled Ryūkyū Kenpō is a generic term often used to describe all forms of karate from the Ryukyu Islands, and more specifically to refer to the particular styles associated with Taika Seiyu Oyata and George Dillman. Whereas, Kenpō is associated with the spelling of Master Nakamura's Okinawan Kenpō, Seikichi Odo's Ryūkyū Hon Kenpō, and D'veed Natan's Ryukyu Kenpo Kobujutsu. Oyata is credited with being the originator of the American use of the terms Ryukyu Kempo, tuite-jutsu and kyusho-jutsu. The name Ryūkyū Kempo was adopted by a prominent martial arts personality, George Dillman, who taught his own version of Oyata’s style and promoted it heavily through seminars and publications. This further prompted Oyata to change the name to Ryū-te and to change the curriculum of what he was teaching to reflect his own system of "Life Protection". The Ryū-te organization is international and includes a selection of long-time students known as "Oyata Shin Shu Ho," whom he considers the heirs of his art. George Dillman does not have anything do with Ryukyu Kempo karate. He only came to Oyata seminars. He ripped off from Oyata. Oyata sensie is the original person who use the term Ryukyu Kempo karate. Which means before the Japanese shogun came invaded the Ryukyu Islands. Oyata learned from two old Bushi warriors in is younger years.
Shorin-ryu Seibukan, also known as Sukunaihayashi, is one of the many Okinawan Shorin-ryu styles of karate.
Sekō (Seiko) Higa was a Gojū Ryū karate teacher who was born in Naha.
Shorin-ryu Shidokan is the main branch of Shorin-ryū style of Okinawan karate, started by Katsuya Miyahira, Hanshi 10th Dan.
Shūgorō Nakazato was an Okinawan martial artist. Described as a "one punch artist" by some of his American students, Nakazato developed his karate sparring into "a fine fighting art". He gave many demonstrations in Japan as well as abroad and had "many well-known students in the USA", Nakazato was designated as an "intangible cultural asset holder" by Okinawa Prefecture in 2000. He was awarded the Order of the Rising Sun, 5th Class with Gold and Silver Rays on November 4, 2007.
Matayoshi Kobudo is a general term referring to the style of Okinawan Kobudo that was developed by Matayoshi Shinpo (又吉眞豊) and Matayoshi Shinko (又吉眞光) during the twentieth century. Martial arts have been practiced by the Matayoshi family for over nine generations and draw influence from Japanese, Chinese and indigenous Okinawan martial arts styles.
Morio Higaonna is a world renowned Okinawan karate master who is the founder and Chief Instructor of the Traditional Okinawan Goju-Ryu Karate-do Federation. He also founded the International Okinawan Goju Ryu Karate-do Federation (IOGKF). He is a holder of the highest rank in Goju-Ryu karate, 10th dan. Higaonna Sensei has written several books on Okinawan Goju-Ryu karate, including the technical series, "Traditional Karate-do: Okinawa Goju Ryu (1985) and "The History of Karate: Okinawan Goju Ryu". Martial arts scholar Donn Draeger (1922–1982) reportedly once described him as "the most dangerous man in Japan in a real fight."
Motobu-ryū (本部流) is a karate school founded in 1922 by Motobu Chōki from Okinawa. Its official name is Nihon Denryū Heihō Motobu Kenpō, or Motobu Kenpō for short. Motobu-ryū has the characteristics of koryū karate, the martial art known as tī or tōdī, which predates the birth of modern karate, and emphasizes kumite rather than kata.
Meitatsu Yagi is the eldest son of Meitoku Yagi and followed after him as a teacher and practitioner of Karate.
Seikichi Odo, whose name means "world walker" in Japanese, was a karateka. He combined kobudō and karate techniques to found the Ryūkyū Hon Kenpo Kobujutsu Federation.
The Okinawa Shōrin-ryū Karate-dō Kyudōkan Association (沖縄小林流空手道究道館連合会) is one of the seven branches of Kobayashi Shōrin-ryū style of Okinawan karate, developed by Yuchoku Higa, Hanshi 10th Dan.
Ufuchiku kobudo (大筑古武術) sometimes referred to as ufuchiku kobujutsu or ufuchiku-den is a form of Okinawan kobudō. In this form, the main weapon is the sai, and other weapons such as bō, eku, tuifa, nunchaku, tekko, teko, techu, nuntesu, kama, gusan, sanjakubo, kusarigama, nawa, uchibo, surujin, kyushakubo, nuntesu bo, jingasa, renkuwan, sansetsukun, naginata, tessen, and tanbo are studied as secondary weapons.
