People of Karate
Karate: 61 documented people. Founders: Gichin Funakoshi, Morio Higaonna, Peter Urban. Also: predecessor / teacher (1), master (4), champion (3), notable figure (14), organisation / official (4).
Founder (35)
Bushi Matsumura (Sokon Matsumura)Founder: Shorin-ryuBushi / GrandmasterLegendary Okinawan Shuri-te grandmaster, royal bodyguard to three Ryukyu kings, and master to Anko Itosu.Chojun MiyagiFounder: Goju-ryuSenseiOkinawan karate master and founder of the major traditional style Goju-ryu.Choki MotobuFounder: Motobu-ryu KarateMotobu no SaaruLegendary Okinawan fighter famous for real-life street bouts and Motobu-ryu karate.Ed ParkerFounder: Kenpo KarateSenior GrandmasterAmerican grandmaster and founder of modern American Kenpo Karate.Ei'ichi MiyazatoFounder: Jundokan Goju-ryuSenseiOkinawan karate grandmaster, direct student of Chojun Miyagi, and founder of Jundokan dojo.Gichin FunakoshiO-SenseiConsidered the father of modern karate. Brought the art from Okinawa to mainland Japan and founded Shotokan.Hideyuki AshiharaFounder: Ashihara KarateKanchoJapanese karate grandmaster, student of Masutatsu Oyama, and founder of practical Ashihara Karate.Higa YuchokuFounder: Shorin-ryu KyudokanHanshi / 10th DanOkinawan 10th Dan karate grandmaster, student of Choshin Chibana, and founder of Kyudokan Shorin-ryu (1947).Hironori OtsukaFounder: Wado-ryuMeijin / Saiko ShihanJapanese grandmaster and founder of Wado-ryu (1934), one of the four main styles of karate.Isamu TamotsuFounder: Shorinji Ryu RenshinkanSokeJapanese grandmaster and founder of the Shorinji-ryu Renshinkan Karate branch (1955).Joko NinomiyaFounder: Enshin KarateKanchoJapanese karate grandmaster, All-Japan champion, and founder of Enshin Karate's Sabaki method (1988).Jon BlumingFounder: Kyokushin BudokaiKaicho / GrandmasterDutch pioneer of European karate and judo, and founder of full-contact Kyokushin Budokai.Kanbun UechiFounder: Uechi-ryuKanbun SenseiOkinawan karate grandmaster who studied Pangai-noon in China and founded Uechi-ryu.Kanryo HigaonnaFounder: Shorei-ryuHigashionna SenseiOkinawan grandmaster and teacher of Chojun Miyagi who formulated the Naha-te and Shorei-ryu traditions.Katsuaki SatoFounder: Satojuku KarateJukuchoFirst World Kyokushin Karate champion (1975) and founder of Satojuku Karate.Katsuya MiyahiraFounder: Shorin-ryu ShidokanHanshi / 10th DanOkinawan karate grandmaster, student of Choki Motobu and Anko Itosu, and founder of Shorin-ryu Shidokan.Kazuyoshi IshiiFounder: Seidokaikan KarateKanchoJapanese karate grandmaster, founder of Seidokaikan Karate, and creator of the global K-1 Kickboxing organization.Kenwa MabuniFounder: Shito-ryuSensei / SokeOkinawan karate grandmaster and founder of Shito-ryu (1934), one of the four major global karate styles.Kori HisatakaFounder: Shorinji-ryu KenkokanKudaka Seiki / KaisoOkinawan-Japanese grandmaster and founder of Shorinji-ryu Kenkokan Karate-do (1945).Kosaku MatsumoraFounder: Tomari-teBushin / SenseiOkinawan karate grandmaster from Tomari village and key figure in developing Tomari-te.Masutatsu OyamaFounder: KyokushinSosaiLegendary karate grandmaster, founder of full-contact Kyokushinkai, and global budo icon.Meitoku YagiFounder: Meibukan Goju-ryuDai Sensei / 10th DanOkinawan karate grandmaster, senior student of Chojun Miyagi, and founder of Meibukan Goju-ryu.Morio HigaonnaHanshi / 10th DanWorld-renowned 10th Dan Okinawan Goju-ryu grandmaster and founder of the global IOGKF federation.Peter UrbanGrandmaster / HanshiAmerican karate grandmaster, student of Gogen Yamaguchi, and founder of USA Goju-ryu Karate.Ralph CastroGreat Grandmaster / Senior SijoAmerican-Hawaiian grandmaster and founder of Shaolin Kenpo Karate in the US.Seiken Shukumine (Saiko Shihan)Founder: Gensei-ryuSaiko Shihan / FounderOkinawan-Japanese grandmaster, innovator, founder of Gensei-ryu Karate and the 3D martial art Taido (1965).Shigeru EgamiMaster / ShihanJapanese karate grandmaster, student of Gichin Funakoshi, and founder of the fluid Shotokai Karate branch.Shoshin NagamineFounder: Matsubayashi-ryuHanshi / 10th DanOkinawan karate grandmaster, police officer, author, and founder of Matsubayashi-ryu Shorin-ryu (1947).Shugoro Nakazato (Hanshi)Founder: Shorin-ryu ShorinkanHanshi / 10th Dan JudanOkinawan 10th Dan grandmaster, direct student of Choshin Chibana, and founder of Shorinkan Shorin-ryu.Shuji Tasaki (Hanshi)Founder: Seiwakai Goju-ryuHanshi / 9th Dan Goju-ryuJapanese 9th Dan Goju-ryu Karate grandmaster, student of Gogen Yamaguchi, and founder of Seiwakai.Soken HohanFounder: Shorin-ryuDai Sensei / 10th DanOkinawan karate grandmaster, nephew and student of Bushi Matsumura, founder of Matsumura Seito Shorin-ryu.Tatsuo ShimabukuFounder: Isshin-ryu KarateSensei / FounderOkinawan karate grandmaster and founder of the renowned Isshin-ryu Karate style (1956).Tsuyoshi Chitose (O-Sensei)Founder: Chito-ryu KarateDoctor / 10th Dan FounderOkinawan-Japanese 10th Dan karate grandmaster, physician, and founder of Chito-ryu Karate (1946).Yasuhiro KonishiSensei / YasuhiroJapanese grandmaster who helped spread karate in Japan and founded Shindo Jinen-ryu (1933).Yosuke YamashitaHanshi / 10th DanJapanese 10th Dan grandmaster who brought traditional Karate (Renbu-kai) and Suio-ryu Iai Kenpo to Spain and Europe.
Bushi Matsumura (Sokon Matsumura)
Ed Parker
Jon Bluming
Masutatsu OyamaPredecessor / teacher (1)
Zhou Zihe (Shu Shi Wa)Master (4)
Anko Itosu (Itosu Ankou)Grandmaster / Grandfather of Modern KarateOkinawan Shuri-te grandmaster, teacher of Gichin Funakoshi, and creator of the 5 Pinan (Heian) kata.Higa SeikoHanshi / 10th DanOkinawan karate grandmaster, direct student of Kanryo Higaonna and Chojun Miyagi.Sato Kan'eiSaiko Shihan / SokeJapanese grandmaster and founder of the composite self-defense system Nihon Goshin Budo.Uechi KaneiHanshi / 10th DanOkinawan karate grandmaster, son of Kanbun Uechi, who systemized and globalized Uechi-ryu Karate.
Champion (3)
Cynthia RothrockActress and competitive karatekaAmerican competitive karateka who became the genre's first female action star.Gerard GordeauShihan / UFC 1 FinalistDutch Kyokushin Karate and Savate fighter, finalist of the historic UFC 1 tournament in 1993.Joe LewisWorld Champion / Father of Full-Contact KarateLegendary American karate and kickboxing champion, private student of Bruce Lee, and father of American Full-Contact Karate.
Notable figure (14)
Bas RuttenNotable figure: KyokushinFormer MMA fighter and actorDutch MMA fighter and former Pancrase champion, later actor and commentator.Benny UrquidezKickboxer and choreographerAmerican kickboxer, world champion and choreographer for Hong Kong films.Dolph LundgrenNotable figure: KyokushinActor and karatekaSwedish actor holding a black belt in Kyokushin karate.Gaja (Sensei)SenseiOkinawan master of native unarmed Te and respected fighter from Naha.Gisho FunakoshiMaster / InstructorFunakoshi family relative and master instructor who assisted with early Okinawan Karate teaching.Higashionna KanyanNotable figure: Naha-teSenseiOkinawan master of unarmed Naha-te and uncle to the famous Kanryo Higaonna.Jean-Claude Van DammeActor and former karatekaBelgian actor, former competitive karateka and kickboxer.Michael Jai WhiteActor and martial artistAmerican actor holding black belts in several karate styles and in taekwondo.Raul RizoComandante / MasterCuban military officer and instructor who combined Karate, Sambo, and Jujutsu into Cuban Operative Combat.Sakugawa Kanga (Tode Sakugawa)Tode / SatunushiLegendary Okinawan master, teacher of Bushi Matsumura, and historic pioneer of Okinawan Tode (Karate).Shiroma ShinpanGusukuma / SenseiOkinawan karate master, direct student of Anko Itosu and Kanryo Higaonna, and key Shorin-ryu teacher.Sho ShinKing of Ryukyu3rd King of the Ryukyu Kingdom whose weapon ban edict (1507) catalyzed the growth of Karate and Kobudo.Wesley SnipesActor and martial artistAmerican actor with a Shotokan karate black belt and a background in capoeira.Yoshitaka Funakoshi (Gigo)Notable figure: ShotokanSensei / InnovatorThird son of Gichin Funakoshi, brilliant innovator who introduced deep stances and kicks (Yoko Geri, Mawashi Geri) to Shotokan.
Raul RizoOrganisation / official (4)
Egami Followers (Shotokai)Shotokai PractitionersCommunity of practitioners and masters continuing Shigeru Egami's non-competitive Shotokai Karate legacy.Gensei-ryu Karate FederationOfficial World OrganizationOfficial international organization established by Seiken Shukumine to promote Gensei-ryu Karate.Goju-kai Karate FederationWorld FederationOfficial international organization established by Gogen Yamaguchi to promote Goju-kai Karate.Japan Karate Association (JKA)Global Shotokan OrganizationJapan Karate Association – historic Japanese organization founded by Gichin Funakoshi's students in 1949.