Okinawan martial arts refers to the martial arts, such as karate, tegumi and kobudō, which originated among the indigenous people of Okinawa Island. Due to its central location, Okinawa was influenced by various cultures with a long history of trade and cultural exchange, including Japan, China and Southeast Asia, that greatly influenced the development of martial arts on Okinawa.
Karate training with Shinpan Gusukuma sensei at Shuri Castle c. 1938, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan
The genealogy of Shuri-te
Ankō Itosu, often called the "Father of modern karate"
The genealogy of Tomari-te
Karate (空手), also karate-do , is a martial art developed in the Ryukyu Kingdom. It developed from the indigenous Ryukyuan martial arts under the influence of Chinese martial arts. While modern karate is primarily a striking art that uses punches and kicks, traditional karate also employs throwing and joint locking techniques. A karate practitioner is called a karate-ka (空手家).
Chōmo Hanashiro, an Okinawan karate master c. 1938
WKF's Karate World Championship 2006 in Tampere, Finland; men's heavyweight final
King Shō Shin
Karate training in front of Shuri Castle in Naha (1938)