Kenwa Mabuni Sensei  (1889 –1952)

Konishi Soke trained extensively with Kenwa Mabuni Sensei, the founder of Shito-Ryu. Mabuni Sensei resided at Konishi Soke's house for about ten months from 1927-28. They became very close friends. Mabuni Sensei was celebrated for the wide number of kata which he knew and performed with great elegance and calm. Konishi Soke developed the kata Seiryu in collaboration with Mabuni Sensei.

Hanko-ryu, was Mabuni Sensei’s first choice of his style, it literally means "half-hard style", to imply that the style used both hard and soft techniques. Toyama Kanken Sensei, who was trained the same way, teased Mabuni Sensei endlessly about the name, implying it meant "semi erect". Finally, Mabuni Sensei chose Shito-ryu, the first characters of the names Itosu and Higaonna.

Mabuni Sensei was born Shuri in Okinawa and was the 17th generation descendant of the famous warrior Uni Ufugusuku Kenyu. Due to his poor health, he began his instruction in his hometown in the art of Shuri-Te (首里手) at the age of 13, under the direct tuition of the Ankō Yasutsune Itosu (糸州安恒) (1831-1915).

He was close friends of Chōjun Miyagi Sensei and they trained together with Kanryō Higashionna. Mabuni Sensei was very loyal to both his Sensei, but his thirst for knowledge lead him to seek tuition Seishō Aragaki, Tawada Shimboku, Sueyoshi Jino and Wu Xianhui (a Chinese master known as GoKenki).

Mabuni Sensei was without a doubt thee walking encyclopaedia of kata and their application. There is evidence that his expertise was sought out in China, as well as Okinawa and mainland Japan.  It is well documented Funakoshi Gichin Sensei learned kata from Kenwa Mabuni Sensei and to evolve his knowledge he sent his son Gigō to study kata with Mabuni Sensei. As a serving police officer, he taught local law enforcement officers and at the request of Itosu Sensei he provided instruction in the various grammar schools in Shuri and Naha.

Kenwa Mabuni  Sensei died in 1952, and he is succeeded by his sons Kenei and Kenzo. His son Kenzo Mabuni died on 26 June 2005 and was succeeded by his daughter.