Kenwa Mabuni
Kenwa Mabuni (Mabuni Kenwa 摩文仁 賢和) was born in Shuri, Okinawa in 1889. Mabuni was a 17th generation descendant of the famous warrior Uni Ufugusuku Kenyu. Perhaps because of his disillusionment, he began his instruction in his home town in the art of at the age of 13, under the tutelage of the legendary (1831–1915). He trained diligently for several years, learning many "kata" from this great master. It was Itosu who first developed the Pinan kata, which were possibly derived from the "Kusanku" form.