Shō Tai
Chōyū first learned the art of "Udun-ti", also known as "Goten-te", (the precursor to modern karate), which was passed down within the Shō royal family from father to eldest son. He then studied Shuri-te karate and "koryū" ("old school") Japanese martial arts under the legendary "karateka" Matsumura Sōkon. In his final years, he was the head martial arts instructor to the last king of the Ryūkyū Kingdom, Shō Tai (r. 1848-1879), succeeding Matsumura in that position.