Shitokai News - Master Mabuni Kenei, 1918

Master Mabuni Kenei, Soke of Shitokai Karatedo 1918 - 2015 - Saturday 19th December 2015

It is with great sadness that we inform you that Mabuni Kenei, Soke of Shitokai Karatedo passed away today, aged 97

Born in Shuri City, Okinawa, on February 13, 1918. Kenei Mabuni was the first-born son of Kenwa Mabuni – the famous founder of the Shitoryu style. Whilst living in Okinawa as a young child, Kenei Mabuni was influenced greatly by his father’s involvement in the martial arts. It was by watching his father teach, that he learned karate when he was very young. Kenei Mabuni also learned Kendo and Judo at school.

Mabuni Kenei, a Japanese martial arts expert, holder of the 10th Dan. Mabuni was born in Shuri, Okinawa. As the son of Kenwa Mabuni, the founder of the Shito-ryu and one of the most important karate experts in the history of the martial arts, he was in touch with karate and some of its greatest masters such as Miyagi Chojun, Funakoshi Gichin, or Motobu Choki from childhood.

Besides his karate practice, Mabuni also studied several other martial arts such as aikidō, kendo, Okinawan kobudo, jujutsu, jûdô, and ninjutsu.

At the age of 34, Mabuni became the head of Shito-ryū. In particular, Mabuni emphasized the importance of the spiritual contents and values of karatedō.
Without generally refusing sport-oriented karate, he supported a clear distinction between traditional karatedō and sport karate.

Among his achievements is the completion of the kata Shimpā that his father had created but not completed. This kata was inspired by the Uechi-ryu.

Mabuni was the author of several books about the Shitō-ryū techniques and of one book about the historical roots and the spiritual basics of karate as budō art.

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