Itosu Ankoh

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Yasutsune Itosu "Anko"1831~1915

Itosu Anko was born in Shuri's tiny hamlet of Gibo in 1831. Itosu Sensei was small in stature, shy and introverted as a child. He was raised in a very strict home of the kemochi (a family of position). Itosu Sensei was educated in the Chinese Classsics and Calligraphy. Itosu Sensei worked as a high level secretary for the administrative office of the Ryūkyū Kingdom in Shuri. A position of great responsibility and achievement. Itosu Sensei began his To-te (karate) study under Nagahama Chikudon Peichin. Itosu quickly matured into a powerful Karateka. His study of the art lead him to Bushi Matsumura Sokon. Itosu became the "ichiban-deshi" or principal student of Matsumura.

Part of Itosu's training was his makiwara practice. He is remembered as having broad shoulders, muscular arms and enormous callouses on his fists, products of relentless makiwara training. He once tied a leather sandal to a stone wall in an effort to build a better makiwara. After several strikes, the stone fell out of the wall. After relocating the sandal several time, Itosu had destroyed the wall.

Itosu Sensei is credited with the development of modern Karatedo. He developed the "Pinan Katas" which are now the foundation Katas of most modern Karate styles stemming from Shuri-te.

Itosu Sensei is responsible for introducing Karatedo into the Okinawan school system. In 1905 Itosu took a position of part-time teacher of To-te at Okinawa's First Junior Prefectural High School. It was here that he developed the systematic method of teaching Karate techniques that are still in practice today.

Itosu Sensei's greatest accomplishment was that he was a man of peace, dedicating his entire life to the development of modern Karatedo. Itosu Anko died in Yamakawa village at the age of 85, on January 26,1915.