Golden Age · 1831–1915 · Okinawa

Anko Itosu, known as the "Grandfather of Modern Karate," transformed the art from a secretive fighting method into a system suitable for public education. By introducing karate into Okinawan schools and creating the Pinan kata series, he made the art accessible to a broad audience. His students Gichin Funakoshi and Kenwa Mabuni went on to found Shotokan and Shito-ryu respectively, making Itosu the common ancestor of most modern karate.
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Shotokan Karate
Shito-ryu