The origins of Okinawan martial arts, known as Ti, which later evolved into Karate, remain unknown due to its status as a secret technique exclusive to Ryukyu samurais.

The earliest written record of Okinawan martial arts without weapons appears in the royal historical text of Ryukyu, Kyuyo, describing an event involving Kyo Ahagon Jikki in 1523.

“Using only Karate (or Kushu) and with no weapons in hand, he broke both legs of an assassin.”

He lost his life to the assassin’s blade near the Chuzan Gate of Shuri Castle. Today, his tombstone stands alone and forgotten in a residential area of Shuri.

Tamaudun is a royal mausoleum.

In the Ryukyu Kingdom, masters of martial arts, including karate, often served as guards for royal tombs and mausoleums.

Because karate was a secret art passed down only within the samurai class, it was often practiced discreetly in graveyards.

It is known that a karate master named Kiyuna served as the tomb guard at Tamaudun, suggesting that secret karate training likely took place here as well.

(Unfortunately, there are no detailed records about Kiyuna himself.)

The residence of Ryukyu kings and the political center of the kingdom. Ryukyu samurais who served here practiced karate in secret to protect the nobility.

After the annexation to Japan, the castle was used as a school, where karate was practiced by many students, not just those from the samurai class.

In 1921, the future Emperor Hirohito, then a prince, observed a karate performance in the main hall. This event played a key role in bringing wider recognition to karate.

When the last Ryukyu King, Sho Tai, ascended to the throne in 1866, a Karate demonstration was held in front of the Keisei Gate at Shuri Castle.

This event marks the first written record of modern-style Karate.

Shikinaen, a beautiful royal garden in Okinawa, holds special significance for karate enthusiasts.

Matsumura Sokon, a legendary karate master, served as a guard at Shikinaen during the Ryukyu Kingdom era.

In addition to his duties, he taught karate to his students in the yard right in front of the guard's house.

Let's enjoy Okinawa Soba with a Karate twist!

At the restaurant in Okinawa Karate Kaikan, the soba is served with kombu (kelp) garnished like a black belt.

"Karate ni sente nashi"—"There is no first strike in karate"—is a famous karate maxim that Master Funakoshi Gichin promoted as the essence of karate.

A stone monument inscribed with this principle stands in Onoyama, a place also known as Shoto, which was Funakoshi’s pen name.