Benefits of Karate Fitness and Overall Health: Karate training improves flexibility, strength, coordination, and endurance of an individual. Karate's punches, thrusts, kicks, blocks, sweeps and throws tones the whole body in an explosive and dynamic workout. Stress Reduction: In addition to the stress reducing benefits of any physical activity, Karate also improves concentration and awareness of mental attitudes that can cause stress. Self-Confidence: While all physical activ

Itosu-Kai teaches teaches the traditional weapons of RyuKyu (Okinawan) Kobudo. Kobudo, the art of Okinawan weaponry means "the Way of Ancient Warrior". Using traditional farming and fishing implements, the Okinawan people developed their farming tools into weapons that were very effective against the samurai. This art of defense became known as kobudo or Kobujitsu. Although Kobujitsu was an art separate from the Okinawan art of Karate, it was commonly use together as an effec

Yasutsune (Anko) Itosu (1830-1915) Yasutsune (Anko) Itosu was the first master of karate in the Shuri area of Okinawa, one of the three main karate development areas in that country at the turn of the century. He is responsible for the development of the five Pinan Katas, which are fundamentals of the current Shito-Ryu Itosukai style. He refined all the major katas in the Shuri-te area including such complex katas as Bussai-dai Dai and Sho, Kushanku-dai and Sho, Rohai Shodan,

Shito-Ryu is one of the four major karate styles of Japan. It combines the features of the two great traditions of Okinawan and Japanese karate. "Itosu-Kai" indicates our following of perhaps the greatest master of the last two centuries, Yasutune Itosu (1830-1915). "Kai" and "Ryu" both mean "style" or "school". In the later part of the 19th century, the two most famous masters of karate in Okinawa were Yasutune Itosu (1830-1915) of Shuri-te and Kanryo (Higa'shi'onna) Higaonn

Introduction to Itosu-Kai Canada Affiliated with: All Japan Karatedo Federation, All Japan Itosukai Association, All Japan Kobudo Association. Itosu-Kai Karate And Kobudo Association Canada™. For those of you who are new to Itosu-kai Karate, welcome. From this day forward you are part of an ancient and honorable martial art form. Karate, freely translated means "empty hand" or the ability of the practitioner to defend themselves without the use of weapons. However, only the s