and established Okinawan Shito-ryu. Career Mabuni published a number of books on the subject and continued to systematise the instruction method. Perhaps more than any other Master in the last century, Mabuni was steeped in the traditions and history of Karate-do, yet forward thinking enough to realise that it could spread throughout the world. To this day, Shitō-ryū recognises the influences of Itosu and Higashionna: the kata syllabus of Shito-ryū is still often listed in such a way as to show the two lineages. In his latter years, he developed a number of formal kata, such as Aoyagi/Seiryu ('Green Willow') with Yasuhiro Konishi under the assistance of Ueshiba Morihei and Meijō, for example, which were designed specifically for women's self-defence. Later years Kenwa Mabuni died in 1952, and he is succeeded by his sons Kenei and Kenzo. His son Kenzo Mabuni died on 26 June 2005, and was succeeded by his daughter. His son Kenei Mabuni died 19th December 2015 and is succeeded by his son Kenyu Mabuni. Sources Mabuni, Kenei (2009): Empty Hand – The Essence of Budo Karate. Chemnitz: Palisander Verlag. Habersetzer, Gabrielle & Roland (2004): Encyclopédie des arts martiaux de l'Extrême-Orient, Ed. Amphora, Paris. References 1889 births 1952 deaths Shitō-ryū Shitō-ryū practitioners Martial arts school founders Okinawan male karateka 20th-century philanthropists