Kannryo Higaonna
Kannryo Higaonna, born in 1845 (also believed to be 1853) on the island of Okinawa, originally became a leading martial artist of the Chinese martial arts of the south (Shaolin). Beginning his martial arts training in Monk Fist Boxing, known as Lohan Quan in Chinese, he moved to China where he trained in Fukien Province for thirteen years of his life under the Master Ryu Ryu (Ko Xie Zhonh Xiang in Chinese). Aside from self defence and exercises of martial arts, he also learned weapons and traditional Chinese medical techniques such as acupuncture, moxibustion and tuina. When he returned from China to his birthplace, Naha, Okinawa, he first worked as a merchant, like his father once did. He also taught martial arts at his private dojo, but not publicly. It was not until his reputation as a martial artist became so recognized that he was invited to teach at Naha Commercial School, where he taught students until his death in 1915.
Kannryo Higaonna and Nahate
Kannryo Higaonna was responsible for the creation of Nahate, a traditional type of martial art that many contemporary styles of Karate have been influenced by, and is considered the father of Okinawan style Karate. He introduced 8 forms that were taken from the martial arts styles he learned in China.
Chojun Miyagi, the founder of Goju Ryu Karate, was one of his most famous students. Chojun Miyagi began to train under Kannryo Higaonna in 1902, and the martial art he learned, Nahate, is believed to have profoundly influenced the creation of Goju Ryu Karate.