Sakugawa biography

Okinawa thus became a place where the art of weaponless combat took on new significance. In these turbulent times emerged a master whose determination and unique approach shaped what we now know as karate. His mastery did not come by chance—after years of training under the monk Peichin Takahara and the Chinese emissary Kusanku, Sakugawa created his own version of Te, integrating techniques from both native and Chinese styles.

What is karate

Although many myths and controversies have grown around his story, Sakugawa's contributions remain unquestioned—it is thanks to him that Te techniques survived and evolved, becoming the foundation for karate styles such as Shuri-te and, later, Shorin-ryu and Shotokan. Who was Kanga Sakugawa? What values did he instill in his students, and what role did he play in shaping the art of weaponless combat?

Let us delve into a story of cultural exchange, of mastery earned through hardship and dedication, and of a philosophy that has endured through the ages to continue inspiring those who take their first steps on the path of the "empty hand. It was a time of tumultuous changes and tensions in a world torn between great powers. The largest island in the archipelago—Uchinaa—flourished, full of bustling marketplaces, quiet temples, winding paths, and picturesque rice fields.

The island's population lived by trade—Chinese porcelain, Thai spices, and Korean textiles flowed through the ports in Naha, bypassing Japanese restrictions. It was a place of enterprising people who could optimize their tax and customs structures—smugglers, pirates, traders. When the Shimazu rulers invaded the archipelago and claimed it as their own, they confiscated the people's weapons.