Kenei Mabuni and Kenzo Mabuni are the sons of Kenwa Mabuni, the founder of Shitō-ryū, one of Japan’s four great karate styles. Each has played an important role in perpetuating their father’s legacy and promoting Shitō-ryū around the world.
Kenei Mabuni was born in 1918 in Shuri, on the island of Okinawa, Japan. He began practising karate at an early age under the tutelage of his father. After Kenwa Mabuni’s death in 1952, Kenei assumed responsibility for perpetuating the teaching of Shitō-ryū. In 1953, he founded the Shitō-ryū Karate-dō Kai, an organization dedicated to the promotion and preservation of Shitō-ryū.
Throughout his life, Kenei Mabuni worked tirelessly to spread Shitō-ryū, teaching and organizing seminars around the world. As a grandmaster of Shitō-ryū, he not only continued to teach his father’s karate techniques, but also incorporated his own interpretations and innovations. Kenei Mabuni passed away in 2015, leaving a significant legacy in the history of karate.
Kenzo Mabuni, Kenwa Mabuni’s youngest son, was born in 1942. Like his elder brother, he began practising karate under his father’s guidance. After Kenwa’s death, Kenzo also dedicated his life to teaching and promoting Shitō-ryū.
In 1960, Kenzo Mabuni founded his own organization, the Shitō-ryū Karate-dō Genbu-kai. He continued to teach and promote Shitō-ryū through this organization, organizing seminars and tournaments, and training a new generation of karatekas. Kenzo Mabuni is also renowned for developing specific kata for Shitō-ryū, contributing to the evolution and richness of this martial art.
In short, both Kenei and Kenzo Mabuni have played a crucial role in preserving and spreading Shitō-ryū, the style of karate their father founded. Thanks to their dedication and hard work, Shitō-ryū continues to be practiced and respected around the world. Their efforts have ensured that Kenwa Mabuni’s legacy lives on and continues to influence modern karate.