AnkŌ Itosu. the Man. the Master. the Myth.

Ank Itosu is one of the most important figures in the development of modern karate, both a martial art and sport which is practiced today by millions of people worldwide. He not only laid the foundation of modern training but taught a very sophisticated next generation of practitioners who later were essential for spreading this splendid art worldwide. Ank Itosu was born in the Shuri district of Okinawa, the main island of then independent Ryky Kingdom (what is now part of Japan) in the year of 1831, into a time when modernization has not yet started in this part of the world. Coming from a low-ranked family, he grew up in turbulent times, and after a long eventful life he eventually became a legendary figure of the Rykyan history. He died in 1915. Looking at his education, his professional career, his dedication to the indigenous fighting arts and his legacy he has left to posterity, the book dives into the life and times of Ank Itosu, the man, the master and the myth.