The man most responsible in forming Shito-Ryu is Okinawan Master, Kenwa Mabuni (1887 - 1954). Mabuni was a member of an old samurai family and he studied Karate with Itosu (Shishu, 1830 - 1915) master of the Shorinryu school and later, during the early 1920s, he studied with the master of the Shorei school, Kanryo Higaonna (1845 - 1915). He also learned kobudo from Aragaki, a leading weapons expert, where he learned to use the Bo, Sai, Tonfas, Nunchaku, Nichokama, Kusari-Kama, Nunte, and Tempe. Blending the methods of the two schools, Mabuni developed what he first called the "HANKO" or "HALF-HARD" style. Later, he changed the name to "SHITO", deriving the name from the alternate reading of the ideograms found in the names of his former teachers - "SHI" for the "ITO" of "ITOSU" and "TO" for the "HIGA" of "HIGAONNA".

Shito-Ryu was established between 1930 - when Mabuni moved permanently from Okinawa to Osaka, Japan and 1935, when all schools had to declare a name for the styles they practiced. Schools had to declare a name under the order of the Butokuden. Shito-Ryu, then, is a blend of the two major fountainheads of modern Karate: Naha-Te, represented by Higaonna's Shorei or Goju styles, and Shuri-Te, represented by Itosu's Shorin-Ryu. It is the oldest official blend in a    recognized style of Karate, though many instructors of the past studied at the various major schools. Today, several styles exist that were developed from the two main sources of Karate, but Mabuni's Shito-Ryu was the first which was officially recognized as a major style.

 In 1931, the Japanese shortened the term "KARATEJUTSU" (Chinahand technique) to "KARATE-DO" (empty-hand way). The character "KARA" meaning "China" was replaced by the ideogram meaning "empty." Although empty basically means without weapons, Master Funakoshi described empty in these words, "As a mirror'd, polished surface reflects whatever stands before it, and as a great valley carries even small sounds, so must the student of Karate render his mind empty of selfishness and wickedness in an effort to react appropriately toward anything he might encounter." Thus, empty means to rid the mind of negative thoughts and feelings and to create space for useful actions more worthy of cultivation. To this character the original ideograms for (hands) "TE" and (the way) "DO" were added. It was at this time that Karate became more worthy of being accepted as an art form rather than one of brutal tendencies

Today, karate has spread throughout the world and still increases in popularity. Its purpose should always be to promote a better existence for mankind both spiritually and morally while providing a means of self-defense, competition, sport, and physical exercise.

Tsukasa Mabuni is the Granddaughter of Kenwa Mabuni, the founder of Shito-Ryu. Her father, Kenzo Mabuni, succeeded as the 2nd Soke of Shito-Ryu when her grandfather passed away in 1952

Continuing with Budo tradition, she has succeeded the role of 3rd Soke of Shito-Ryu, upon the recent passing of her father.

She states that, "the organization of Shito-Ryu International Karate Do Kai will continue on with the same objectives. I urge all Shito-Ryu Karate-ka worldwide to support the organization which my grandfather founded. The same organization which my father developed as an international entity teaching Seito, or authentic, Shito-Ryu."