The Shito-Ryu system was passed on from Mr. Itosu and Mr. Higaonna. In Japanese Kanji, the first two letters in their names spell "Shi" and "To". Mr. Mabuni combined them to name and form our style as it was handed down to him. Born in 1893, Mr. Mabuni was the 17th generation son of a famous samurai named Onigusuki. In 1929, he moved to Osaka and instructed many students, among them Ryusho Sakagami, who, in turn taught new generations including Mr. Fumio Demura. Today, Shihan Demura is the chief instructor of the Shito-Ryu Karate-Do Genbu-Kai.