Okinawan martial arts have been influenced by many changes in Okinawan history. During the 14th century Chinese Kenpo was introduced and became known as to-te - Chinese hand. The use of weapons and martial arts were banned in the 17th century when Japan invaded Okinawa. Te as it was later known, was also practised before the coming of Kenpo. It developed and split into three distinctive martial arts which were all called Okinawan te. These systems were:

Shuri-te Hard techniques (Go) influenced by Kenpo, seen more as an offensive system.
Naha-te Softer techniques {Ju) of Kenpo, plus strong breath control and is regarded as more of a defensive system, with grappling, throws, and locks.
Tomari-te The hard and soft techniques of Kenpo.

1853 - Kanryo Higaonna was born.
1866 - He traveled to Foochow, South China where he met Ryu Ryuko Sifu - a Shaolin Kenpo master - and started to learn Shaolin White Crane, Chinese Kenpo amongst other Chines arts and medicine. He stayed there for 15 years.
1881 - Kanryo Higaonna returned to Okinawa.
1905 - He Began teaching at a public high school. Along with Anko Itosu, he became the foremost karateka in Okinawa. Many of his students went on to develop their own styles based on Higaonna's teachings. Most notably was Chojun Miyagi, the founder of Goyu-Ryu, and Kenwa Mabuni of Shito Ryu.
1915 - Kanryo Higaonna continued to teach until his death at the age of 63.

1888 - Chojun Miyagi was born.
1899 - He began his formal training under Ryuko Aragaki.
1902 - Chojun Miyagi was introduced to Kanryo Higaonna.
1905 - He travelled to Fukien Province, China. He studied Shaolin and pa kua forms of boxing. One hard and external (Shaolin), the other soft, circular and internal (pa kua) and his nature Naha-te, the ingredients from which he formed his new system.
1927-29 - Chojun Miyagi founded Goju-Ryu Karate. The first karate style that is not a style from a city, such as, for example Naha-te.
1933 - Karate was officially accepted by the Butoko Kai - the Japanese centre for Martial Arts.
1940 - Chojun Miyagi created the katas Gegisai Dai Ichi and Gegisai Dai Ni.
1953 - Chojun Miyagi died on October 8th in Okinawa. Some of his students were Eiichi Miyazato, Miyagi Anichin and Aragaki Shurichin.

Miyazato sensei was born on the 5th July 1922. For many years the all-Japan Police Judo champion, Eiichi Miyazato Sensei trained in Goju Ryu Karate under Chojun Miyagi for the longest of all the seniors, from 1938 until his death 1953. Miyazato Sensi took over as the head of Goju-ryu after Sensei Miyagi's death in 1953. In 1957 he founded the JunDoKan Dojo in Naha City, Okinawa. In 1972 he retired from the Police force, built a new dojo and devoted the rest of his life to teaching Karate Do reaching the rank of 10th Dan Black belt and the title of Hanshi. Students of Sensei Miyazato include Nanko Minei, Keikichi Nakasone, Tetsunosuke Yasuda, Teruo Chinen, Mark Bishop & the fouder of the YKKF Shihan Ron Yamanaka. Sensei Miyazato passed away in his sleep on 17th December 1999.

Saiko Shihan Ron Yamanaka is the leader of The Yudansha Kobujitsu Karate-doh Federation (YKKF) which he founded in 1978.

Sensei maintains his status as a student of many great masters including the late Hanshi Miyazato of Jundokan Goju Ryu and the late Shihan Masaru Shintani of Wado Kai.

9th degree black belt Shaolin Chuan Fa.
8th degree black belt Aiki Ju Jitsu.
8th degree black belt Okinawan Goju Ryu Karate (Jundokan).
8th degree black belt Shindo 36" police baton.
Canadian chief instructor (Shibucho) of Okinawan Goju Ryu (Jundokan.)
Founder & chief instructor Yudansha Kobujitsu Karate Doh Federation

Bestowed with title of "Kyoshi" by Japanese Governing Body For Rank Certification, signed by the late uncle of the emperor of Japan and former Prime Minister.
("Kyoshi" is the license grade of master instructor).

Sensei Yamanaka is the owner and chief instructor at The Yamanaka Budo Life Centre in
Markham, Ontario and the founder and president of Personal Protection Systems™.

Shihan Yamanaka