Anko Itosu is one of the most important characters in the development of modern karate, both a martial art and sport practiced today by millions of people worldwide. He was born in the Shuri district of Okinawa, the main island of then independent Ryükyü Kingdom in the year of 1831. Coming from a low-ranked family, he grew up in turbulent times, and after an eventful life he eventually became a legendary figure of the Ryükyan history. He died in 1915.
Looking at his education, his professional career, his dedication to the civil fighting arts of the Ryukyu Islands and his legacy he has left to posterity, the book dives into the life and times of Anko Itosu, the man, the master and the myth.
About the Author
Thomas Feldmann was born in Germany in 1976. He started his karate training in 1991. After years of intensive training in Shōtōkan, being a member of the kata state team of North Rhine-Westphalia and participating in numerous seminars with some renowned masters from different schools, he decided to dedicate himself to the martial arts as a researcher and writer. Thomas studied human geography, Japanese culture, history and language in Duisburg (Germany) and Sōka, Saitama Prefecture (Japan). He holds a diploma degree in East Asian Studies from the University of Duisburg-Essen. Today, he works as a freelance public relations consultant and interim manager. Thomas had been to Okinawa in 2001, 2008 and lastly in 2019 for his research about Ankō Itosu.
