Grandmaster Kanryo Higaonna was born on March 10, 1853, in Naha, the capital city of Okinawa. Kanryo worked as a merchant sailing between the small islands of Okinawa trading everyday goods. From a young age, Kanryo Higaonna helped his father in this work and through the hard physical labour that was involved he developed a strong body. Kanryo Higaonna was still in his teens when his father died suddenly.
Kanryo decided he wanted to study martial arts and he set his heart on travelling to Fuzhou, China for this purpose. He arrived in Fuzhou in 1869, at the age of 16. Once in Fuzhou, he studied Chinese martial arts under the great Master Ryu Ryu Ko. He soon became “Uchi Deshi” (private disciple) and he remained in China under the severe instruction of his teacher for approximately 13 years. In addition to studying empty-handed martial arts, he also become accomplished in weapons techniques and Chinese herbal medicine. Master Ryu Ryu Ko esteemed his pupil highly and sanctioned Kanryo’s mastery of these arts – an honour which is accorded extremely rarely.
Such was Kanryo’s skill in the martial arts that his fame became widespread throughout Fuzhou and the surrounding area. The severity of the training he underwent in China is beyond comprehension. In the year 1881, after 13 years of diligent study with his teacher, he returned to Okinawa and Naha where his martial arts became known as Naha-te (these arts were also referred to as “Tode” meaning martial arts from China).