| Term | Kanji | Description |
| Arakaki Ankichi | 新垣安吉 | Early Shorinryu prodigy, died young, student of Kyan (1899-1927) |
| Arakaki Seisho | 新垣世璋 | Ryukyuan Court Translator, Naha-te Pioneer (1840-1918) |
| Chatan Yara | 北谷屋良 | Li Dao (利導) aka Chatan Yara, Kobudo Master. (1740-1812) |
| Chibana Choshin | 知花朝信 | Founder of Kobayashi Ryu, student of Itosu (1885-1969) |
| Chitose Tsuyoshi | 千歳强直 | Born Chinen (Gochoku) Masuo, founded Chitoryu (1898-1984) |
| Egami Shigeru | 江上茂 | Shotokan Karate Pioneer (1912-1981) |
| Funakoshi Gichin | 船越義珍 | Founder of Shotokan (松濤館) Karate (1868-1957) |
| Higa Seikichi | 比嘉世吉 | Son of Higa Seiko, former president of the Shodokan (1927-1999) |
| Higa Seiko | 比嘉世幸 | Early Gojuryu Karate Pioneer. (1898-1966) |
| Higashionna Kanryo | 東恩納寛量 | Naha-te pioneer, trained in China. (1853-1915) |
| Iha Kotatsu | 伊波興達 | Tomari-te teacher, student of Matsumora (1873-1928) |
| Itosu Anko | 糸洲安恒 | Father of modern Shorinryu karate. (1831-1916) |
| Jana Uekata Rizan | 謝名親方利山 | Executed by the Satsuma, practiced martial arts (1549-1611) |
| Kinjo Sanda | 金城真三良 | Kobudo Pioneer - Ufuchiku (1834-1916) |
| Kojo Chinpe | 湖城珍部 | 1st Generation head of Kojoryu, Cai Shichang 蔡世昌 (1780-1865) |
| Kojo Choko | 湖城張喬 | Founder of Kojoryu, Cai Zhaogong 蔡肇功 (1656–1737) |
| Kojo Isei | 湖城以正 | 3rd Generation head of Kojoryu (1832-1891) |
| Kojo Kafu | 湖城嘉富 | 6th Generation head of Kojuryu (1909-1996) |
| Kojo Kaho | 湖城嘉宝 | 4th Generation head of Kojoryu (1849-1925) |
| Kojo Shigeru | 湖城繁 | 7th Generation head of Kojoryu (1934-1970) |
| Kojo Shoi | 湖城精仁 | 2nd Generation head of Kojoryu, Cai Changwei 蔡昌偉 (1816-1906) |
| Kojo Shuren | 湖城秀蓮 | 5th Generation head of Kojuryu (1883-1945) |
| Kojo Tatei | 湖城大禎 | Early Karate pioneer, aka Goken Tanme (1838-1917) |
| Kuniyoshi Shinkichi | 国吉真吉 | Early Naha Te pioneer, Saijutsu/Bojutsu master (1848-1926) |
| Kyan Chotoku | 喜屋武朝徳 | Famous karate teacher and pioneer of Tomari Te (1870-1945) |
| Kyoda Juhatsu | 許田重発 | Naha-te pioneer, founder of Toonryu 東恩流 (1887-1968) |
| Maezato Ranpo | 真栄里蘭芳 | Early karateka often associated with Iwa. (1838-1904) |
| Makabe Choken | 真壁朝顕 | Ryukyuan lord and early Te pioneer. (1785-1825) |
| Matayoshi Seitoku | 又吉清徳 | Student of Tamaki Juei, kobudo genius (1941-2021) |
| Matayoshi Shinko | 又吉眞光 | Legendary Kobudo pioneer (1888-1947) |
| Matayoshi Shinpo | 又吉眞豊 | Founder of Matayoshi Kobudo (1921-1997) |
| Matsumora Kosaku | 松茂良興作 | Tomari Te Pioneer and significant contributor (1829-1898) |
| Matsumura Sokon | 松村宗棍 | Bushi, aka Kiyo Sokon (嘉陽宗棍), Jigenryu/Te Master (1809-1899) |
| Miyagi Chojun | 宮城長順 | Founder of Gojuryu Karate. (1888-1953) |
| Miyagi Kei | 宮城敬 | Son of Miyagi Chojun and Soke of Gojuryu (1919-2008) |
| Motobu Choki | 本部朝基 | Karate pioneer, greatly contributed to modern karate (1870-1944) |
| Motobu Choyu | 本部朝勇 | Early Influential Karate Pioneer (1857-1928) |
| Nagamine Shoshin | 長嶺将真 | Founder of Matsubayashi Shorin Ryu, Author (1907-1997) |
| Nakaima Kenchu | 仲井間憲忠 | Son of Nakaima Kenri, early karate pioneer (1856-1953) |
| Nakaima Kenji | 仲井間憲児 | Karateka and sword expert, 5th Soke of Ryueiryu (1934-2022) |
| Nakaima Kenko | 仲井間憲孝 | Organizer of Ryueiryu style, Kobudo expert (1911-1989) |
| Nakaima Kenri | 仲井間憲里 | Aka Nakaima Norisato, early Naha karate pioneer (1819-1879) |
| Nakama Chozo | 名嘉真朝増 | Student of Chibana, had many students (1899-1982) |
| Nakamura Shigeru | 仲村茂 | Founder of Okinawa Kempo (1894-1969) |
| Nakasone Seiyu | 仲宗根正侑 | Tomari-Te Master student of Iha Kotatsu (1895-1983) |
| Nakazato Joen | 仲里常延 | Founder of Shorinjiryu, student of Kyan (1922-2010) |
| Nakazato Shugoro | 仲里周五郎 | Founder of Shorinkan, student of Chibana (1920-2016) |
| Odo Seikichi | 小渡世吉 | Proponent of Okinawa Kenpo (1926-2002) |
| Sakiyama Kitoku | 崎山喜徳 | Legendary Naha Bushi and early karate pioneer (1821-1904) |
| Sakugawa Kanga | 佐久川寛賀 | Bojutsu expert, aka Teruya Kanga (1786-1867) |
| Sakugawa Kangi | 佐久川寛喜 | Early bojutsu pioneer, aka Teruya Kangi aka Tote (1733-1815) |
| Shimabuku Tatsuo | 島袋龍夫 | Founder of Isshinryu (一心流) Karate (1908-1975) |
| Shimabukuro Taro | 島袋善良 | Famous karate teacher - had 28 teachers (1905-1980) |
| Soken Hohan | 祖堅方範 | Founder of Seito Matsumura Shorinryu (1891-1982) |
| Tamaki Juei | 玉城寿英 | Naha Te Pioneer and Gojuryu & kobudo prodigy (1905-1997) |
| Teruya Kishin | 照屋規箴 | One of the founders of Tomari Te (1804-1864) |
| Toguchi Seikichi | 渡口政吉 | Gojuryu Pioneer, founded Shoreikan (1917-1998) |
| Tokashiki Iken | 渡嘉敷唯賢 | Founder of Gohakukai, karate historian (1940-present) |
| Toma Seiki | 當真正貴 | Shorinryu prodigy, taught many top level instructors (1922-2007) |
| Toma Shian | 當眞嗣安 | Shorinryu Master founder of Seidokan 正道館 (1929-2013) |
| Uechi Kanbun | 上地完文 | Founder of Uechi Ryu (1877-1948) |
| Uema Joki | 上間上輝 | Shorinryu visionary, kata and history collector (1920-2011) |
| Yagi Meitoku | 八木明徳 | Gojuryu Pioneer, founded Meibukan (1912-2003) |
