Ankō Itosu

Martial artist (1831–1915)

糸洲安恒 · 이토스 안코

Born

1831, Naha

Died

11 March 1915, Naha

Citizenship

Japan

Sport

karate

Occupation

karateka

Ankō Itosu (糸洲 安恒, Okinawan: Ichiji Ankō; Japanese: Itosu Ankō, 1831 – 11 March 1915) is considered by many the father of modern karate. This title is also often given to Gichin Funakoshi because of the latter spreading karate throughout Japan.

Teachers

• Matsumura Sōkon

Students

• Motobu Chōyū
• Kenwa Mabuni
• Chōmo Hanashiro
• Chōshin Chibana
• Shinpan Gusukuma
• Gichin Funakoshi

External links

• Wikipedia
• Wikidata

Facts from Wikidata Q527422 (CC0); quoted introduction from English Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Data retrieved 2026-10-22.

Data: Wikidata (CC0 1.0); Wikipedia (English) (CC BY-SA 4.0). Retrieved 2026-10-22.