Mabuni Kenei, holder of the 10th dan, was born in 1918 on Okinawa, the birthplace of karatedô. As the son of one of the most important karate experts in history, from his childhood on he was in touch with karate and some of its greatest masters. At the age of 34 he became the head of Shitô-ryû. Even today, in his old age, he holds seminars in different parts of the world where he teaches authentic karatedô.