Soke Kenei Mabuni’s Biography

Mabuni Kenei was born on February 13, 1918 in Shuri Okinawa. He is the first born of 3 children of Master Mabuni Kenwa, founder of Shito-ryu Karate-do. Beginning at an early age Kenei received personal instruction from his father throughout his childhood.

After the Mabuni family moved to the Kansai district of Japan in 1928, Kenei would sometimes accompany his father at various Karate related functions. He would be asked sometimes to participate in the demonstration with his famous father throughout Japan during the 1930′s.

It was also during this time, March 1934, that Grandmaster Mabuni Kenwa first established a dojo in Osaka naming it Youshukan. Many times young Mabuni Kenei stayed with the Konishi family and was treated like a family member while his father continued to teach around Tokyo the Kanto district.

In March, 1939, Mabuni Kenwa would officially register the name of his Karate style called ‘Shito-ryu’ with the leading martial arts organization, the “Dai Nippon Butoku Kai”, that governed all martial arts in Japan at the time. Kenei knew many of the famous karate teachers who came to study with his father including Master Motobu Choki, Konishi Yasuhiro, Moden Yabiku and Funakoshi Gichin.

After the end of World War II he continued to help his father teach and spread Shito-ryu Karate throughout Japan.

Shortly after Master Mabuni Kenwa’s sudden death from a heart attack on May 23, 1952, Mabuni Kenei succeeded his father as the Second Soke, or 2nd designated Master of the style.

In November of 1960, Kenei sensei became the Western (Kansai-President of the Shito-ryu Federation, while Iwata Manzo was named the Eastern (Kanto-President).

During 1962 Kenei Mabuni sensei travelled around the globe continuing to instruct in Shito-ryu Karate. He visited Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras and the USA.

Kenei Mabuni at the age of 13.	(left) Kenwa Mabuni,(right) Kenei Mabuni.

During the Inagural 1970 Ist World Union of Karate-do Organizations (WUKO) World Karate-do Championships Mabuni sensei first demonstrated the ‘Nipaipo’ kata of Gokenki sensei.

In 1972, he was certified by the Federation of All Japan Karate-do Organizations (FAJKO) as a first class examiner.

(Lef to right, standing): Funakoshi Gichin, unknown, unknown, Konishi Yasuhiro, and Mabuni Kenei( when he was at 13th), Master Mabuni Kenwa (seated).

On 15 Jan 1984, Mabuni sensei was presented ‘The Distinguished Service Medal’ for his contribution to the Martial Arts presented by Japan Martial Arts Council (Nippon Budo Kyougi Kai).

On 17 Mar 1993, in Osaka, Japan, Kenei Mabuni sensei helped establish the World Shito-ryu Karate-do Federation and was named it’s ‘Governor” (Sosai).

On 19 Dec 2015, Kenei Mabuni Sensei died at the age of 97.