The Okinawan style of Karate called ‘Shorin-Ryu’ a traditional Okinawan martial art with its ancient roots in Chinese Shaolin Kung Fu. Highlighting Shorin-Ryu’s Chinese heritage is the fact that "Shorin" is the Japanese pronunciation of the Chinese "Shaolin", "ryu" means "way" or "style".

Although Shorin-Ryu’s roots was influenced by Chinese boxing, in fact for thousands of years the study and practice of masters and experts in Okinawa, melded this art form into the Okinawan Karate that it is today. Dating back to the 18^{th century, literally meaning, "open hand or empty hand", Karate became the accepted term for the system of self-defense of Okinawa. The three major branches of Shorin-ryu include Kobayashi Shorin-Ryu (Chosin Chibana 1885- 1969 "small forest"), Shobayashi Shorin-Ryu (Chotoku Kyan 1870-1945) and Matsubayashi Shorin-Ryu (Shoshin Nagamine 1907 - ? "pine forest").}

^{Although there has never been a single unified school of Shorin-Ryu, students of these Masters, with long and distinguished histories developed their own styles and curriculum over the years.}