As a child, Kenwa Mabuni was weak and prone to illnesses. Perhaps because of his weak constitution, he was introduced to the art of karate by an employee of his fathers’ house at the age of ten. It’s said that the employee taught him the basics of a kata called Naihanchi. At the age of 13, he began studying Shuri-te (also known as Shorin-Ryu) under grandmaster Anko Itosu and diligently trained under his guidance for several years. It can be assumed, that Mabuni began intensive karate training upon the advice of his father to improve his health and strengthen his body, and because of the fact that Mabuni was also impressed by the stories of the heroic deeds of his brave ancestors.
Only seven years later, at the age of 20, Mabuni was introduced to another great master of that period called Higaonna Kanryo by his friend Chojun Miyagi who was also a student of him. Mabuni started to learn Naha-te (also known as Shorei-Ryu) under him with the same full commitment like he did under Anko Itosu.

Although he remained true and loyal to these great masters and their teachings, after completing his studying and military service, and entering the police service, he looked for further lessons from other great masters as well. For a period of longer time, he was also a student of Arakaki Seisho who taught him a Naha-te style similar to the one by Higaonna Kanryo. Under him, he learned his karate style and bojutsu. He also learned Saijutsu under Shimboku Tawada, bojutsu in the tradition of Speishi under Jino Sueyoshi and the style of the white crane under the Chinese master Wu Xianhui who was a tea merchant also known as Go Kenki.