Satsunuku “Tode” Sakugawa was born in Shuri, the capital of Okinawa in 1762 (Some authorities show his date of birth at an earlier or later date). He began his martial arts training at the age of 17, under an Okinawan monk named Peichin Takahara. At age 23, Sakugawa was granted permission by Takahara to train under Kusanku, a Chinese envoy who had been settled in Okinawa. For the next six years, Sakugawa learned all that he could from Kusanku. He traveled to China with Kusanku to study Kempo. Before long Sakugawa was considered an expert in the “Chinese hand” fighting method.

Sakugawa learned valuable lessons from Kusanku. He soon started to teach the “Chinese hand” way in Okinawa, combining what both his teachers had taught him and structuring a training system. He went on to become a great master himself. Among his students were Chokun Satunku Macabe, Satunuku Ukuda, Chikuntonoshinunjo Matsumoto, Kojo, Yamaguchi “Bushi” Sakumoto, Unsume, and Sokon “Bushi” Chikatosinumjo Matsumura.

It is said that Sakugawa was awarded the title of Satunushi for his services to the Okinawa King. He was an important factor in the development of “Te” on the Okinawan Islands. Sakugawa was credited with forming several kata, which are still practiced today. These include the karate kata Kusanku and the bo kata Sakugawa No Kun. In addition, Sakugawa also created the concept of the Dojo Kun (dojo etiquette) which has become a tradition with many styles, including our own. Some scholars suggest that when Sakugawa was 78, he began teaching the art of “Te” to his greatest student of all, Sokon “Bushi” Matsumura.