Imagine a time when you needed to know a martial art not just for sport, not to lose weight, but to survive in your daily life. Fight or die. This was the context of many people throughout our history, including the inhabitants of a small group of islands south of Japan. It was the independent kingdom of Ryukyu, the birthplace of Karate. Today, the Ryukyu Islands, annexed by Japan, correspond to the prefecture of Okinawa and have a very unique and rich history and culture.
