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Yasutsune (Ankoh) Itosu was born in 1831 in the Yamagawa Village, Shuri in Okinawa.  He was one of the most influential students of Sokon Matsumura along with Yasutsune Azato.  

An educated man he was secretary for the administrative office of the Ryukyu Kingdom under the last Ryukyu King, Sho Tai, until 1879 when the monarchy was dissolved.    Itosu is credited as being instrumental in introducing Karate to the Education System.  In April 1901 he introduced Karate to the curriculum at the Shun Jingo Elementary school and four years later became a Karate teacher at the Prefectural Dai Ichi and teacher training colleges.  

In 1908 he wrote a letter "The ten articles of Karate" to the Prefectural Education Department which led to Karate being introduced to all Okinwan Schools and also to the ministry of war which started the introduction of Karate to mainland Japan. 

In 1912 Itosu gave a demonstration to Admiral Dewa of the Japanese Navy, his Karate teachings were used to develop the fighting men for the Japanese Government of the time.  

Itosu simplified the Kata of Sokon Matsumura to make them more accessible. He split the Heian (Pinan) Kata's in to Heian Shodan, Nidan and Sandan and created Heian Yondan and Godan, basing them on the more advanced Katas: Jion, Passai, Kushanku and Chinto. 

He is also responsible for splitting Tekki in to three separate Kata's.  Itosu's most famous student was Gichin Funakoshi whom he taught alongside Azato. 

Funakoshi spoke of Itosu's physical strength and vice like grip.  Itosu believed the body should be trained to withstand the hardest blows.  Itosu died on January 26th 1915 at the age of 85.
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