History of the Zen Okinawa Karate-do Renmei

1904
Tote-jutsu was officially adopted as part of the physical education program in Shuri Elementary School

1918
Gichin Funaksoshi, Chodo Oshiro, Chomo Hanashiro, Choshin Chibana, Kenwa Mabuni, Anbun Tokada, Shimpan Gushukuma, Masumi Tokumura and Ryugyo Ishigawa get together and form the Karate Kenkyukai at the Shuri house of Kenwa Mabuni.

1922
karate was first introduced at the Okinawa Police Academy and then officially accepted as a regular curriculum subject like other Japanese martial arts such as judo and kendo

1924
Karate Kenkyujo founded in Naha-shi by Chojun Miyagi, Jyuhatsu Kyoda, Jinan Shinzato, Koki Shiroma, Chotoku Kyan and Choki Motobu

1926
The two clubs are unified and collectively known as the Okinawa Karate Club - the first formal club in Okinawa's Karate history

1930
Okinawa Kenritsu Taiku Kyokai (Okinawan Athletic Association) founded. The Okinawa Karate Club was recognized as the karate branch of the organization giving it a stronger public function

1933
Okinawa Karate Club recognized by the Dai Nippon Butoku Kai making it officially recognized as Japanese Budo

1937
Okinawa-ken Karatedo Koushin Kai (Okinawa Prefectural Karate-do Promotion Society) was founded by: Kentsu Yabu, Chomo Hanashiro, Chotoku Kyan, Chosihin Chibana, Chojun Miyagi, Shimpan Gushukuma, Jyuhatsu Kyoda, Choryu Maeshiro, and Genwa Nakasone.

1938 - 1945
World War II, karate activities are suspended, many important people in the Karate society loose their lives in the Battle of Okinawa, known in Okinawa as "Typhoon no Tetsu" or the Steel Typhoon. In spite of the turmoil of the war a great effort was made to maintain Karate's proper ways.

1945 - 1955
No unification exists between Ryuhas in the post war era with each going its own separate directions. Dojos were in their own worlds and were too busy trying to fill the void caused by the war. No organizations were established and each Ryuha remained isolated without associating with other styles. Despite of this situation in Okinawa, Okinawa Karatedo was spreading overseas.

1956
Internationalization of Okinwa Karatedo puts greater demands on Okinawa as the centre of Karate. The 4 Major Ryuha Uechi-ryu: Kanei Uechi, Goju-ryu: Meitoku Yagi, Shorin-ryu: Choshin Chibana and Matsubayashi-ryu: Soshin Nagamine form the Okinawa Karatedo Renmei - Okikuren (Okinawa Karatedo Federation)

1962
Choshin Chibana leaves the Okikuren. Shorin-ryu still remains represented in the Okikuren by Yuchoku Higa's Shorin-ryu Kyudokan

1967
Okikuren is reformed to include all the other ryuha in order to unify everybody. It is renamed the Zen Okinawa Karatedo Renmei.. Soshin Nagamine was the first chairman with Kanei Uechi, Meitoku Yagi, Zenryo Shimabukuro as vice chairman and Yuchoku Higa as director.

1973
Goju-ryu Karatedo Kyokai (Eichi Miyazato) leaves the Zen Okikuren claiming lack of fiscal accountability, made this their issue for leaving the organization.

1974
Tozan-ryu, Shinsuke Kaneshima leaves the federation for personal reasons.

1975
Ryukyu Kobudo Hozon Shinko Kai under Eisuke Akimine joins the Zen-Okikuren

1981
The Okinawa Karate society splits in two groups: Yamato-ha whom wish to join the Zen Nihon Karate-do Renmei (part of the Japan Athletics Association) and the Okinawa-ha, who were fiercely proud of Okinawa being the cradle of Karate and did not want to join an association for the sake of being recognized by the Japanese bureaucrats

The Okinawa Taiiku Kyokai (Okinawa Athletic Association) expels the Zen Okinawa Karatedo Renmei and is replaced by the Okinawa-ken Karatedo Kyokai (Okinawa Prefectural Association)

1995
Zen Okinawa-ken Karatedo Kyokai perform Japanese "Shitei-Kata" at he World pre-tournament.

1996
Okinawa Prefecture makes karate a cultural asset -Yagi Meitoku Dai Sensei declares it is "too late".

1997
Okinawa Prefectural Ministry of Education and prefectural bureaucrats open butokuden in Naha city. Opening ceremonies seat bureaucrats in front of karate masters.