Kanryo Higaonna was a prominent Okinawan martial artist, known for his significant contributions to the development of karate. Born in 1853 in Naha, Okinawa, he studied various martial arts, including Naha-te, which later influenced the formation of modern karate styles. Higaonna is particularly recognized for his emphasis on physical conditioning and practical self-defense techniques. Higaonna trained under several masters and eventually became a teacher himself. He founded the Goju-Ryu style of karate, which combines hard and soft techniques. His teachings and philosophy have had a lasting impact on martial arts, making him a key figure in the history of Okinawan karate.