In approximately 1683 Takahara Shinun Ho or Peichin Takahara (Peichin being a title of status) was born to the wealthy Kogusuku family of Kumemura, his dates of birth/death vary depending on the source.

Peichin Takahara became well known as a mathematician, cartographer, and martial artist. He was a student of Chatan Yara (1668 - 1756) who was himself a master of Okinawan weapons.

One of Takaharas students was Sakugawa Chikodun Peichin Kanga later known as Satunuku 'Tode' Sakugawa (1733-1815).

Sakugawa was born Teruya Kanga in Shuri's Torihori village on March 3, 1733 and died on August 17, 1815 at the age of 82.

Sakugawa became a student of Takahara, at the age of 17. His father having been beaten to death by bandits, the young Sakugawa was determined to master the martial arts. In 1756, Sakugawa met the Chinese attache, Kung Shang Kung (Kushanku or Kusanku in Okinawan; Kosokun in Japanese) who, 67 at the time was a famous warrior of the Okinawan fighting arts.

With Takaharas blessing, he became his disciple. The dates of Kushankus birth and death are again very different depending upon the source. However we do know that Kushanku taught Sakugawa "Kumiuchi-jutsu" i.e. fighting and grappling techniques and the principle of "Hikite" (Pulling/draw hand). Kushanku remained on Okinawa for 4 years and then returned to mainland China.

Sakugawa did not stop training when Kushanku left Okinawa, but followed him to China. There Sakugawa studied Chinese Kempo, the Bo (Kun in Chinese, hence the modern Okinawan-Japanese formal term: Kon).  There is some speculation that Sakugawa may have been sent to China to learn Chinese martial arts in order to better train the Okinawans.

He became a famous samurai, and was given the title of Satunuky or Satonushi by the Okinawan king.  When Sakugawa returned to Okinawa he became the chief Shuri official of the Yaeymama Island area. As a reward for his services the Shuri government gave him a small island and named it Sakugawa.

Sakugawa (Teruya Chikodun Peichin Kanga) took the name of the Island for himself but Sakugawa is mainly remembered as "Tode" Sakugawa ("Tang",or in Okinawan "To" meaning China and "Te" for the Okinawan art or when combined "Tode" Open hand/Chinese hand) for his integration of the Chinese Kempo arts and Okinawan Te (although other sources advise that Tode was a nickname given to him by Takahara.)

This made him the first Okinawan teacher of Tode. He constructed a training system and was elevated to the rank of "Satunuku. Hence we now know him as Satunuku Tode Sakugawa.
 

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