Gichin Funakoshi
Gichin Funakoshi was born in Shuri, Okinawa in 1868. Funakoshi is called the father of modern Karate and is credited more than anyone else for introducing Karate to mainland Japan in 1922. When Funakoshi was a boy he was trained by two famous Karate Masters.
Each one taught him a different style. One Master taught him Shuri-Te later to become Shorin-Ryu and the other one taught him Naha-te later to become Shorei-Ryu.
Funakoshi changed the name from "China Hand" (To-Te) to "Empty Hand" (Kara-te) after he moved to Japan to keep Karate from being confused with Kung-Fu.
Funakoshi took what he considered the best of both of these styles of Karate and blended them together to become Shotokan Karate.