Chotoku Kyan (喜屋武 朝徳, Kyan Chōtoku^?, born December 1870 in Shuri, Okinawa - September 20, 1945 in Ishikawa, Okinawa) was an Okinawan karate master who was famous for both his karate skills, and his colorful personal life. Chotoku Kyan (also spelled Chotoku Kiyan) was a large influence in the styles of karate that would become Shorin-Ryu and its related styles.

Chotoku Kyan was born as the first son of Chofu Kyan who was a steward to the Ryukyuan King before the realm's official dissolution into Japan as the Okinawan Prefecture. Kyan was noted for being small in stature, suffering from asthma and frequently bed-ridden. He also had poor eyesight, which may have led to his early nickname Chan Migwa (squinty-eyed Chan).

Kyan's father is noted as possibly having a background in karate and even teaching Kyan tegumi in his early years. When Kyan was 20 years old, he began his karate training under Kosaku Matsumora and Kokan Oyadomari. While at 30 years of age, he was considered a master of the karate styles known as Shuri-te and Tomari-te. The most long time student of Kyan was Zenryō Shimabukuro, who studied with Kyan for over 10 years^{[citation needed]}. Kyan is also noted for encouraging his students to visit brothels and to engage in alcohol consumption at various times.

Shōshin Nagamine (長嶺 将真, Nagamine Shōshin^?, 15 July, 1907 – 2 November, 1997) was a Japanese author, soldier, police officer and karate master.

Nagamine was born in Tomari, in Naha City, Okinawa. He was a small and sickly child, and he contracted a gastroenteric disorder in 1926, his second year of high school. He began a self-imposed diet and took up karate under the watchful eye of his next-door neighbour, Chojin Kuba. Nagamine soon became a picture of good health, crediting his recovery to "hard work both at school and training of Karate"[1]. His health improved to such an extent that he became a leader of the school's karate club, and his friends dubbed him Chaippaii Matsu, a nickname meaning "tenacious pine tree".

After graduation in March 1928, he began to study martial arts full time, moving to Shuri and training under Taro Shimabuku (島袋善良)and Ankichi Arakaki. Later that year, he was conscripted into the Japanese army in the 47th Infantry Division, and fought in China before receiving an honourable discharge in 1931.