Te (translated "hand") is a martial art which developed in Okinawa over the last several hundred years and flourished in the 17th century AD following the Japanese invasion under Tokugawa Shogun in 1609. But Te was not purely the creation of the native Okinawans. It developed from the Gung Fu of chinese martial artists who visited the islands and from the experiences of Okinawans who travelled to China to learn these martial arts (called Kempo by the Okinawans).

The Okinawan fighting arts were divided between the three cities Naha, Shuri and Tomari. The three styles took their names from these cities: naha-te (also known as Goju Ryu), shuri-te (also known as Sho-Rin Ryu), and tomari-te (also known as Isshin Ryu). Te became the basis for karate.