Some martial artists have had a very distinguished role within the Brotherhood and are regarded more highly than others due to their efforts and contributions. They have been innovative and have explored the very depth of the art. These unique people are inventive, searching, daring, stimulating, and enlightening whose teachings have greatly influenced the Brotherhood of Martial Artists.

One such person was the Chinese Master Zhou Zi He (pronounced - Jo she her – Okinawans call him Sushiwa), born of a wealthy family in August 1874 in Southern China. He lived in Zhi Tian Village, Minghou County, in Fujian Province. He was nicknamed by the villager's "Kuang Kuang - Big and broad" and had learned Shaolin boxing from several Buddhist teachers before he became a Taoist.

According to Masters Simon Lailey and Larry Abrams (a student of mine) who became disciples of Respect the Tiger style under Masters Gou Ming Wei and Gou Kong Xi in China, stated that Zhou Zi He – was a master of White Crane, Dragon, Ying Gong, and Nei Gong, but was primarily known for his Tiger Boxing style. He was also known for writing poetry and for painting tigers. He was an extremely strong martial artist and was reportedly to have slept on a stone bed to practice his Ying Gong. He was also known for once punching holes with his fingers in the doorframe of the Tai Jun Temple that is near Zhi Tian City.

Listed here are some of Zhou Zi He’s Kata that are taught at the SanShin Academy:

• SanZhan (Three Conflicts – Crane and Tiger versions)
• ShihSan (Thirteen Hands – Crane form)
• SanShihLui (Thirty-six Hands – Crane form)
• Sihe (Four animals – Crane, Tiger, Dragon, and Leopard form)
• ShihSan Tai Bau (13 Ultimate defenses – Tiger, Crane, Snake, Dragon, and Leopard form) also known as Yibailinbabu – 108 steps
• Sya Shan Hu (Tiger goes down mountain – Tiger form)
• Chu Lan Hu (Tiger exits cage – Tiger form)
• Shang Shan Hu (Tiger goes up mountain – Tiger form)

Another distinguished martial artist within the brotherhood was an Okinawan who began studying the art of Toudi (Okinawan name for Chinese QuanShu) from Master Seisho Arakaki of Kume village, Naha City, on Okinawa. Arakaki had previously studied Chinese martial arts in Fuchou, China. When Kanaryo was about 24 years old he traveled to Fuchou, to study from Master Xie Zhong Xiang (Ryuru Ko) and his assistant Wai XinXian. Very little is known about these teachers, except that they were Chinese Masters of Luohan Nan QuanShu (Southern Monk Boxing) and Ming Bei He Nan QuanShu (Shouting White Crane Boxing). They taught at the Okinawan Kojo training hall in Fuchou. Kanryo Higashionna was an exceptional martial artist with powerful kicks. When he returned to Okinawa he began teaching what he called Shorei-Ryu Karate. He taught in the city of Naha and the art was later referred to as Naha Te.

He was a severe teacher who focused on the teaching of the form (Kata) called SanZhan/SanChien. Students spent three years learning this Kata before being taught additional kata. The forms that he brought back from China were primarily hand or weaponless Kata. Although he had learned some Chinese weapons he didn't teach them. Listed here are the kata of Kanryo Higashionna from China.

• SanZhan (Three Conflicts)
• Shihsan (Thirteen Hands)
• SanShihLui (Thirty-six Hands)
• Pechurin (108 Hands)