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[[To-De]]: a family of martial arts styles that developed in [[Okinawa]] beginning in the late 17th century.  The phrase translates to "Chinese hands", owing to the influence of Chinese [[chu'an fa]] during the [[Ch'ing Dynasty]]'s period of expanded diplomatic relations with [[Okinawa]].

Three different Okinawan villages played host to the development of To-De: [[Shuri]], the ancient capital of Okinawa resting north of the [[Asa River]]; [[Naha]], a port town south of the river; and [[Tomari]], a port town north of Shuri.  Though they were but a few short miles away from each other, each of these towns developed their own style ([[Shuri-Te]], [[Naha-Te]], and [[Tomari-Te]], respectively).

The distinctiveness of each of these styles in the face of their relative close proximity, while in small part due to geography -- the Asa River divides Naha in the south from Shuri and Tomari in the north -- owes mainly to the social classes that comprised the majority in each town.  As the (now-former) capital of Okinawa, Shuri was home to aristocrats and warriors.  And though both were port towns, Naha represented more of the region's merchants and craftsmen, while Tomari was mainly a peasant area.