was a Japanese martial arts expert, holder of the 10th Dan.
Kenei Mabuni was born in Shuri, Okinawa. As the son of Kenwa Mabuni, the founder of the Shità Â-ryà « and one of the most important karate experts in the history of the martial arts, he was in touch with karate and some of its greatest masters such as Miyagi Chojun, Funakoshi Gichin, and Motobu Chà Âki from childhood. Besides his karate practice he also studied several other martial arts such as aikidà Â, kendà Â, Okinawan kobudà Â, jujutsu, jûdô, and ninjutsu. At the age of 34 he became the head of Shità Â-ryà «.
In particular, Mabuni Kenei emphasized the importance of the spiritual contents and values of karatedà Â. Without generally refusing sport-oriented karate he supported a clear distinction between traditional karatedà  and sport karate.
Among his achievements is the completion of the kata Shimpàthat his father had created but not completed. This kata was inspired by the Uechi-ryà «. He was the author of several books about the Shità Â-ryà « techniques and of one book about the historical roots and the spiritual basics of karate as budà  art. On December 19, 2015, he died at the age of 97.
Kenei Mabuni was succeeded by his son, Kenyu Mabuni, as the third Soke of Shito-Ryu. Kenyu was anointed the next Soke (successor) of the system in an inauguration ceremony held on February 28, 2016, in Osaka, continuing his father's and his grandfather's work which is the spread of the original Shito ryu Karate do worldwide.