Ryu-te (Japanese: 琉手, Hepburn: Ryūte) is an Okinawan martial art founded by the late Seiyu Oyata (1930-2012) (親田清勇, Oyata Seiyū). The word Ryū-te is a shortened form of Ryūkyūte (琉球手 "Ryūkyū hand"). Ryukyu is the original name of Okinawa prior to it becoming part of Japan. Before 1995, Oyata referred to his style as Ryukyu Kempo (琉球拳法), but eventually renamed it "Ryu-te" as Ryukyu Kempo was a reference to all styles originating in Okinawa rather than to any one particular style. Ryu-te emphasizes effective self-defense while deliberately minimizing the harm to the opponent. Its practitioners consider Ryu-te neither a sport nor a form of exercise, but rather a method of training the body and mind for the betterment of mankind.