Gichin Funakoshi (1868-1957)
Style: Founder of Shotokan Karate-Do style
Meaning of the Style-name: Kara-te = Way of the Empty Fist, Shoto-kan = Hall of the waving pines



Sensei Gichin Funakoshi (born in Shuri, Okinawa
in 1868), known also as the father of
the modern Karate, began his training in the age of 11
under the two greatest Karate-Masters at the time - Yasutsune
(Ankoh) Azato and Yasutsune (Ankoh) Itosu.

As a child, Funakoshi was often weak and sick, so his parents
decided that he needed to strenghten his body. It was by
this time that they sought the guidance of the two Karate-
Masters.

Between his doctor, Tokashiki, who prescribed herbal remedies
that would strenghten him, coupled with Azato's and Itosu's
good instruction, Funakoshi soon blossomed.

He became good friend with many teachers and became so
proficient, that he was initiated into all the major styles of
Karate in Okinawa at the time.

However for Funakoshi, the very word "Karate"
(Karate= The Way of the Empty Fist), took a greater
meaning. For him it was no longer a combative form but an
art of living - an education for life itself.

In 1917, Sensei Funakoshi was invited to demonstrate his
fighting art at a physical education exhibition which was
sponsored by the Ministry of Education.
He was asked back once more in 1921 for another exhibition.
On March 6 1921, the Crown Prince of Japan (who later became
the Emperor of Japan) travelled to Okinawa and visited
Gichin Funakoshi. Intressted in his art of Shotokan, the
Crown Prince and his family asked Funakoshi for a
third demonstration. After this, Funakoshi stayed in Japan to
teach and promote his art of fighting.

The martial arts world in Japan, especially from the early
-20s and up to the early -40s, was an extreme national moment in history,
and they looked down at any art that was not pure,
calling it a pagan and savage art.
Funakoshi overcame this prejudice and finally gained
formal recognition of Karate as one of the Japanese martial arts by 1941.

Gichin Funakoshi passed away in 1957 at the age of 88.
Aside from creating Shotokan Karate and introducing it to
Japan and the world, he also wrote the very book on the
subject of Karate, "Ryukyu Kempo: Karate-do".
He also wrote "Karate-Do Kyohan" - The Master Text,
the "handbook" of Shotokan and he wrote his autobiography,
"Karate-Do: My Way of Life". These books and his art are a
fitting legacy for this unassuming and gentle man.

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