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(November 10, 1868 – April 26, 1957)
Funakoshi
Gichin Sensei the founder of
Shotokan karate. He
was 89 years old when he died.
A short summary of Sensei's life
Funakoshi Gichin Sensei
was born in Shuri, Okinawa in 1868. Initially he was trained by two
masters of the time who practiced different karate styles. From Master Anko
Azato he was instructed in "Shuri-te" and from Master Anko Itosu he was
instructed "Naha-te". He also trained with other leading karate
masters.
What Funakoshi Sensei developed into his karate (Shotokan) is an amalgam of his combined karate experience. The
style name "Shotokan" is taken from the pen name he used "Shoto" when
writing poetry. Shoto means pine waving which is a reference to the way the
wind moved the pine needles in the trees on the mountain where he liked to
walk and contemplate, and "kan" can mean meeting place or house. i.e. Shotokan means the
place
where Shoto trains or house of Shoto.
In March 1921, when
Emperor Hirohito was still the Crown Prince, he visited Okinawa en-route to
a visit to Europe. Gichin Funakoshi led a public performance of karate,
which was performed by selected students at the Grand Hall of Shuri Castle
in front of the Crown Prince. The Crown Prince gave his impressions as
"karate is so miraculous".
In May 1922 at 53 years of age Funakoshi Sensei attended the First Budo and
Physical Education Exhibition held in Tokyo which was sponsored by the
Ministry of Education at the request of School Section of Okinawa
Prefectural Government. Here he demonstrated Okinawa's art of self defense
"karate". Funakoshi Sensei demonstrated karate kata and explained the
meaning of the kata.
With the rise of
nationalism in Japan at that time it must also be remembered that
encouraging the populace to be fit and strong was essential to the
foundation of a strong army and so the proliferation and encouragement of
martial arts training in the education system was seen as a means to an end.
The then Commissioner of Public Schools Shintaro Ogawa recommended in a
report to the Ministry of Education that karate be included in school based
physical education programs.
Following his karate
demonstration in Tokyo Funakoshi Sensei's friends and other
officials who were in attendance at the time urged him to remain in Tokyo
and teach his art. This
he did, and this was karate's introduction to mainland Japan. Post
WWII karate spread to the rest of the world with returning servicemen who
had been exposed to the art while they were stationed in Japan. And so
today due to his pioneering work Funakoshi Gichin Sensei is recognized as the "father of modern karate".
For Funakoshi Sensei, the
word karate eventually took on a much deeper meaning. It evolved into
karate-do, literally the "way of karate," or "way of the empty hand".
Training in karate-do became an education for life itself and not simply a
physical pursuit. I personally understand the philosophy of karate-do as
meaning "that you must try to become
the very best person you can become".
Funakoshi
Sensei never returned to Okinawa living the rest of his life teaching his
art and practicing Karate-Do on the Japanese mainland.
For a more in
depth history of the life of Funakoshi Gichin Sensei read his book
“Karate-Do My Way of Life”.
Two quotes by
Funakoshi Gichin Sensei:
“He who
would study Karate-Do must always strive to be inwardly humble and outwardly
gentle. However, once he has decided to stand up for the cause of justice,
then he must have the courage expressed in the saying, "even if it must be
ten million foes, I go!" Thus, he is like the green bamboo stalk: hollow
(kara) inside, straight, and with knots, that is, unselfish, gentle, and
moderate”.
"True karate is that
in daily life one's mind and body be trained and developed in a spirit of
humility, and that in critical times,
one be devoted
utterly to the cause of justice."
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