Gichin Funakoshi
He began training at the age of eleven, under the tutelage of Yasutsune Azato and Yasutsune Itosu, who were each based in the two main ports of Okinawa, Azato in Shuri and Itosu in Nara, and were exposed to the Chinese and Japanese influences of martial arts. Azato, born in 1827/28 trained under Bushi Sokon Matsumura of Shuri (1808-1901) who in turn was trained by a Chinese attaché Iwah. As well as being proficient in Bushi No Te, Matsumura was also well versed in the sword, bo, bow and horsemanship. Itosu, born in 1830/32 received his training from Master Gusukuma and Master Matsumura, and he passed away in 1915/16.
Gichin Funakoshi also trained under other master’s to develop his skills and improve his techniques such as Master’s Kiyuna, Toonno, Niigaki and Master Matsumura. |
In 1921 Master Funakoshi was invited to perform a demonstration in Japan of his martial arts. He took along a student to help him show his skill. The demonstration was very well received and Master Funaksohi was invited to already established dojo’s, mainly Kendo schools, to showcase his skills and develop his ethos. He was a very popular instructor and many people wanted to learn off him. Disaster struck in September of 1923, when the great Kanto earthquake struck Japan, destroying and killing thousands of people and buildings. After a few years Master Funakoshi was given the permanent use of the Meisei Juku Man where he saw the number of students swell.
Ten years later in 1935 a committee of karate supporters raised enough funds to build Master Funkohi a dojo. In the spring of 1936 the first ever purpose built karate dojo was erected in Zshigay Toshima ward. The sign above the entrance bearing the name “Shotokan”. He also altered the Chinese/Okinawan language that had been used throughout, for Japanese, replacing kata names, terminology etc.
As karate developed and grew, the major universities established karate teams. The most famous being Takushoku University where future JKA instructors were being honed. The likes of Masatoshi Nakayama, Hirokazu Kanazawa, Keinosuke Enoeda, Tetsuhko Asia, Hiroshi Shiria and Tiji Kase to name but a few. Funakoshi Sensei still instructed in kata, but a shift in emphasis had led to his youngest son Yoshitaka taking over the technical aspect of shotokan karate.
Ten years later in 1935 a committee of karate supporters raised enough funds to build Master Funkohi a dojo. In the spring of 1936 the first ever purpose built karate dojo was erected in Zshigay Toshima ward. The sign above the entrance bearing the name “Shotokan”. He also altered the Chinese/Okinawan language that had been used throughout, for Japanese, replacing kata names, terminology etc.
As karate developed and grew, the major universities established karate teams. The most famous being Takushoku University where future JKA instructors were being honed. The likes of Masatoshi Nakayama, Hirokazu Kanazawa, Keinosuke Enoeda, Tetsuhko Asia, Hiroshi Shiria and Tiji Kase to name but a few. Funakoshi Sensei still instructed in kata, but a shift in emphasis had led to his youngest son Yoshitaka taking over the technical aspect of shotokan karate.