Gichin Funakoshi

Gichin Funakoshi was a karate master who is widely regarded as the father of modern karate. He was born in Shuri, Okinawa, in 1868, and began to study karate at the age of 11 under the tutelage of Ankō Asato and Ankō Itosu, two of the most prominent karate masters of the time. He also learned the art of Jigen-ryū swordsmanship from Arakaki Seishō. Funakoshi was a scholar and a teacher by profession, and he was well-versed in classical Chinese and Japanese literature and philosophy. He was also a poet and used the pen name Shoto, meaning "pine waves", to sign his works. Funakoshi introduced karate to mainland Japan in 1922, when he was invited by the Ministry of Education to demonstrate the Okinawan martial art at a physical education exhibition in Tokyo. He impressed the audience with his skill and grace, and soon attracted many students and supporters who wanted to learn from him. He taught karate at various universities and dojo, and published several books on the history, theory, and practice of karate. He also modified and standardized some of the Okinawan karate techniques and kata, and gave them Japanese names. He called his style of karate Shotokan, after his pen name, and it became one of the most popular and influential styles of karate in the world. Funakoshi was also instrumental in the establishment of the Japan Karate Association (JKA) in 1949, which aimed to promote and spread karate as a sport and a discipline. He became the honorary head of the JKA and oversaw the training and certification of many karate instructors and practitioners. He also advocated the spiritual and ethical aspects of karate, and formulated the 20 principles of karate, which are based on the concepts of humility, respect, courage, and character. He believed that the ultimate aim of karate was not in victory or defeat, but in the perfection of the character of its participants. Funakoshi died of colorectal cancer in 1957, at the age of 88. He was buried at the Engaku-ji temple in Kamakura, where a memorial stone was erected in his honor. His legacy lives on in the millions of karate practitioners around the world who follow his teachings and example. He is widely respected and revered as the pioneer and master of modern karate.