Karate-Do Kyohan: The Master Text

About Chris BartonGichin FunakoshiJoey Spiotto

GICHIN FUNAKOSHI is one of karate's great masters. Born in Shuri Okinawa Prefecture 1868 he studied Karate-do from childhood and organized the the first public demonstrations. As president of the Okinawa Association for the Spirit of Martial Arts he was chosen to demonstrate karate at the First National Athletic Exhibition in Tokyo in 1922. This led to the introduction of the ancient martial art to the rest of Japan and subsequently to the rest of the world. At the urging of friends and officials he remained in Tokyo and the development of the way of karate owes much to his teaching writings and introduction of new forms. In his later years he was president of Shotokai of which he was a founder. He emphasized always the spiritual aspects of Karate-do and it is significant that through his influence the Chinese characters for karate were changed from Chinese hand to empty hand.