Master Gichin Funakoshi<\/strong> (d. 1957), the founder of Shotokan karate, was born in Okinawa in 1868. Master Funakoshi\u2019s introduction to the world of karate came about through his primary school classmate who was the son of the great master Yasutsune Azato. Master Funakoshi began training at a time when the government forbade the practice of karate and training was therefore conducted in great secrecy. In these years Master Funakoshi trained tirelessly under Master Azato and Master Yasutsune Itosu. These great masters are also responsible for the cultivation of the founders of Goju-ryu and Shito-ryu, Master Chojun Miyagi and Master Kenwa Mabuni.<\/p>\nMaster Funakoshi is responsible for changing the character used to write the word karate. Initially, the characters used for kara meant \u201cChinese,\u201d but Master Funakoshi, amid some protest, changed this first character to one meaning \u201cempty,\u201d resulting in the meaning \u201cempty hand.\u201d In 1902, a program to introduce karate into the public school system was initiated in the Okinawa Prefecture and this is recorded by Master Funakoshi as the first introduction of karate to the general public. In 1917, Master Funakoshi travelled to Kyoto, Japan as the representative of the Okinawa Prefecture for the first demonstration of karate, outside of Okinawa. In 1922, Master Funakoshi was invited to Tokyo for the First National Athletic Exhibition of the Ministry of Education. Due to the high demand for his teaching and knowledge, Master Funakoshi remained in Japan, travelling, teaching, and conducting demonstrations. Among these demonstrations was one that took place in 1928, on palace grounds, at the behest of the Imperial Household Agency. In his writings, Master Funakoshi reflects on the progression of karate from its conduct in extreme secrecy to its widespread acceptance and celebration, in amazement. Master Funakoshi\u2019s role in this introduction and dissemination of karate is why he is known, worldwide, as the \u201cfather of modern karate.\u201d Although Master Funakoshi was not fond of labels for different styles of karate, his students began to call his style of karate Shotokan, in honor of Master Funakoshi, whose penname was Shoto, meaning \u201cpine waves.\u201d Around 1935, the first official karate dojo was constructed in Japan and in 1936, Master Funakoshi saw the name Shotokan, for the first time, written on the dojo\u2019s sign. It was with the completion of the new dojo that Master Funakoshi formalized the dan and kyu system (official grading\/ranking systems). Three books written by Master Funakoshi, among many other writings, are critical to the preservation of knowledge and recording the history of karate for all generations to come: Karate-do My Way of Life, Karate-do Kyohan, Karate-do Nyumon. The accomplishments of Master Funakoshi, listed above, were a gift to all who practice karate today. Master Funakoshi proved that the human body is capable of amazing feats, that there are many unknown capabilities that simply require discovery and unleashing. Master Funakoshi taught us, through his own life and experience, that there are no limits to who can practice karate, a sickly child, someone with a very small frame, and the elderly. Karate, as demonstrated by Master Funakoshi, has no retirement age. Additionally, Master Funakoshi was a great advocate of the participation of women in karate training, at a time in which this was not openly promoted and supported by society. In addition to recounting Master Funakoshi\u2019s accomplishments in these regards, it is of critical importance, especially today, to recall the thing upon which Master Funakoshi placed the greatest value. For this we turn to Master Funakoshi\u2019s own words:<\/p>\n
\u201cThe ultimate aim of karate lies not in victory nor defeat, but in the perfection of the character of its participants.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"\u9053\u5834\u8a13 – Dojo Kun \u4eba\u683c\u5b8c\u6210\u306b\u52aa\u3080\u308b\u3053\u3068 Hitoh-tz! Jin-kaku kan-say-ni tsuto-mulu kotoh. Seek perfection of character (To strive for the perfection of character) \u8aa0\u306e\u9053\u3092\u5b88\u308b\u3053\u3068 Hitoh-tz! Makoto-noh michi-oh mamo\uff4cu kotoh. Be faithful (To protect\/defend the paths of truth) \u52aa\u529b\u306e\u7cbe\u795e\u3092\u990a\u3046\u3053\u3068 Hitoh-tz! Dolyoku-noh say-shin-oh yashi-na-u kotoh Endeavour (To foster the spirit of effort) \u793c\u5100\u3092\u91cd\u3093\u305a\u308b\u3053\u3068 Hitoh-tz! Lay-gih-oh omong-zulu […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":5,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","template":"","meta":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/skcsd.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/51"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/skcsd.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/skcsd.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/skcsd.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/skcsd.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=51"}],"version-history":[{"count":26,"href":"http:\/\/skcsd.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/51\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3050,"href":"http:\/\/skcsd.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/51\/revisions\/3050"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/skcsd.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=51"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
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