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Dai Sensei Gichin Funakoshi
(1870 - 1957) |
Supreme Master Gichin Funakoshi father of Modern Day Karate was born in 1870 the first year of
the Meiji Restoration. During his childhood, this art was banned and he first learnt the Martial Art under great warriors
Azato Yasutsune and Itoso Yasutsune. At first he was Azato's only student, He also trained under a great many other teachers
like Piechin Kiyuna, Niigaki and Sokon Mastumura .When he finished school and became a teacher himself, Master Funakoshi was
appointed Chairman of Shobukai the Martial Arts Association of Okinawa. It was only in 1902 when Shintaro Ogawa the commissioner
of schools in the Kagoshima Prefecture after witnessing an exhibition of Karate submitted a report to the Ministry of Education
in Japan about the benefits of the training in karate that Karate became a part of the curriculum in schools and began to
be practiced freely in Japan. However the actual popularity of the art spread when Master Funakohi was invited to perform
before the Crown Prince of Japan in 1922 when he called at Okinawa enroute to Europe. The great expertise and skill of Master
Funakoshi's performance led to his invitation to perform in Japan at the Royal Court, The response to his demonstration in
Japan was so great that he was persuaded to stayon. Amongst those who persuaded him to stay on was Master Jigoro Kano the
founder of Judo who gave him the necessary help to teach the art for the first time in Japan.
It was in Japan that Master Funakoshi in order to make the
art totally Japanese in nature changed the Calligraphy symbolising "to" or the East which in those days nearly always meant
China" to "Kara" or Empty and thus gave the art the name 'Dai Nippon Kempo Kara-te do Jutsu" or Great Japan Fist Method Empty
Hand Way or Kara-te do in short, In keeping with his philosohical approach to the art Master Funakoshi took the "Kara 'of
Karate-do from the writings of Zen Buddhism. where the form of the universe is emptiness (kara) and kara te when interpreted
in the Zen Philosophy was to make nothing of one's self. The calligraphy of Kara is also pronounced as Ku or Mu which is emptiness.
In 1936 at the age of seventy years Master Funakoshi established
the first Institution of Karate in Japan at Zoshigaya Toshima ward Tokyo. His disciples called the Dojo SHOTOKAN - Shoto being
the pen name Master Funakoshi used to sign his calligraphy and Kan meaning house or hall. He was yet he felt his task had
only just begun. After he established the Shotokan Dojo the Master went about ensuring that Karate become an integral part
of the Japanese Budo. The old Shobo-kai became the NIHON KARATE KYOKAI or translated into English as JAPAN KARATE ASSOCIATION
on March 20 1950. This was the first time that any Karate organization was formed in Japan. TheAssociation was made a corporation
by the Ministry of Education of Japan on April 10, 1958. In 1956 the world's first Karate tournament was held the All Japan
Grand Karate tournament, This tournament is held in Tokyo till today. Teams from India participate in this tournament every
year, Dai Sensei Gichin Funakoshi passed away on the 26th of April, 1957. He was 88 years old.
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| Dai Sensei Funakoshi's tomb at Engaku-ji, in Kamakura. |
Disciples of Master Funakoshi were invited to teach karate all over the world and it was the SHOTOKAN
STYLE of karate that was first taught not only in Europe but also in America and South East Asia. Thus J.K.A. spread its branches
through out the world. Today it is the world's largest karate organisation and the Shotkan sytle the most popular with over
ten million karatekas in more than 100 countries training under its banner a dreaí of the Master turned into reality.
Significant events in the lfe of Funakoshi Dai Sensei's life
Dai Sensei Funakoshi was
born in Naha City of Okinawa Prefecture in the year 1870. In the year 1913, he became Chairman of the Okinawan Shobukai. In
1922 the first public performance of Karate was given by Dai Sensei Funakoshi when the Education Ministry of Japan organized
an Athletic exhibition program in Tokyo where Karate was included as one of the disciplines This demonstration led to Master
Funakoshi being persuaded to stay and teach in Tokyo. From 1924 the Master started teaching Karate at the various Universities
like Tokyo University, Takushoku University, Waseda University, Todai and Keio University . In1929, Master Funakoshi authored
his first booknamed - 'Ryukyu Boxing Karate'. and changed the calligraphy of Karate from Karate-jutsu to Karate-do. In the
1936, Master Funakoshi wrote a textbook of Karate-do for which he was honoured by the Emperor of Japan. It was only later
however, in 1943 that he wrote his most famous book - an Introduction to Karate-do. In the year 1948, The Japan Karate Association
was established with Master Funakoshi as it's Head and in 1954, Japan officially honoured Master Funakoshi for his contribution
to Karate-do. In 1955, the Master established the Yotsuya dojo of the JKA. Dai Sensei Gichin Funakoshi passed away on the
26th of April, 1957.
Master Masatoshi Nakayama
After the demise of Supreme Master Gichin Funakoshi, the Japan Karate Association
appointed Master Masatoshi Nakayama to head the Masters of the JKA. Nakayama Sensei authored many books on Karate and was
primarily responsible for setting the standard of the JKA and the spread of JKA throughout the world. Nakayama Sensei
was born in 1913 in the Yamaguchi Prefecture in Japan. He entered the famous Takushoku university in 1932. After completion
of his graduation, he enrolled in the Institute of Eastern Studies at the Beijing University and withdrew from there
in the month of May 1946. Two years later the JKA was established and in 1958 was made the Senior Master of the JKA. He passed
away at the age of 74 in the year 1987.
Master Sugiura Motokuni
Born in Aichi prefecture. Oct. 4th 1924 After fininshing School he entered
the Koa Junior College now renamed the Asia University in . Apr. 1942 and joined the Karate club under the tutelage
of Yosiaki Hayashi Sensei of the Shotokan In 1943 he became a student of Shotokan training under Gichin
Funakoshi Sensei and his second son Yoshitaka Funakoshi Sensei. He received the 1st Dan in the month of March,
1944. After graduating from Koa Junior College in Sept. 1944 he entered Tuchiura Navy Flying Corps as a
Preliminary Student in the 15th Naval Flying Corps in the month of October He was freed from service in the month
of August . 1945 and in November the next year, he got a job at the Nihon Keizai vocational school. Eager to continue
his training in Karate-do . he studied Karate from 1949 through 1954 under Mr.Masatoshi Nakayama, an alumnus of Takushoku
University., Mr.Isao Kohata and Mr. Shuntaro Ito, alumni of Keio University. In June 1951 he received the 2nd
Dan and the 3rd Dan in Nov. 1953 In the year 1955 he became a Director of Japan Karate Association and was given the
responsibility of managing the instructors. The heavy work schedule of the JKA led to his retirement from Nihon
Keizai Junior College.in December .1955. The next year in April 1956, he entered the Japan Karate Association
Guidance Department and until 1971, coached at various dojos including the headquarters Dojo of the JKA. the Kogakuin
University Karate club, the Nihon University .Agriculture and Veterinary Department Karate club, the Taisho University
Karate club, the Tokyo Keizai University Karate club, the Hitotubashi University .Karate club, the Chuo Tetsudou Karate club
etc. In November . 1957 he received 4th Dan and on the 10th of April 1958, he was appointed the Director of the Corporation.
Japan Karate Association with the responsibilty of making rules of matches and referee. May 14th 1958, he received a qualification
of the degree of Physical .Education. instructor of Karatedo from the Ministry of Education. From 1959 through 1963 he wa
occupied as a part-time Physical .Education. Karate instructor and lectured at General Education Dept. of Asia Univ. In the
meanwhile in March 1961 he meritted the 5th Dan
From Dec. 1961 he was involved in editing a text book titled "Karate-do no Kihon",
or "Basics of Karate-do". This text book points out the common errors of the JKA members. In the month of April. 1963, he
received 6th Dan and from the very next month was involved in making 8mm film for overseas.and was given in charge of 2
videos of 6 volumes of the English edition. He resigned as the Director of the JKA on Jul. 10th 1963 and from April 1964 took
to full-time Physical .Education. Karate instructor and was promoted as assistant professor at General Education Dept. of
Asia Univ. In Apr. 1968 he received 7th Dan and was Engaged in writing a textbook from Apr. 1969
Got invitation of China Japan Friendship Karatedo Cup Visited Taipei, Taichu, Tainan
and Takao from Mar. 26th to Apr. 7th, 1970 for this purpose From August 1970 he was engaged in making videos of Karate Kata
for overseas.
He served as the president of Koganei city Karatedo Federation and Koganei P.E..
Association officer From 1973 to 1978. In the month of April in the year 1975 he became the head of the Japan Martial Arts
Society and in August visited visited Los Angeles and Hawaii to attend the meeting of IAKF and the 7th Cup. From December
of the same year Master Sugiura started publishing a column in the magazine "Monthly Karatedo"
In April 1976 he was promoted to professor of General Education Dept. of Asia University
and on June 21st of the same year he received the 8th Dan. of the JKA which entitled him to the board of the Technical Committee.
Later in the year in July.he visited the branches in Jakarta, Surabaya and Yogyakarta. on the way to Indonesia. with Asia
Univ. Alumni Association After this vist in the same year from Sep.15th to Oct.5th, he travelled to the U.S.A visiting varous
universities in the US to study instruction of Karate. like the US.UCR;PIERCE College;UCLA;Arisona State Univ;Scottsdale Community
College;J・KA of Colorado;Temple Univ.College of PE; NewYork State University.
May.1977 his thesis"A system of Karate-do"
was accepted by Asia University In April 1983 he was retained as teaching staff for Karate-do as Physical .Education. In the
month of March 1989 he authored the Guidelines for Karate-do..The next year in March 1990, Sugiura Sensei retired from Professorship
of General Education Department of Asia University after which in 1991 he was appointed as the Shuseki Shihan of the JKA in
1991. The JKA conferred the 9th Dan on him in April 1992
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