Gichin Funakoshi

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Lore & Background

Gichin Funakoshi was one of the Okinawan karate masters who introduced karate to mainland Japan during the Taishō era (1912–1926). He was a student of Ankō Itosu, who first taught karate in schools in Okinawa after 1905. Funakoshi incorporated elements from judo, such as training uniforms, colored belts, and ranking systems, to make karate more relatable to the Japanese mainland. In the 1920s, when karate was first taught in mainland Japan, Funakoshi and Motobu Chōki used the name karate-jutsu (唐手術, lit. 'Tang hand art') along with karate. In 1929, the Karate Study Group of Keio University (Instructor Gichin Funakoshi) used the term karate (空手, "empty hand") in reference to the concept of emptiness in the Heart Sutra, and this terminology was later popularized, especially in Tokyo. There is also a theory that the background for this name change was the worsening of Japan-China relations at the time. Funakoshi also proposed that the word pronounced karate (から手) existed in the Ryukyu Kingdom period, but it is unclear whether it meant Tang hand or empty hand.

Reader's Guide

Gichin Funakoshi's significance lies in his role as a student of Ankō Itosu and Ankō Asato, and as one of the key figures who introduced karate to mainland Japan during the Taishō era (1912–1926). He incorporated elements from judo, such as training uniforms, colored belts, and ranking systems, to make karate more relatable to the Japanese. He also played a role in the name change from 唐手 ("Chinese hand" or "Tang hand") to 空手 ("empty hand"), using the term in 1929 in reference to the concept of emptiness in the Heart Sutra. This change was later popularized, especially in Tokyo, and there is a theory that the background for this name change was the worsening of Japan-China relations at the time. Funakoshi also proposed that the word pronounced karate (から手) existed in the Ryukyu Kingdom period, but it is unclear whether it meant Tang hand or empty hand.

Did You Know?

• Gichin Funakoshi was a student of Ankō Itosu, who first taught karate in schools in Okinawa after 1905.
• Funakoshi incorporated elements from judo, such as training uniforms, colored belts, and ranking systems, to make karate more relatable to the Japanese mainland.
• In 1929, the Karate Study Group of Keio University (Instructor Gichin Funakoshi) used the term karate (空手, 'empty hand') in reference to the concept of emptiness in the Heart Sutra.
• Funakoshi proposed that the word pronounced karate (から手) existed in the Ryukyu Kingdom period, but it is unclear whether it meant Tang hand or empty hand.
• There is a theory that the background for the name change from 'Chinese hand' to 'empty hand' was the worsening of Japan-China relations at the time.