Gichin Funakoshi and the True History of Japanese Karate!
The Common misconception is that Gichin Funakoshi is the father of modern Karate. Well, he could be considered such, except that something odd happened a century ago, that puts a blot on this conception. We’ve got to give him credit for spreading the art, but was it the true art?
I know what I write here is not going to be what a lot of people want to hear, there will be a few people who are going to want to take me to task. However, the story that I am about to relay really happened, it is the truth. That said, please know that I do respect Gichin Funakoshi, he is pivotal to Karate.
in the last century of Japan, people loved to watch the human cockfight. It wasn’t uncommon for people to gather to watch these affairs. Certain of these fighters even offered cash prizes to the audience, step up if you think you are better than me!
One night a Russian strongman offered such challenges and insults to the Japanese audience. One can imagine the anger of the audience, and the shock when a dowdy, old Okinawan stepped up to the ring and prepared to fight. The year was’21, and Karate was about to explode upon the world.
Motobu Chōki was in his fifties when he climbed through the ropes. He had studied Karate with all the masters on Okinawa, and he had, when he was young and impetuous, perfected his art in the violent red light districts of his island home. This history, and a daily regimen of mercilessly bashing the makiwara, served him in good stead.
One simple punch later Motobu climbed back over the ropes, the Russian strongman lay sprawled and doing the one fist snooze. Reporters cheered and wrote colorful stories and handed them in. Editors scampered to make the final edition, and, since they didn’t have any pics of Motobu, they popped in a picture of some guy named Gichin Funakoshi.
So Gichin Funakoshi, a mild school teacher from Okinawa, got credit for the violent knock out and ultimate karate prowess of Motobu Choki. And Motobu, though he did teach karate and have an effect, because he wasn’t fluent in the japanese language, and because the media did such a bang up job of reporting, got no credit. And Funakoshi is credited with spreading Karate to the world, yet, it wouldn’t have happened without Motobu’s one punch one kill competence and attitude.
Now, you have to ask yourself who has the real karate, a school teacher who benefited from the wrong picture, or a rough cob who got the job done. No, Funakoshi’s karate is not bad, and generations of karateka have contributed to the art. However, there is still that one blot, a hundred years ago, provided by a man whoknew one punch one kill, which argues the concept of who had the True Art.
Al Case has researched traditional Karate for 40 years. He has written hundreds of articles for the magazines, and had his own column in Inside Karate. He is the originator of Matrixing Technology, and you can argue with him, pr perhsp pick up a free ebook, at Monster Martial Arts
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