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Gichin Funakoshi, 1868-1957) was an Okinawan karate master who formally introduced Karate to the Japanese mainland in 1921.

His son, Gigo Funakoshi modernized the system of karate that he originally developed. This was accomplished predominantly by lowering the height of some techniques such as zuki (punches), shuto uchi (knife hand strike)and adding kicking techniques above the waist. Shotokan, as it came to be called, was influenced by kendo distancing and timings. Shotokan is named after Gichin Funakoshi's pen name, Shoto, which means pine waves or
wind in the pines. Shotokan means Shoto's house or Shoto's school.

Funakoshi had trained in both of the popular styles of Okinawan karate of the time: Shorei ryu and Shorin ryu

In 1936 Funakoshi built the first Shotokan dojo ryu in Tokyo. He changed the name of karate to mean empty hand instead of China hand, which sound the same but are written differently. His doing this upset some Okinawans and afterwards, he never returned.

This eventually led to the creation of the Japan Karate Association (JKA in 1955 with Funakoshi (punches) named as the chief instructor, however, Funakoshi was not supportive of all of the changes that the organization made to his karate. He remained in Tokyo until his death in April 1957, aged 88. After World War 2, Funakoshi's surviving students (largely consisting of university students) formalized his teachings.

The story goes that Funakoshi would sit at the front
of the class and watch. If the class were practicing kata he watched closely, but if they started practicing kumite (sparring), he would simply turn his back on the class to make his fellings clear. Sensei didn't like kumite.

Shotokan Karate

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"A Man of Do (The Way) and a Little Man".
As it is told, a student once asked, "What is the difference between a man of Do and a little man?" The sensei replies, "It is simple. When the little man receives his first dan black belt, he can hardly wait to run home and shout at the top of his voice to tell everyone that he has obtained his first dan. Upon receiving his second dan, he will climb to the rooftops and shout to the people. Upon receiving his third dan black belt, he will jump in his car and parade through town blowing the horn, telling one and all about his third dan".

The sensei continues, "When the man of Do receives his first dan, he will bow his head in gratitude. Upon receiving his second dan, he will bow his head and his shoulders. Upon receiving his third dan, he will bow at the waist and quietly walk alongside the wall so that people will not see him or notice him".

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