Shotokai Encyclopedia Archive
Gichin Funakoshi
Continuous Publication Since Sept 15, 1995 Reference: gichin-funakoshi
GICHIN FUNAKOSHI SENSEI
The Father of Karate-do
(1868-1957)
Gichin Funakoshi is world famous as the father of modern karate. Born in Okinawa in 1868, he studied Karate-do from childhood with Yasutsune Azato and Yasutsune Itosu. Organized the first public demonstration, and, as president of the Okinawa Association for the Spirit of Martial Arts, was chosen to demonstrate karate at the First National Athletic Exhibition in Tokyo in 1922. Remaining in Tokyo, he was, until the time of his death at age 88, president of the Shotokai, of which he was a founder.
[!NOTE] For a detailed biographical account of Master Funakoshi's journey from Okinawa to Tokyo and his historical legacy, see the Gichin Funakoshi Sensei Informal Biography by Richard Kim.
