Description
This book can be purchased on Amazon.
This revised 2001 publication is a comprehensive compilation of Japanese-to-English translated articles by and about Funakoshi Gichin, revered as the father of modern karate. It offers an in-depth exploration of Funakoshi’s life, his philosophies, and his personal journey in introducing the once-secret art of empty-handed self-defense to mainland Japan.
The work delves into the man behind the art, his background, and the early history of karate, intimately revealed through Funakoshi’s own writings. It is enriched with rare, historical photographs, portraits, and other related materials that provide valuable insight into his experiences and beliefs. The collection also presents some of Funakoshi’s earliest writings, dating back to 1913, including his reflections on the origins of karate, his perspective on its introduction to Japan, and cherished memories of his teacher, Azato Ankō, among other topics.
This is not a book for beginners or casual readers but is instead tailored for historians, researchers, Shotokan karate practitioners, and those with a deep interest in the evolution of karate in the early 20th century. Enhanced with translated calligraphy and many pages of rare historical imagery, this publication is a treasure trove of knowledge, deserving a place on the shelf of every serious student and instructor of Shotokan and karate as a whole.
