DACĂ AR TREBUI SĂ ACORDĂM CREDIT UNEI SINGURE PERSOANE pentru poziţia de care Karate se bucură în Japonia, acesta ar fi Gichin Funakoshi. Născut în Shuri, Okinawa, si-a început munca de recunoaştere oficială a Karate-ului în Japonia abia în a doua jumătate a vieţii, la vârsta de cincizeci şi trei de ani. Povestea lui Funakoshi este foarte asemănătoare cu a altor personalităţi ale Karate-ului. Şi-a îceput viaţa ca un copil bolnăvicios şi slab, a cărui părinţi l-au dus la Yasutsune Itosu pentru a lua lecţii de Karate sub îndrumarea lui Yasutsune Azato (Azato este considerat de mulţi ca fiind cauza minţii disciplinate şi a tehnicii lui Funakoshi). Datorită doctorului său, Tokashiki, care îi prescria tratamente bazate pe ierburi împotriva slăbiciunii şi instruirii temeinice venită de la Azato şi Itosu, Funakoshi a început să înflorească. A devenit un bun elev a noilor săi profesori Arakaki şi Matsumura, şi-a dezvoltat cunoştinţele şi şi-a disciplinat mintea.
Când a venit din Okinawa în Japonia în 1922 a rămas printre cei asemenea lui, în dormitorul elevilor, la Suidobata, Tokio. A locuit într-o cameră mică, lângă intrare, având ca îndatorire curăţarea dormitorului în timpul zilei, când elevii erau la cursuri. În timpul serii şi nopţi îi învăţa Karate.
După scurt timp, a obţinut suficientă experienţă pentru a-şi deschide propria şcoală în Meishojuku. La scurt timp după aceea şi-a deschis propriul "Shotokan" în Mejiro, astfel având, în sfârşit, un loc unde putea să primească elevi deosebiţi ca: Takagi şi Nakayama de la Nippon Karate Kyokai, Yoshida de la Takudai, Obata de la Keio, Egami de la Waseda (viitorul său succesor), Hironishi de la Chuo, Noguchi de la Waseda, Ohtsuka, şi alţii. Este cunoscut că în timpul călătoriilor lui în lungul şi în latul Japoniei, în timp ce făcea demonstraţii şi ţinea prelegeri, Funakoshi avea pe Takeshi Shimoda, Yoshitaka (fiul său), Egami şi Ohtsuka în preajmă. Principali instructori din dojo-ul său, în anii treizeci şi patruzeci, au fost T. Shimoda şi Y. Funakoshi. Shimoda a fost, se pare, expert al şcolii Nen-ryu şi a mai studiat şi Ninjutsu, din păcate a murit foarte tânăr, în 1934, după unul dintre turneele demonstrative. Locul său a fost luat de Gigo (Yoshitaka) Funakoshi, un om cu un caracter deosebit şi foarte bine pregătit din punct de vedere tehnic. Părerea lui Shigeru Egami era că nu exista nimeni mai bine calificat pentru a prelua sarcina învăţării elevilor. Din cauza antrenamentelor "tinereşti" şi viguroase (categorisite adeseori ca puternice şi brutale) au apărut curând conflicte cu mai vârsnicul Ohtsuka Hironori. Uni comentau că acesta nu făcea faţă antrenamentelor. Ce este, însă, sigur, este că a părăsit şcoala pentru a înfiinţa propriul stil, "Calea Armoniei", Wado-ryu. Este evidentă aluzia denumirii stilului la conflictul cu Yoshitaka. Influenţa lui Yoshitaka asupra viitorului Karate-ului a fost foarte importantă, dar, din păcate, din nou moartea a venit prea devreme. El a murit la numai 39 de ani, de tuberculoză, în 1945.
Artele Marţiale în Japonia anilor douăzeci şi până la începutul anilor patruzeci erau considerate ca fiind esenţal naţionale, în consecinţă, orice altă formă inpură era privită cu dispreţ, numită artă păgână sau sălbatică.
Funakoshi a reuşit să învingă aceste prejudecăţi şi a câştigat recunoaşterea Karate-ului ca o Artă Marţială Japoneză în jurul anului 1941.
Inutil să spunem că, după aceea, au apărut o sumedenie de cluburi de Karate în Japonia (trebuie precizat că Okinawa nu era considerată ca fiind parte a teritoriului tradiţional Japonez, la acea vreme). În anul 1924 Karate a fost introdus, pentru prima dată, ca materie predată, la Universitatea Keio. Au urmat Chuo, Waseda(1930), Hosei, Tokzo Universitz (1929), şi altele. A mai fost înfiinţat un club şi în Shichi-Tokudo, o clădire situată într-un colţ al domeniului regal.
Funakoshi a predat, cel puţin o dată la două zile, în Shichi-Tokudo.
Funakoshi visited the Shichi-Tokudo every other day to teach. One day, when Ohtsuka was teaching at the Shichi-Tokudo, a student, Kogura, from Keio University who had a san-dan degree (3rd-degree black belt) in kendo (Japanese fencing) and also a black belt in karate, took a sword and faced Ohtsuka. All the other students watched to see what would happen. They felt that no one could face the shinken (open blade) held by a kendo expert. Ohtsuka calmly watched Kogura and the moment he made a move with his sword, Ohtsuka swept him off his feet. As this was unrehearsed, it attested to his skill. It also bore out Funakoshi's philosophy that kata practice was more than sufficient in times of need, and just as importantly to Master Funakoshi's great ability as a teacher and Karate technician.
In 1927, three men, Miki, Bo and Hirayama decided that kata practice was not enough and tried to introduce Jiyu kumite (free-fighting). They devised protective clothing and used kendo masks in their matches in order to utilize full contact. Funakoshi heard about these bouts and, when he could not discourage such attempts, which he considered belittling to the art of karate, he stopped visiting the Shichi-Tokudo. Neither Funakoshi nor Ohtsuka showed up ever again. It was after this event that Gichin Funakoshi prohibited sports sparring (the first competitions did not appear until after his death).
When Funakoshi came to mainland Japan, he taught 16 kata: 5 pinan, 3 naihanchi, kushanku dai, kushanku sho, seisan, patsai, wanshu, chinto, jutte and jion. He kept his students on the basic ones before they progressed to the more advanced forms. He actually taught at least 40 kata, these were later included in the limited but monumental work by Shigeru Egami "Karate-do for the Specialist". The repetitious training that he instituted paid back very well; his students went on to produce the most precise, exact type of karate taught anywhere.
Jigoro Kano, the founder of modern judo, once invited Funakoshi and a friend, Makoto Gima, to perform at the Kodokan (then located at Tomisaka). Approximately a hundred people watched the performance. Gima, who had studied under Yabu Kentsu as a youth in Okinawa, performed the Naihanshi shodan, and Funakoshi performed the koshokun (kushanku dai).
Kano sensei watched the performance and asked Funakoshi about the techniques involved. He was greatly impressed. He invited Funakoshi and Gima to a tendon (fish and rice) dinner, during which he sang and made jokes to put Funakoshi at ease.
Irrespective of his sincerity in teaching the art of true karate, Funakoshi was not without his detractors. His critics scorned his insistence on the kata and decried what they called "soft" karate that wasted too much time. Funakoshi insisted on hito-kata sanen (three years on one kata).
Funakoshi was a humble man. He preached and practiced an essential humility. He did not preach the humility of virtue, but a basic humility of a man who is rooted in the true perspective of things, full of life and awareness. He lived at peace with himself and with his fellow men.
Whenever the name of Gichin Funakoshi is mentioned, it brings to mind the parable of "A Man of Tao (Do) and a Little Man". As it is told, a student once asked, "What is the difference between a man of Tao and a little man?" The sensei replies, "It is simple. When the little man receives his first dan (degree or rank), he can hardly wait to run home and shout at the top of his voice to tell everyone that he made his first dan. Upon receiving his second dan, he will climb to the rooftops and shout to the people. Upon receiving his third dan, he will jump in his automobile and parade through town with its horn blowing, telling one and all about his third dan".
The sensei continues, "When the man of Tao 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".
Funakoshi was a man of Tao. He placed no emphasis on competitions, record breaking or championships. He placed emphasis on individual self-perfection. He believed in the common decency and respect that one human being owed another. He was the master of masters.
He died in 1957 at age 89, after humbly making the largest contribution to the art of Karate-Do.
NOTE: Funakoshi sincerely believed it would take a lifetime to master a handful of kata and that sixteen would be enough. He chose the kata which were best suited for physical stress and self-defense, stubbornly clinging to his belief that karate was an art rather than a sport. To him, kata was karate.
Când a venit din Okinawa în Japonia în 1922 a rămas printre cei asemenea lui, în dormitorul elevilor, la Suidobata, Tokio. A locuit într-o cameră mică, lângă intrare, având ca îndatorire curăţarea dormitorului în timpul zilei, când elevii erau la cursuri. În timpul serii şi nopţi îi învăţa Karate.
După scurt timp, a obţinut suficientă experienţă pentru a-şi deschide propria şcoală în Meishojuku. La scurt timp după aceea şi-a deschis propriul "Shotokan" în Mejiro, astfel având, în sfârşit, un loc unde putea să primească elevi deosebiţi ca: Takagi şi Nakayama de la Nippon Karate Kyokai, Yoshida de la Takudai, Obata de la Keio, Egami de la Waseda (viitorul său succesor), Hironishi de la Chuo, Noguchi de la Waseda, Ohtsuka, şi alţii. Este cunoscut că în timpul călătoriilor lui în lungul şi în latul Japoniei, în timp ce făcea demonstraţii şi ţinea prelegeri, Funakoshi avea pe Takeshi Shimoda, Yoshitaka (fiul său), Egami şi Ohtsuka în preajmă. Principali instructori din dojo-ul său, în anii treizeci şi patruzeci, au fost T. Shimoda şi Y. Funakoshi. Shimoda a fost, se pare, expert al şcolii Nen-ryu şi a mai studiat şi Ninjutsu, din păcate a murit foarte tânăr, în 1934, după unul dintre turneele demonstrative. Locul său a fost luat de Gigo (Yoshitaka) Funakoshi, un om cu un caracter deosebit şi foarte bine pregătit din punct de vedere tehnic. Părerea lui Shigeru Egami era că nu exista nimeni mai bine calificat pentru a prelua sarcina învăţării elevilor. Din cauza antrenamentelor "tinereşti" şi viguroase (categorisite adeseori ca puternice şi brutale) au apărut curând conflicte cu mai vârsnicul Ohtsuka Hironori. Uni comentau că acesta nu făcea faţă antrenamentelor. Ce este, însă, sigur, este că a părăsit şcoala pentru a înfiinţa propriul stil, "Calea Armoniei", Wado-ryu. Este evidentă aluzia denumirii stilului la conflictul cu Yoshitaka. Influenţa lui Yoshitaka asupra viitorului Karate-ului a fost foarte importantă, dar, din păcate, din nou moartea a venit prea devreme. El a murit la numai 39 de ani, de tuberculoză, în 1945.Artele Marţiale în Japonia anilor douăzeci şi până la începutul anilor patruzeci erau considerate ca fiind esenţal naţionale, în consecinţă, orice altă formă inpură era privită cu dispreţ, numită artă păgână sau sălbatică.
Funakoshi a reuşit să învingă aceste prejudecăţi şi a câştigat recunoaşterea Karate-ului ca o Artă Marţială Japoneză în jurul anului 1941.
Inutil să spunem că, după aceea, au apărut o sumedenie de cluburi de Karate în Japonia (trebuie precizat că Okinawa nu era considerată ca fiind parte a teritoriului tradiţional Japonez, la acea vreme). În anul 1924 Karate a fost introdus, pentru prima dată, ca materie predată, la Universitatea Keio. Au urmat Chuo, Waseda(1930), Hosei, Tokzo Universitz (1929), şi altele. A mai fost înfiinţat un club şi în Shichi-Tokudo, o clădire situată într-un colţ al domeniului regal.
Funakoshi a predat, cel puţin o dată la două zile, în Shichi-Tokudo.
Funakoshi visited the Shichi-Tokudo every other day to teach. One day, when Ohtsuka was teaching at the Shichi-Tokudo, a student, Kogura, from Keio University who had a san-dan degree (3rd-degree black belt) in kendo (Japanese fencing) and also a black belt in karate, took a sword and faced Ohtsuka. All the other students watched to see what would happen. They felt that no one could face the shinken (open blade) held by a kendo expert. Ohtsuka calmly watched Kogura and the moment he made a move with his sword, Ohtsuka swept him off his feet. As this was unrehearsed, it attested to his skill. It also bore out Funakoshi's philosophy that kata practice was more than sufficient in times of need, and just as importantly to Master Funakoshi's great ability as a teacher and Karate technician.
In 1927, three men, Miki, Bo and Hirayama decided that kata practice was not enough and tried to introduce Jiyu kumite (free-fighting). They devised protective clothing and used kendo masks in their matches in order to utilize full contact. Funakoshi heard about these bouts and, when he could not discourage such attempts, which he considered belittling to the art of karate, he stopped visiting the Shichi-Tokudo. Neither Funakoshi nor Ohtsuka showed up ever again. It was after this event that Gichin Funakoshi prohibited sports sparring (the first competitions did not appear until after his death).
When Funakoshi came to mainland Japan, he taught 16 kata: 5 pinan, 3 naihanchi, kushanku dai, kushanku sho, seisan, patsai, wanshu, chinto, jutte and jion. He kept his students on the basic ones before they progressed to the more advanced forms. He actually taught at least 40 kata, these were later included in the limited but monumental work by Shigeru Egami "Karate-do for the Specialist". The repetitious training that he instituted paid back very well; his students went on to produce the most precise, exact type of karate taught anywhere.
Jigoro Kano, the founder of modern judo, once invited Funakoshi and a friend, Makoto Gima, to perform at the Kodokan (then located at Tomisaka). Approximately a hundred people watched the performance. Gima, who had studied under Yabu Kentsu as a youth in Okinawa, performed the Naihanshi shodan, and Funakoshi performed the koshokun (kushanku dai).
Kano sensei watched the performance and asked Funakoshi about the techniques involved. He was greatly impressed. He invited Funakoshi and Gima to a tendon (fish and rice) dinner, during which he sang and made jokes to put Funakoshi at ease.
Irrespective of his sincerity in teaching the art of true karate, Funakoshi was not without his detractors. His critics scorned his insistence on the kata and decried what they called "soft" karate that wasted too much time. Funakoshi insisted on hito-kata sanen (three years on one kata).
Funakoshi was a humble man. He preached and practiced an essential humility. He did not preach the humility of virtue, but a basic humility of a man who is rooted in the true perspective of things, full of life and awareness. He lived at peace with himself and with his fellow men.
Whenever the name of Gichin Funakoshi is mentioned, it brings to mind the parable of "A Man of Tao (Do) and a Little Man". As it is told, a student once asked, "What is the difference between a man of Tao and a little man?" The sensei replies, "It is simple. When the little man receives his first dan (degree or rank), he can hardly wait to run home and shout at the top of his voice to tell everyone that he made his first dan. Upon receiving his second dan, he will climb to the rooftops and shout to the people. Upon receiving his third dan, he will jump in his automobile and parade through town with its horn blowing, telling one and all about his third dan".
The sensei continues, "When the man of Tao 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".
Funakoshi was a man of Tao. He placed no emphasis on competitions, record breaking or championships. He placed emphasis on individual self-perfection. He believed in the common decency and respect that one human being owed another. He was the master of masters.
He died in 1957 at age 89, after humbly making the largest contribution to the art of Karate-Do.
NOTE: Funakoshi sincerely believed it would take a lifetime to master a handful of kata and that sixteen would be enough. He chose the kata which were best suited for physical stress and self-defense, stubbornly clinging to his belief that karate was an art rather than a sport. To him, kata was karate.
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