Gichin Funakoshi/Masatoshi Nakayama injuries

[cluelesskarateka]

As far as I know, Taiji Kases legs didn't have any injuries, and Fudo-Dachi was used because it offers greater stability, freedom of movement, and also makes grabbing techniques easier due to stability. Fudo-Dachi is also easier on the ankles rather than the knees i'd say, as the knees are probably more bent in Fudo-Dachi than in Zenkutsu-Dachi. It might be said Fudo-Dachi is easier on the knees as it is easier to get the correct alignment of the knees in relation to foot position, whereas in Zenkutsu-Dachi it's quite common for the knees to be aligned poorly.

[patusai]

A lot of masters adjusted kata to adapt to student's handicaps and physical inabilities. Not sure if Funakoshi had this done or did this but others have and still do

[knarfster]

His stances were high because he was studying with Okinawans, whose Shorin Ryu has higher stances. The JKA has lowered their stances after his death.

[shotokanwarrior]

He saw Karate demos before he died and did not reconize what he saw, JKA changed everything. I would say they Japanised, Okinawa Te.

[Brandon Fisher]

I believe Funakoshi Sensei had polio as a child and that was why he had physical limitations.

[knarfster]

Polio? What are you talking about. i have Never seen or heard any reference to Gichin Funakoshi having polio. He states himself that he had perfect health and never went to a doctor.

[Brandon Fisher]

Polio? What are you talking about. i have Never seen or heard any reference to Gichin Funakoshi having polio. He states himself that he had perfect health and never went to a doctor.

I had not been able to confirm it but just want I had heard.

[tekki]

Funakoshi was described as being "sickly." I don't think that's the same thing as illness. I just think he was rather weal and frail as a child before he took up karate training.

As for Nakayama, I did hear that he was injured at one point in a skiing accident. Never really heard the details though, other than that he was laid up for quite a bit.

[Mike Flanagan]

So much of this discussion is conjecture. One thing is certain though, as several people have already pointed out - the Shorin Ryu as learnt by Funakoshi had significantly higher stances than modern Shotokan. If you wish to see the evidence of this just look at the different longstanding Shorin Ryu traditions still practiced today. All of the genuine Okinawan Shorin Ryu systems use high stances.

The deepening of stances was part of the development of Shotokan, pure and simple.

Mike