Funakoshi - Hero or Villian?

[Taikudo-ka]

What do you think?

 

I knew the basics about Ginchin Funakoshi, but recently read his autobiography, "Karate-Do - My Way of Life". A very interesting look at the mind behind Shotokan Karate, and the man largely responsible for popularizing and promoting Karate in the 20th century.

 

However, some interesting points emerge:

 

- Funakoshi practised karate mainly to promote his health

 

- He was only ever taught kata by his teachers.

 

- He cheerfully confesses to changing kata around to make them easier for schoolchildren to learn. (also less effective)

 

- He cheerfully confesses that the "karate" as practised and taught "today" (i.e. mid 1950s) is completely different from the karate he was taught himself in Okinawa.

 

- Although such an arch conservative that by the end of his life his old fashioned habits and ideas have crossed the line from "conservative" to "severely eccentric" (something even he acknowledges), his one true love and tradition - karate - he is happy to change, and even invent new "traditions" or borrow things from other sports, like Judo. He is happy to go so far as to change the whole emphasis from a secret street self-defense system into a public sport, and to change the "spelling" of the word, despite the outcry this causes from almost everyone.

 

- He only confesses to being involved in one "real" combative incident in his entire life, at age 80... and he defeats the assailant by grabbing his testicles and twisting. (that's it)

 

- Although loathe to use karate against real assailants, he has no problems using it to subdue school children to forcibly shave their top-knots.

 

So was he really beneficial for karate? Did he even teach "karate", as his own teachers would have recognized? He himself seems to think not... So what are Shotokan students, in particular, learning? Just something made up by an old school teacher for sport? I'd like to think things aren't quite that bad...

 

 

[YODA]

Before you make up your mind you should do a little research on his son, Yoshitaka

 

 

[Dojo02]

A Couple of points i want you to reconsider.

 

1. Yes Funakoshi did alot of kata's..and your point...so did Master Azato and Itsou. Just cause you do kata doesnt mean you cant fight. Also look at the teachers he trained with. Azato, Itsou, Matsurmura..legendery at their time.

 

2. Actually it was Itsou hes teacher who made karate into a public school event

 

3. It was Funakoshi's stundents (Nakyama, Kanazawa etc.) who made karate into a "sport". If anything Funakoshi was against the idea.

 

4. If you read the book carefully he points out another incident in which he took on 6 guys by himself...which story?? the story discussing about pride. When funakoshi was involved in a arm wrestling game..........read that story again and very carefully.

 

5. Most definetly look at his son. One of the greatest karateka who died before his time.

[Phantasmatic]

I have read about 50 pages of that book before I misplaced it. Kata is a very important part of karate. If there was a person that practiced kicks and punches all day vs. someone that practiced kicks, punches, and kata all day, I grant you that the person that practices kata would easily win, IMHO. Of course that depends on the heart of the practicioner.

 

 

[G95champ]

Forgive me if I mess this up but to my understanding karate was fist change byt eh Jamanese Millitary so they could quickly train their army. No need to grapple in combat but a good kick adn punch can help. I may be wrong but I think that is where the major change in pre-20th century karate and modren karate are at.

 

Let me add this if Funakoshi only got into one fight in his life and ended it without throwin a punch that IMO is what karate is all about.

 

As far as teaching it to school children. Well being a HS History teacher myself. Let me say if I could walk to the back of class and slap a kid upside the head eveytime he was not paying attention insted of saying listen up or soemthing well our test scores would go up. LOL....

 

Might makes right they say. LOL..... Spare the rod and spoil the child thats what the bible says...... Again Im just a country boy for West Virginia what do I know.

[AnonymousOne]

Funakoshi was from the Samurai class. Study what the Samurai attitudes were. Theres no way the Samurai class would practise an ineffective art. Their honour would not allow them to loose face. Azato and Itosu were two of the greatest Katare-ka that ever lived. Funakoshi wrote to them to get permission to teach and make changes to Kata. Funakoshi was very respectful of his masters and didnt do much without their authority while they were alive.

 

I trained in Japan under a brilliant Karate-Ka who was taught directly by Funakoshi and by all accounts Funakoshi was highly skilled. It has been said his defense was hard to break through and that he always blocked. I was told this by a 10th Dan (in Japan).

 

Karate has always evolved. Right from the beginning. Theres nothing wrong with positive change.

 

When you get to master status then you can decide if the changes were warranted, thats a good idea

 

 

[Bitseach]

On 2002-04-19 06:52, G95champ wrote:

 

8< 8< 8< snipped

 

As far as teaching it to school children. Well being a HS History teacher myself. Let me say if I could walk to the back of class and slap a kid upside the head eveytime he was not paying attention insted of saying listen up or soemthing well our test scores would go up. LOL....

 

As a teacher myself, I must say, "YEah, if only!" LOL

[ramymensa]

Funakoshi a villain? Interesting ...

 

I wouldn't consider him that way. I'm greateful there existed a Funakoshi so now I can enjoy practicing Shotokan

 

Guess every "father" of a style should be considerred good because he tried to achieve something, to promote a way of life and so on

[hobbitbob]

there was a photo published recently in "Dragon Times" showing Funakoshi Sr., Gigo (jr), Mabuni, Miyagi, Konishi, and Motobu all sitting at a long table. Even more intruiging is the fact that Funakoshi and Motobu are seated side by side! (althou there is about a foot between them, much more space than between ant other people in the picture.) I find this fascinating considering reports we've alll heard about teh "feud" between Funakoshi and Motobu. Any insight, anyone?

[Karateka_latino]

I just feel he did what he had to do in that time to help to promote Karate in Japan..

 

everytime martial arts cross borders they have to adapt it to that culture and people's needs.

 

Same happends when Karate started in U.S. and the rest of the world.