GICHIN FUNAKOSHI SENSEI

Master Gichin Funakoshi is widely considered the “Father of Modern Karate” due to his efforts to introduce the Okinawan art to mainland Japan, where it spread to the rest of the world. Born in 1868, he began to study karate at the age of 11 and was a student of the two greatest masters of the time (Azato and Itosu). He grew so proficient that he was initiated into all the majors styles of Karate in Okinawa at that time. To Funakoshi Sensei, karate was more than an art, it was a way of life (Karate-do). Japan got its first taste of karate at a demonstration in Kyoto, Japan, in 1916 by Funakoshi Sensei. In 1922 Funakoshi Sensei presented Shotokan Karate at the very first National Athletic Exhibition in Tokyo. This was Funakoshi Sensei’s beginning of a long journey that has spread karate throughout the world. In 1955, under the guidance of Funakoshi Sensei and two years prior to his death, Tsutomu Ohshima introduced Shotokan Karate to the United States. Master Funakoshi Taught only one method, a total discipline, which represents a synthesis of Okinawan Styles. This method became known as Shotokan. With Funakoshi Sensei's guidance, Ohshima Sensei brought karate to the United States. Thus began the development of karate in the United States. While Ohshima Sensei was developing karate in the western world, Nishiyama Sensei was setting up the Japanese Karate Association (JKA) and the Japanese Karate Association Instructor Program, under the guidance of Funakoshi Sensei. Once Ohshima Sensei branched out to start the Shotokan Karate of America organization, Nishiyama Sensei came to the United States to further develop the JKA method of training. Nishiyama Sensei is still heavily active in the development of the martial arts (see the "Association" page at this web site for additional information about Nishiyama).