Gichin Funakoshi And The True History Of Karate!

Gichin Funakoshi And The True History Of Karate!

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It is commonly held that Gichin Funakoshi brought karate to the modern world. Well, he could be considered to have done so, except that something happened a century ago, that presents a different version of karate history. We've got to give Funakoshi credit for what he did, but was his karate the true art?

I know what I write here is not going to be what a lot of people want to hear, there will be a few people who are going to want to take me to task. However, the story that I am about to relay really happened, it is the truth. That said, please know that I do respect Gichin Funakoshi, he is pivotal to Karate.

In turn of the century, last century, Japan, people, same as people all over, loved the human cockfight. It wasn't uncommon for people to gather to watch gladiatorial contests between different arts and artists. Certain of these gladiators even offered open challenges to the audience, step up if you think you can beat me.

One night a Russian strongman threw down the gauntlet to the Japanese audience. One can imagine the outraged audience, and the surprise when a frumpy, old Okinawan stepped up to the ring and prepared to fight. The year was 1921, and Karate was about to become famous.

Motobu Chki was in his fifties when he climbed through the ropes. He had studied Karate with all the masters on Okinawa, and he had, when he was young and impetuous, perfected his art in the violent red light districts of his island home. This history, and a daily regimen of mercilessly bashing the makiwara, served him in good stead.

One punch later, a punch almost too fast to be seen, Motobu climbed out of the ring, the Russian strongman lay sprawled and snoozing the fist snooze. Reporters went wild, wrote their stories, and submitted them to the editors. Editors went wild, and, since they didn't have any photos of Motobu, but they did have a picture of a guy doing karate, they popped in the wrong picture.

So Gichin Funakoshi, a mild school teacher from Okinawa, got credit for the violent knock out and ultimate karate prowess of Motobu Choki. And Motobu, though he did teach karate and have an effect, because he wasn't fluent in the japanese language, and because the media did such a bang up job of reporting, got no credit. And Funakoshi is credited with spreading Karate to the world, yet, it wouldn't have happened without Motobu's one punch one kill competence and attitude.

Now, you have to ask yourself who has the real karate, a school teacher who benefited from the wrong picture, or a rough cob who got the job done. No, Funakoshi's karate is not bad, and generations of karateka have contributed to the art. However, there is still that one blot, a hundred years ago, provided by a man whoknew one punch one kill, which argues the concept of who had the True Art.

About the Author:
Al Case has analyzed classical Karate for 40 years. He has written hundreds of articles for the magazines, and had his own column in Inside Karate. He is the originator of Matrixing Technology, and you can argue with him, pr perhsp pick up a free ebook, at Monster Martial Arts



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