Tag: Anko Itosu

Shinkin Gima

One learns through imitation, and being corrected, learning is enhanced with humility and enthusiasm. Shinkin Gima Sometimes referred to by the Japanese translation of his name, Makoto, Shinkin Gima is often overlooked by the wider Karate world. He was present at the introduction of Karate in Japan. He was also one of the first people …

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Yoshitaka Funakoshi

When our Sempai taught us kata, they told us that when Yoshitaka Funakoshi performed a kata, those who observed him experienced a particular sensation, the tremendous impression of impending danger. Taiji Kase A major figure in the development of Shotokan Karate, Yoshitaka Funakoshi has arguably had the biggest influence on the Shotokan Karate practised today. …

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This week in history…(3 April – 9 April)

5 April On 5 April 1870 founder of Motobu Ryu, Chōki Motobu, was born in Okinawa. Motobu was the third son of a noble family. As the third son, he was not allowed to learn the family martial art of Motobu Udundi. This meant he trained under various Okinawan masters such as Anko Itosu, and Sokon Matsumura. A …

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Musings: The 5 aspects of physical training

Miyamoto Musashi, the great Japanese swordsman once wrote: The way is in training This is a basic requirement of all martial arts. When translated from Chinese, Kung Fu means “hard work“. To progress in the world of martial arts you must be willing to toil and sweat. If you are willing to put in the …

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This week in history (20 May – 26 May)

20 May On 20 May 1964 the Foreign Affairs Officer for the JKA, Kazuo Nagai, arrived in London as part of a feasibility tour of Europe. The purpose for the visit was to check the feasibility for sending JKA instructors to teach in Europe. 23 May On 23 May 1952 Shito-ryu founder, Kenwa Mabuni died …

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This week in history (1 Apr – 7 Apr)

1 April On 1 April 1922 Gichin Funakoshi gave a Karate demonstration at the Women’s Higher Normal School, in Tokyo, Japan. This was one of a number of demonstrations he gave at the time to introduce the general public to Karate. ******************************************** On 1 April 1934 Hironori Ōtsuka opened his own Karate school ,the Dai …

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This week in history (21 May – 27 May)

On 23 May 1952 the founder of the Shito-ryu style of Karate, Kenwa Mabuni, died aged 63. Mabuni trained under two of Okinawa’s greatest masters, Anko Itosu and Kanryo Higaonna. His style of Karate combined the linear techniques of Itosu with the circular movements of Higaonna. In the 1920s Mabuni frequently traveled to Osaka, Japan where …

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This week in history (2 April – 8 April)

On April 4, 1947 Mikio Yahara, one of the most dynamic fighters to come out of the JKA, was born in Ehime Prefecture. Yahara is a firm believer in a budo approach to Karate. In 2000 he broke away from the JKA to form his own organisation, Karatenomichi World Federation (KWF). The organisation is built on the …

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This week in history (26 March – 1 April)

On March 26 1915 Ankō Itosu died. Itosu, who was a direct student of Sokon Matsumura, was responsible for the introduction of Tode as a form of physical education into the elementary school system of Okinawa in 1901. Itosu had a number of notable students including Gichin Funakoshi, Kenwa Mabuni, Chosin Chibana and Kentsu Yabu. …

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Karate’s Family Tree

Karate as we know it today has a long rich history which does not start with noted masters such as Gichin Funakoshi, Chojun Miyagi, and Kenwa Mabuni. Although Funakoshi is widely regarded as the “Father of Karate”, being one of the first Okinawan masters to introduce karate to the Japanese mainland in 1922, he was …

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