Investigations into the history of karate

In the book Okinawa kenshi: Kakuron hen IV-V. Bunka (1965) 沖縄県史: 各論編 IV-V. 文化, there is a brief passage describing Hanashiro Chōmo 花城長茂 (1868–1945): 花城はふんばってというのをくんばる というところから、「クンパッテ先生」とあだ名がつけられていたよう一方 … Hanashiro was nicknamed “kunpatte sensei,” from the Japanese word “funbaru“ …

The verb funbaru 踏ん張る can be translated as (1) to brace one’s legs; to stand firm; to plant one’s feet (firmly on the ground) and (2) to hold out; to persist; to make an effort; to exert oneself. In Okinawan the word for funbaru is “kunparu”.

Joe Swift, who kindly helped out with the translation, believes it was just because, he yelled “Kunpatte!” (hang in there!) at the kids during karate and military exercise classes at the school.