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When did Funakoshi Gichin start training with his masters?
Funakoshi Gichin 船越義珍 (1868–1957) is an important source for research into the life and times of Itosu Ankō 糸洲安恒 (1831–1915). His publications contain numerous descriptions of Itosu’s activities. According to Funakoshi, he himself began learning karate from Itosu at a young age, probably as one of Itosu’s first students in Okinawa in the early 1880s.… Continue reading
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Review: Karatedō Kyōhan now also available in German
The first German translation of Funakoshi Gichin’s third book, Karatedō Kyōhan 空手道教範 (1935), has just been published. Lehrmuster des Wegs der leeren Hand was published by Werner Kristkeitz in Heidelberg, a publisher that has made a name for itself in Germany by publishing literature on Zen, Buddhism and Asian martial arts. For almost two years,… Continue reading
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Itosu-Tokashiki family connection
Yesterday, I could obtain an extract of the book Ryūkyū genbunroku 琉球見聞錄 originally written in 1914 by Kishaba Chōken 喜舎場朝賢 (1840–1916), a Ryūkyūan official at the end of the Ryūkyū Kingdom. In his book, he recorded the process of the abolishment of the Ryūkyū Kingdom (1879) from the Ryūkyūan point of view. Interestingly, in his… Continue reading
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Magazine article about Itosu Ankō
I wrote an article about Itosu Ankō (1831–1915) for the new issue of the martial arts magazine “Bugeisha. Traditional Martial Artist”. In it, I mainly look at his last years. The article “Anko Itosu. In the autumn of his life” is available on Amazon. Continue reading
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About Itosu’s occupation after 1879
When the Ryūkyū Kingdom was abolished in 1879 and the islands were made Okinawa Prefecture by the Meiji government, Itosu Ankō’s work for the royal court came to an end. For a long time, it has been assumed that Itosu then retired and devoted his life entirely to his training and the passing on of… Continue reading
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A poem by Itosu Ankō
For many decades it has been believed that Itosu Ankō‘s letter (1908) had been the only writing preserved from the venerable master who died in 1915. Due to the strenuous efforts by the research team of the prefectural Karate Promotion Division, a poem written by Itosu Ankō 糸洲安恒 (1831-1915) has recently been found – a… Continue reading
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Further photos of the 1921 karate demonstration?
The March 1921 karate demonstration in the courtyard of Shuri Castle, led by Funakoshi Gichin 船越義珍 (1868–1957) in the presence of Crown Prince Hirohito 裕仁 (1901–1989), celebrated its 100th anniversary this year. Only a few photos of Hirohito’s short stay in Okinawa have survived. In the biography of Kenna Kenwa 漢那憲和 (1877–1950), Okinawan born former… Continue reading
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Famous photo shows Miyake Sango instead of Itosu Ankō
In early 2019, it has been discovered that the image once believed to be Itosu Ankō 糸洲安恒 (1831–1915) actually shows a different person, namely Japanese fencing master Miyake Sango 三宅三五 ( 1847–?). This page from the school magazine Ryūtan 龍潭 No. 9. (1911) photographed by me in Naha in September 2019 are considered evidence to… Continue reading
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Itosu Ankō biography published
After more than three years of work, the first comprehensive biography of Ankō Itosu (1831–1915) has finally been published. Itosu trained a new generation of martial artists who were responsible for the further spread of this unique art. His students included Yabu Kentsū, Hanashiro Chōmo, Funakoshi Gichin, Motobu Chōki, Gusukuma Shinpan, Mabuni Kenwa, Tōyama Kanken… Continue reading
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No high kicks in Okinawan karate?
Recently a video was published about the supposed influencing factors of high kicks in karate. The theory is interesting, the video very entertaining. But there is a lack of historical evidence. There are so many myths and legends in the world of martial arts. For many years, serious efforts have been made to explain historical… Continue reading
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Investigations into the history of karate 