Master Gichin Funakoshi is credited with the development of modern day Karate. It is better known by it's
practitioners as Karate-Do, "The way of the empty hand." He along with one of his instructors, Master Itosu,
are also credited with bringing karate into the school systems of Okinawa and Japan.
Master Funakoshi was extensively trained by the practitioners of Okinawa-Te, the forerunner to Karate-Do, on the island of
Okinawa.
The "ryu" or style of karate he developed is called "Shotokan". Shotokan means "hall of
shoto," shoto being the penname Funkashosi used in calligraphy writings. There are fewer techniques
in Shotokan than in other styles of karate. Instruction being based on the concept that it is better to know
fewer techniques well than have a superficial knowledge of many techniques.
Shotokan karate emphasizes
two main ideas in its training:
balance and muscle control and the belief that proper study eliminates ego,
promotes hard honest work, humility and excellence.
"The ultimate aim of the art of karate lies not in victory or defeat, but in the
perfection of the characters of it's participants."
Gichin Funakoshi
"Though a man should conquer a thousand times a thousand men in battle,
He who conquers himself is the greatest warrior."