I read somewhere that an influence of “Te” or “Karate” can be seen in some traditional Okinawan dancing. The present Katas*8 of Karate which have been refined by many forerunners are certainly eye-pleasing to those who watch them, although those who perform Katas will sweat profusely. When the performer finishes the Kata in the prescribed place, the whole audience who has remained dead silent until then would sigh and burst into applause and clap their hands loudly. We encounter such a scene quite often. This may indicate that even people who do not know Karate are absorbed into it completely, forgetting to breathe.

Gichin Funakoshi Sensei*9 studied under numerous masters, regardless of their styles, the Okinawan secret art which was taught behind closed doors – the Sensei was born in 1870 to a Bushi (martial arts) family in Shuri, Okinawa. As he was physically weak and of gentle nature, Funakoshi Sensei studied Karate under Itosu Sensei and Azato Sensei who were both renowned as masters at that time. He dedicated himself physically and mentally to the perfection of Karate and became a master regarded as a central figure to the furtherance of the Okinawa Karate. Due to his excellent personality and Karate techniques Funakoshi Sensei was recommended to be the first to introduce Karate to mainland Japan. He also wrote books about Karate and Chinese style poems. He was also versed in calligraphy using the pen name “Shoto”. Hence, Sensei was a person who excelled himself in both literature and martial arts.

I believe that it is my duty as an instructor of the Japan Karate Association to pass the teachings of Funakoshi Sensei and a true Karate-do to those coming after us. For those who never met Funakoshi Sensei who died on 27 April 1957 at the age of 85, although I had received only a limited number of direct teachings from Funakoshi Sensei, I borrowed his pen name “Shoto” for the title of Chapter One with the intention to convey the personal atmosphere that Sensei had. However, as my ability in both literature and martial arts is no way near Funakoshi Sensei’s, I would like to use the word Shoto which means to liken the sound of a pine tree to the sound of a wave (the meaning of shoto from a dictionary).

At the time when I was a member of the Karate club of Takushoku University, Funakoshi Sensei’s hair was already all white with his reddish face. As he had a baby face, he looked like a very likeable old man. But his eyes watching our training were intense and piercing and he had the air of a person who had accomplished something.

The presence of Sensei sitting in the dojo made the training intense and serious, even though he did not directly teach us. Funakoshi Sensei was like God to us, the beginners in Karate. At that time, the Japan Karate Association, Sensei’s home base, did not have a headquarters dojo. Universities had provided their dojos in turn for dan grading examinations. I think it was when I was in the second year at university, the dojo of Waseda University was used for the grading examinations and Takushoku University had the task to take care of Sensei. At the instructions of my sempais, I went to meet Sensei at his house and we took the metropolitan tram to go to the venue for the grading examinations. On the tram Sensei opened the furoshiki*10 which had his Karate gi*11 calmly and slowly on his lap. There was a handkerchief, tissue paper and two tram tickets. Sensei took out the tickets and handed them to the tram conductor, asking if those tickets were fine – he seemed to have known the mischievous plan that the young lad had hatched.
“Oh, no!” – I thought, but it was too late. A sense of guilt struck me, because I had received the money for the taxi fare, which I had in my pocket, to take Sensei to the venue for the grading examinations. Needless to say, that night we had a typical student style drinking binge with cheap sake*12. It was an act of a naughty youth.
On a later day when I told a Karate friend of mine about this, he said “You must be the only person in this world who took advantage of such a respected master”.

When a Budo conference was held at an outdoor concert hall in Hibiya, Takushoku University was again allocated the task of taking care of Funakoshi Sensei. I remember that Sensei was about 80 years old at that time - that was his age according to his family registration in Okinawa, but he was also said to be around 90 years old.

Due, maybe, to his old age, as Sensei was climbing the stairs onto the stage, he staggered. I reacted automatically to extend my hand to him, saying “Sensei, please”. My intention was to take care of the aged Sensei. All of a sudden, Funakoshi Sensei slapped my hand away. I was surprised at the power of his hand and I thought I had a glance at the profile of Sensei as a true Budo-ka*13. Sensei stood straight up with dignity as if he had never staggered a moment ago. My head bowed with the awe that his well-trained body was different to ours. Nothing like this moment had ever made me realise my immaturity in Karate. Still printed at the back of my eyes is Sensei’s sharp eyes staring at me as if they were saying “Mind your own business”.

The fact that I knew Funakoshi Sensei or the fact that I had direct contact with Funakoshi Sensei is the most invaluable to me who has been practicing Karate and it is one of my proud subjects to talk about. Funakoshi Sensei believed that Karate was nothing but Karate-do*14. Therefore, he did not use any style name for his Karate. Shotokan-ryu is not the name of a style. It is like a pronoun for disciples of the Shotokan Dojo. These days, there are cases where the word “Shotokan” is used overseas, but this is only to differentiate a true Karate from a show Karate.

Nothing is more miserable for those who are practicing Karate than there is no dojo for them, a place to practice. Funakoshi Sensei also experienced the hardship of not having his own dojo. Sensei’s heartaches that he had until the establishment of the Shotokan Dojo and his joy when the dojo was established was vividly expressed in his book “Shoto Night Tale”. I quote a part from his book.

“…… As a result of great efforts of the Karate students, funds were accumulated steadfastly and a beautiful dojo was built in Zoshigaya in Toshima Ward. It was in the spring of the year Showa 11 (1936). At that time, there was no official Karate dojo at all. It was not exaggerating to call the dojo as a signal arrow for Karate dojos in Japan. The students of the dojo made the arrangements to put up a signboard of “Shotokan” at the entrance of the dojo. Shoto is a pen name that I have been using for my poems since I was young and I did not even imagine until then that it would become the name of the dojo. I cannot describe by words my deep emotion at the time of hoisting the signboard. “Azato Sensei, Itosu Sensei*15, a splendid dojo has been built today”. On that day, at home I burnt incense, put my hands together and reported to both of my teachers. I could have seen their faces, as if they were saying with smiles on their faces as they always did, “Well done, Funakoshi, well done”. But at the same time, I could have heard them saying “It’s too early to be joyous. There is more work for you to do. You have just started today. It’s too early for you to be joyous.

I wished both of my teachers could have seen the dojo. I wished that they could have been seated in the instructor’s seat. However, both of my teachers who were full of warmth and care are already gone, no longer with us. On the completion of the dojo, I prepared the details of instruction and made rules and regulations on dan*16 and kyu*17 as a draft of the instruction textbook.

The number of new students started increasing day by day. I was already over 60. When I considered the progress, I thought I had to live long. The real task for me was just going to begin now. I looked young for my age. That was the only asset I had. I started training harder than before." To be continued...

Notes:
Translated from Japanese into English by Nishimura Takaatsu Sensei, Senior Instructor, JKA Victoria
*8 Kata is a predetermined sequence of movements of blocks and attacks.
*9 Sensei is the Japanese word for teacher.
*10 Furoshiki is a square wrapping cloth.
*11 Karate uniform
*12 Sake is a Japanese alcohol made of fermented rice.
*13 Budo-ka is a person who practices a martial art.
*14 Do (pronounced in the same way as dough) means way or path.
*15 Master Gichin Funakoshi studied Karate under Master Yasutsune (Anko) Azato (1828-1906) and Master Yasutsune (Anko) Itosu (1831-1915).
*16 Dan is a degree in the ranking system and a dan holder wears a black belt
*17 Kyu is a degree in the ranking system and a kyu holder wears a coloured belt

Read our Tribute to Shoji Sensei from November 2003

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