Gichin Funakoshi
Japanese karateka (1868-1957) · Japan · On the map · Athletes · Died at 88
He brought karate from Okinawa to mainland Japan in 1922, transforming a regional martial art into a discipline that would spread worldwide. Funakoshi founded Shotokan karate and spent decades teaching at Japanese universities, turning combat technique into structured pedagogy.
Gichin Funakoshi is read about 291 times a day, in 46 languages.
A typical day, 30 days to 27 October 2026
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Mas Oyama Studied under Gichin
Masatoshi Nakayama Studied under Gichin
Ankō Itosu Taught Gichin
Hirokazu Kanazawa Studied under Gichin
Hidetaka Nishiyama Studied under Gichin
Matsumura Sōkon Taught Gichin
Hironori Ōtsuka Studied under Gichin
Taiji Kase Studied under Gichin
Teruyuki Okazaki Studied under Gichin
Ankō Azato Taught Gichin
Tetsuhiko Asai Studied under Gichin
Shigeru Egami Studied under Gichin
Tsutomu Ohshima Studied under Gichin
Yasuhiro Konishi Studied under Gichin
Henry Plée Studied under Gichin
Gichin Funakoshi
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About this person
Born November 10, 1868, Funakoshi trained under Okinawan masters Anko Itosu and Anko Asato, learning karate when it was still largely confined to the islands. In 1922 he made the crossing to mainland Japan - Itosu had introduced it earlier, but Funakoshi carried it forward, teaching at universities and formalizing the art. By 1949, when the Japan Karate Association formed, he became its honorary head. He wrote poetry and philosophy alongside his martial work. His son Gigō developed much of what became the modern Shotokan style. Funakoshi died April 26, 1957, decades after the move that changed karate's geography forever.
