Gichin Funakoshi

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 k…