The Essence of Karate [Hardcover]

Gichin Funakoshi (Author), Gisho Funakoshi (Author), Richard Berger (Translator), Hirokazu Kanazawa (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1, 2010

Gichin Funakoshi is a legendary figure and the founder of Shotokan karate, the most popular style of Japanese karate, with millions of practitioners worldwide. In The Essence of Karate, Funakoshi creates, in his own words, a narrative of modern karate. He explains the philosophical and spiritual underpinnings and includes memories of his own training, as well as recollections of other karate masters and the history of the martial art. He also discusses the importance of winning without fighting, and the reason why many great martial artists improve with age.

The preface has been contributed by Hirokazu Kanazawa, President of the Shotokan Karate-do International Federation (and Funakoshi's disciple). He fondly writes of his memories of Gichin Funakoshi during his youth and what he learned from the master. In the afterword, the founder's great-nephew, Gisho Funakoshi, shares previously unknown personal anecdotes about his "Uncle Funakoshi."

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

GICHIN FUNAKOSHI (1868-1957) was one of karate's great masters. Born in Okinawa, the birthplace of karate, he began training in secret Okinawan martial arts as a child. In 1922, at the request of the Japanese government, he demonstrated the still-secret Okinawan arts of self-defense on the Japanese mainland, which led to karate's introduction to the rest of Japan, and subsequently, to the rest of the world. Funakoshi devoted the remainder of his life to this traditional martial art and wrote several classics on the subject.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 128 pages
• Publisher: Kodansha USA (August 1, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 4770031181
• ISBN-13: 978-4770031181
• Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 5.4 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #100,021 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

GICHIN FUNAKOSHI is world famous as one of Karate's great masters. Born in Shuri, Okinawa Prefecture, in 1868, he studied Karate-do from childhood and organized the first public demonstrations. He was trained in the Confucian classics and was a schoolteacher early in life. After training for decades under the foremost masters in Okinawa he was elected president of the Okinawa Association for the Spirit of Martial Arts. He was chosen to demonstrate Karate at the First National Athletic Exhibition in Tokyo in 1922, which led to the introduction of the ancient martial art to the rest of Japan and subsequently to the rest of the world. Among his writings are Karate-do: My Way of Life, Karate-do Kyohan: The Master Text, and Karate Jutsu: The Original Teachings of Gichin Funakoshi. Master Gichin Funakoshi died in April 1957.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Little Gem, July 28, 2010

By 

Andrew O. Brien "Author of The Little Bubishi" (UK) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Essence of Karate (Hardcover)

This book has, quite naughtily, been promoted as previously unpublished works by some retailers, which it certainly is not. Nevertheless, the Karate enthusiast, historians and geeks should glean a lot of joy and some new snippets of knowledge and insight from the Master of Karate and the man Shotokan was named after, Gichin Funakoshi. Many of the stories have been produced before in works by Funakoshi and others, yet there is something so engrossing and comforting about this gentle man's life that make his words, repetetive or not, completely tireless.

Fundamentally, a small collection of memories, short anecdotes and words of wisdom from the great man; this book is quite the little gem. I read it in little under an hour, so don't buy it as holiday read unless you intend to study it carefully, then take a note book with you aswell and you'll stretch it to a day two.

There are, as always with Funakoshi's works, glimpses and clues as to the true nature of Karate-do, in particular for me the line, and excuse me as I'm paraphrasing here, "the true nature of Karate can never be reproduced in the sporting arena" is particularly telling. With these few words Funakoshi is clearly informing us that the true nature of Karate as the most effective self-protection system ever devised, is so brutal and dangerous that it's techniques, used as they were intended could never be re-produced as a sport. Funakoshi then reveals what most pragmatic karateka already knew but many others choose to deny, that "kata is the essence of karate" for within each kata are held complete fighting systems waiting to be unlocked and revealed.

The Essence of Karate give us wonderful insights into Funakoshi himself but also much more than I've ever read before about his great masters, Itosu and Azato, their similarities and differences and the effect of their fighting styles upon unfortunate opponents.

The forward by Sensei Kanazawa is quite interesting in itself but the afterword by Gisho Funakoshi, his nephew is filled with warmth, respect and awe for an uncle he briefly knew but left an ever lasting impression.

The Essence of Karate by Gichin Funakoshi is an absolute must for any Karate enthusiast.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars For Japanese historians and karate enthusiasts, June 8, 2011

By 

T. Stewart "T. Stewart" (Auburn WA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Essence of Karate (Hardcover)

This book is a number one choice for all karate enthusiasts, or those who are involved with the karate martial arts. Being involved with karate, I have found this to be quite interesting; this book is the Bible of Karate. It explains the creation of karate through the monk culture of Japan.

The most amazing aspect of this book is how it wraps around the Japanese culture and how it influences their judgment. It was only for a certain number of people, mostly for the people with the right mind and soul. "In the past masters would first look at the character of potential students before agreeing to teach them. Those, whose natures were deemed inappropriate, even in the case of one's own child". This quotation is a stereotype--it is an example of how serious this martial art was before it went worldwide. The Japanese culture is honorable and takes a great pride in self-respect.

The Essence of Karate is a book for historians of the Japanese culture. It's just another variable of the development of the society. I really recommend this book for anyone who is an enthusiast of karate or the martial arts. On a personal level I would rate this book 4 stars.

Senior English Student 2011

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Useful little book, August 14, 2010

By 

C. M. Clarke (Near Washington) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Essence of Karate (Hardcover)

This is another useful little book on Funakoshi's ideas and we should be greatful to the translators and publishers for keeping the price low. Too much of the translated martial arts literature is far too expensive. But I wish those with an interest in translating early pieces on karate would focus on others besides Funakoshi, such as Mabuni, Nakasone Genwa, Motobu and others. There is still much to be done, and what is available is often ridiculously expensive.