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 - Funakoshi Sensei Life in Karate GuideAwesome read and instructional guide for those who may be considering embracing Karate as a way of living, not just for sport karate or to live like a karetaka, but actually internalizing the survival and philosophical applications of karate on our daily doings. A guide to discover the esoteric meaning of self control, loyalty, honor and etiquette encompassed in karate, beyond the mere exoteric physical functions of punching and kicking. Highly recommended for the martial way enthusiast. A great timeless window into the concept of interpratation of Karate by a true Karate Grand Master. Osu! Adames Sensei, Manila, Philippines Rating:  - Interesting biographyThis book gives an interesting look into the founder of modern karate, and some practical advice for living. Rating: - Karate-do My Way of Life by Ginchin FunakoshiIf you study "the arts" learning about one of the MOST influencial Sensei's of modern karate is a must read! Rating:  - Founder of Modern Day KarateGichin Funakoshi, an Okinawan transplant who was later known as the Founder of Modern Day Karate did a great job of recording his daily habits and personal thoughts which many pertains to the training of karate. This book did gave me a small insight of what and how Funakoshi Sensei lived his life. Prince Loeffler Shugyokan Shorin Ryu Dojo [...] Rating: - One of the First Men Who Brough Karate into the Modern AgeFunakoshi Gichen was many things to many people. Although today he is for the most part remembered and respected as the founder of the style we know today as Shotokan, Funakoshi Gichen was also a school Teacher, a family man, a man educated in the Confucian classics, a practitioner and teacher of Karate, and an Okinawan who undertook the task of bringing the art of Karate-Do from its native island of Okinawa to the Japanese Mainland in his later years. Remarkably, Funakoshi lived through several important eras in Okinawa and Japan's history. As a young man he recounts the impact of Meiji-era forced modernization, where men holding public posts were required to cut their traditional top-knots. His accounts of training with Master Itosu and Master Azato and stories of their explaits are some of the most specific known to us. Funakoshi also describes the sacrifices he made to continue practicing Karate while on Okinawa, at one point turning down a promotion because the travel would have separated him from his karate teachers. We learn how Yasutsune Itosu was instrumental in helping make karate a part of the physical culture curriculum in Okinawa's schools, and later how Funakoshi's background as an educator and karateka made him the ideal candidate to travel to Japan to demonstrate karate. Funakoshi describes how his extended family of 10 in Okinawa struggled to make ends meet on his teacher's salary of 3 yen a month, scraping by only because of the diligence of his wife, who grew vegetables and wove cloth to help make ends meet. His wife he tells us, also became adept at performing Karate kata, which she practiced to raise her spirits when tired (page 39)! Funakoshi initially came to Japan to demonstrate karate, was invited to the Kodokan by Jigoro Kano and ended up teaching Kano some basic manouvers which are now included in the Judo curriculum. Perhaps it was his exposure to Judo that led him to stay in Japan and undertake the task of teaching Karate with the hope of popularizing it among the masses. Maybe he was just a teacher at heart, and he finally realized an opportunity to combine the two subjects he enjoyed--teaching and karate. In the beginning of his stay in Japan, Funakoshi started with virtually nothing, taking employment as a groundskeeper and watchman, at times having to pawn his personal belongings for basic necessities. His efforts did eventually pay off in spite of his evidently gentlemanly good manners and lack of hard-driving salesmanship. Keio University took an interest, with Takushoku not far behind...and from here, the establishment of Funakoshi's karate began to take root in Japan. Throughout the book author Funakoshi mentions specific events and people, peppering his writing with funny and interesting anecdotes. A first class view of a specific period in time during which an art travelled from a village in Okinawa, to Japan, then world.
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