Teachers (2)

• As
  Asato Ankō

  linkShuri-te 2

  Probable

  Well-documented student-teacher relationship mentioned in multiple historical sources, though only Wikipedia is cited

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source

  fact_check

  Well-documented student-teacher relationship mentioned in multiple historical sources, though only Wikipedia is cited

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "Anko Asato (安里 安恒, Asato Ankō, Azato Yasutsune in Japanese, 1827 – 1906) was a Ryūkyūan master of karate. He and Ankō Itosu were the two main karate masters who taught Gichin Funakoshi, the founder of Shotokan karate."

  — Ankō Asato - Wikipedialink
• 
  Itosu Ankō

  linkShuri-te 2

  Probable

  Well-documented student-teacher relationship mentioned in multiple historical sources, though only Wikipedia is cited

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source

  fact_check

  Well-documented student-teacher relationship mentioned in multiple historical sources, though only Wikipedia is cited

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "Anko Asato (安里 安恒, Asato Ankō, Azato Yasutsune in Japanese, 1827 – 1906) was a Ryūkyūan master of karate. He and Ankō Itosu were the two main karate masters who taught Gichin Funakoshi, the founder of Shotokan karate."

  — Ankō Asato - Wikipedialink

Students (13)

• 
  Mas Oyama

  linkKarate 3

  Confirmed

  Wikipedia confirms Oyama studied Shotokan under Gichin Funakoshi at Takushoku University for two years

  sports_kabaddiTakushoku University badge (1946-1948)

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source

  fact_check

  Wikipedia confirms Oyama studied Shotokan under Gichin Funakoshi at Takushoku University for two years

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "Oyama later attended Takushoku University in Tokyo and was accepted as a student at the dojo of Gichin Funakoshi where he trained for two years."

  — Wikipedia contributors. (2026). Mas Oyama - Wikipedia (EN). Wikipedia (English)linkinfo
• 
  Choi Hong-hi

  linkShotokan 1balance

  Uncertain - conflicting evidence recorded

  Wikipedia reports Choi's claim, but independent scholarship finds no record of Choi in Funakoshi's attendance records

  (1937-1942)

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  2 sources

  fact_check

  Wikipedia reports Choi's claim, but independent scholarship finds no record of Choi in Funakoshi's attendance records

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "Choi also claimed to have learned Shotokan karate under Funakoshi Gichin"

  — Wikipedia contributors. (2026). Choi Hong-hi. Wikipedia (English)linkinfo

  blockdisputes

  "At that time, Funakoshi kept accurate records of attendance and promotions, and there have been no occurences found by scholars of Choi in those records."

  — Jeffries, Andy. (2023). Opinion piece: Choi Hong-hi, founder or fraudsterlinkinfo
• 
  Tsutomu Ohshima

  linkShotokan 3

  Confirmed

  Ohshima trained directly under Gichin Funakoshi at Waseda University from 1948 to 1953 and was promoted by him; extensively documented

  (1948-1953)

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source

  fact_check

  Ohshima trained directly under Gichin Funakoshi at Waseda University from 1948 to 1953 and was promoted by him; extensively documented

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "Ohshima began studying karate in 1948, while a student at Waseda University. There, he trained under Shotokan's founder, Gichin Funakoshi"

  — Tsutomu Ohshima (Wikipedia EN)linkinfo
• 
  Taira Shinken

  linkKarate 3

  Confirmed

  Taira was introduced to Gichin Funakoshi in Tokyo in 1922 and studied karate under him

  (1922)

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  2 sources

  fact_check

  Taira was introduced to Gichin Funakoshi in Tokyo in 1922 and studied karate under him

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "Introduced to Gichin Funakoshi, a fellow Okinawan and karate instructor"

  — Taira Shinken (Wikipedia EN)linkinfo

  "Funakoshi Sensei was already well versed in the Bo and the Sai and may have encouraged Taira Sensei in his studies"

  — Shinken Taira - JKR-UKlink
• Ōt
  Ōtsuka Hironori

  linkKarate 3

  Confirmed

  Well documented in the Wado-ryu Wikipedia article: met Funakoshi in 1922, trained under him and was among his first promoted black belts in 1924, assistant instructor in his Shotokan school by 1927

  (1922)

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  2 sources

  fact_check

  Well documented in the Wado-ryu Wikipedia article: met Funakoshi in 1922, trained under him and was among his first promoted black belts in 1924, assistant instructor in his Shotokan school by 1927

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "In 1922, he met Gichin Funakoshi and began to train under him."

  — Wadō-ryū - Wikipedia (EN). Wikipedia (English) linkinfo

  "In 1924, Ōtsuka became one of the first students promoted to black belt in karate by Funakoshi."

  — Wadō-ryū - Wikipedia (EN). Wikipedia (English) linkinfo
• 
  Mochizuki Minoru

  linkKarate 3

  Confirmed

  First-person account in the Karaté-Bushido interview: three months of Gichin Funakoshi's courses in Tokyo, though Mochizuki adds he does not really consider himself Funakoshi's student; corroborated by the Hiroo Mochizuki interview and Black Belt magazine

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  3 sources

  fact_check

  First-person account in the Karaté-Bushido interview: three months of Gichin Funakoshi's courses in Tokyo, though Mochizuki adds he does not really consider himself Funakoshi's student; corroborated by the Hiroo Mochizuki interview and Black Belt magazine

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "à Tokyo, j'ai suivi pendant 3 mois les cours de Gichin Funakoshi sensei, mais je ne me considère pas réellement comme son élève."

  — Bénoliel, P.. (1987). Minoru Mochizuki - entretien (Karaté-Bushido no. 139, septembre 1987, pp. 28-35)info

  "Elève de Jigoro Kano, qui l'avait envoyé apprendre l'aïkido auprès de Morihei Ueshiba, Minoru Mochizuki avait aussi travaillé avec Gichin Funakoshi. [...] Mais il se trouvait un peu faible du point de vue des atémis, qu'il avait pourtant étudié avec Funakoshi"

  — (2016). Hiroo Mochizuki: Échapper au conditionnementlinkinfo

  "Minoru Mochizuki holds the distinction of being the only living man to have studied with aikido founder Morihei Uyeshiba, judo founder Jigoro Kano, and "the father of Japanese karate", Gichin Funakoshi."

  — A Man of Many Budo (interview with Minoru Mochizuki), Black Belt, Aug 1989.link
• 
  Masatoshi Nakayama

  linkShotokan 3

  Confirmed

  Multiple sources confirm Nakayama learned karate under Gichin Funakoshi, the founder of Shotokan, at Takushoku University

  sports_kabaddiTakushoku University badge (1932-1937)

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  2 sources

  fact_check

  Multiple sources confirm Nakayama learned karate under Gichin Funakoshi, the founder of Shotokan, at Takushoku University

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "Nakayama entered Takushoku University in 1932 to study Chinese language, and began learning karate under Gichin Funakoshi and his son Yoshitaka (also known as Gigō)."

  — Wikipedia contributors. (2026). Masatoshi Nakayama - Wikipedia (EN). Wikipedia (English)linkinfo

  "Upon entering Takushoku University in 1932, Master Nakayama immediately joined the university's karate club, studying under Master Funakoshi Gichin and one of the master's sons, Funakoshi Yoshitaka."

  — Japan Karate Association. Master Nakayama Masatoshi - Japan Karate Associationlinkinfo
• Ko
  Konishi Yasuhiro

  linkKarate 1

  Uncertain

  Japanese Wikipedia states Konishi learned karate from Funakoshi Gichin, meeting him in June 1925

  sports_kabaddiKeio University badge (1924)

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  2 sources

  fact_check

  Japanese Wikipedia states Konishi learned karate from Funakoshi Gichin, meeting him in June 1925

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "1924年（大正13年）に船越義珍から空手を学んだ。"

  — Japanese Wikipedia article on Konishi Yasuhiro linkhistory

  "When he [Konishi] met Funakoshi Gichin in June 1925, he was finally able to learn Karate. However, since its contents was only Kata, together with Ōtsuka Hironori 大塚博紀 (1892–1982, founder of Wadō-ryū Karate-dō and Jūjutsu Kenpō) who was also a disciple of Funakoshi, Konishi began to devise Yakusoku Kumite 約束組手 and the like. Later Konishi studied Karate with Motobu Chōki and Mabuni Kenwa."

  — Ryukyu Bugei website link
• 
  Kimura Masahiko

  linkKarate 2

  Probable

  Kimura's autobiography mentions studying Shorinji-ryu (Shotokan) under Funakoshi Gichin for over 2 years

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source

  fact_check

  Kimura's autobiography mentions studying Shorinji-ryu (Shotokan) under Funakoshi Gichin for over 2 years

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "Later on, I [ed. Kimura] got interested in karate, and learned Shorinji-ryu (Note: today’s Shotokan karate) under the guidance of Master Funakoshi for a little over 2 years."

  — 'My Judo' by Masahiko Kimura, His Story & Vision in His Own Words Part 1 (BJJ EE)link
• 
  Hirokazu Kanazawa

  linkShotokan 3

  Confirmed

  Well-documented across multiple sources that Kanazawa learned directly from Gichin Funakoshi, founder of Shotokan, and was one of the last living karateka to have done so

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  2 sources

  fact_check

  Well-documented across multiple sources that Kanazawa learned directly from Gichin Funakoshi, founder of Shotokan, and was one of the last living karateka to have done so

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "Kanazawa also learned from the founder of the Shotokan style, Gichin Funakoshi, and was one of the last living karateka (practitioners of karate) to have done so."

  — Wikipedia contributors. (2026). Hirokazu Kanazawa - Wikipedia (EN). Wikipedia (English)linkinfo

  "A direct student of Gichin Funakoshi, the founder of Shotokan karate."

  — Shotokan Karate-Do International Federation. Hirokazu Kanazawa Soke - Shotokan Karate-Do International Federation linkinfo
• 
  Hidetaka Nishiyama

  linkShotokan 3

  Confirmed

  Nishiyama trained under Gichin Funakoshi at the Shotokan honbu dojo from 1943; extensively documented

  (1943-1950)

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source

  fact_check

  Nishiyama trained under Gichin Funakoshi at the Shotokan honbu dojo from 1943; extensively documented

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "Began training in Shotokan karate at the art's honbu dojo under its founder, Gichin Funakoshi"

  — Hidetaka Nishiyama (Wikipedia EN)linkinfo
• 
  Funakoshi Gigō

  linkKarate 2

  Probable

  Son and student of Gichin Funakoshi, well-documented family relationship

  (1918)

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source

  fact_check

  Son and student of Gichin Funakoshi, well-documented family relationship

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "He was sickly as a child and began the formal study of karate-do at the age of twelve as a means to improve his health.[4] In the early years, Gichin Funakoshi often took Gigo with him to his trainings with Yasutsune Itosu"

  — Gigō Funakoshi - Wikipedialink
• 
  Egami Shigeru

  linkKarate 3

  Confirmed

  Well-documented student of Funakoshi with multiple reliable sources

  sports_kabaddiWaseda University badge (1930)

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source

  fact_check

  Well-documented student of Funakoshi with multiple reliable sources

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "Egami met Master Funakoshi when he was 18 years old, the moment he began studying at the famous Waseda University, there he helped to establish its Karate Do Club. (...) He followed his Master together with Yoshitaka Funakoshi and Takeshi Shimoda all around Japan staging exhibitions, trying to expand the knowledge of Karate-do as a Japanese martial art."

  — Master Shigeru Egami, O-sensei’s successor (1912-1981) (Shotokai Encyclopedia)link

Sources