Funakoshi Gichin
船越 義珍
Born
1868-10-11, Shuri, Okinawa
Died
1957-04-26, Tokyo
Teachers (2)
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Asato Ankōsports_martial_artsShuri-te ConfirmedConfirmedIndependent sources state it, including Funakoshi's own account.The evidence establishes the claim: it is sufficient and consistent, and any conflicting evidence is resolved.
fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
3 sources expand_moreFrederico MuñozResearcher, Martialisfact_checkIndependent sources state it, including Funakoshi's own account.“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.”
visibilityFirst-hand““When I studied under Master Azato, considered to be the greatest karate expert of his time, I was his only student; and when I trained under Master Itosu, he had very few students”
“Asato and Itosu were among the instructors of Funakoshi Gichin (1868–1957), who in turn was one of the pioneers of karate in Japan.”
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Itosu Ankōsports_martial_artsShuri-te ConfirmedConfirmedIndependent sources state it, including Funakoshi's own account.The evidence establishes the claim: it is sufficient and consistent, and any conflicting evidence is resolved.
fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
3 sources expand_moreFrederico MuñozResearcher, Martialisfact_checkIndependent sources state it, including Funakoshi's own account.“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.”
visibilityFirst-hand““When I studied under Master Azato, considered to be the greatest karate expert of his time, I was his only student; and when I trained under Master Itosu, he had very few students”
“Asato and Itosu were among the instructors of Funakoshi Gichin (1868–1957), who in turn was one of the pioneers of karate in Japan.”
Lineage
- Shuri-te Asato Ankō Matsumura Sōkon · 2 generations
Member of (1)
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corporate_fareKarate Kenkyukai ProbableProbableSingle source.The evidence favours the claim and nothing credible contradicts it, but it falls short of establishing it.
fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
1 source expand_moreFrederico MuñozResearcher, Martialisfact_checkSingle source.“This group included Gichin Funakoshi, Chojo Oshiro, Chomo Hanashiro, Chotoku Kyan, Chojun Miyagi, Kenwa Mabuni, Go Ken Ki [Wu Xiangui] (Chinese Master of White Crane Boxing), Kentsu Yabu, Chuhatso [Juhatsu] Kyoda, and Moden Yabiku.”
Students (13)
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Mas Oyamasports_martial_artsKarate ProbableProbableWikipedia confirms Oyama studied Shotokan under Gichin Funakoshi at Takushoku University for two yearsThe evidence favours the claim and nothing credible contradicts it, but it falls short of establishing it.location_onTakushoku University badge (1946–1948)
fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
1 source expand_moreFrederico MuñozResearcher, Martialisfact_checkWikipedia confirms Oyama studied Shotokan under Gichin Funakoshi at Takushoku University for two years -
Choi Hong-hisports_martial_artsShotokan DoubtfulbalanceDoubtful – conflicting evidence recordedWikipedia reports Choi's claim, but Funakoshi's own attendance and promotion records, checked by scholars, show no occurrence of ChoiA source makes the claim, but the evidence does not substantiate it.(1937–1942)
fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
2 sources expand_moreFrederico MuñozResearcher, Martialisfact_checkWikipedia reports Choi's claim, but Funakoshi's own attendance and promotion records, checked by scholars, show no occurrence of Choi -
Tsutomu Ohshimasports_martial_artsShotokan ProbableProbableOhshima trained directly under Gichin Funakoshi at Waseda University from 1948 to 1953 and was promoted by him; extensively documentedThe evidence favours the claim and nothing credible contradicts it, but it falls short of establishing it.(1948–1953)
fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
1 source expand_moreFrederico MuñozResearcher, Martialisfact_checkOhshima trained directly under Gichin Funakoshi at Waseda University from 1948 to 1953 and was promoted by him; extensively documented -
Taira Shinkensports_martial_artsKarate ConfirmedConfirmedTaira was introduced to Gichin Funakoshi in Tokyo in 1922 and studied karate under himThe evidence establishes the claim: it is sufficient and consistent, and any conflicting evidence is resolved.(1922)
fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
2 sources expand_moreFrederico MuñozResearcher, Martialisfact_checkTaira was introduced to Gichin Funakoshi in Tokyo in 1922 and studied karate under him -
Ōtsuka Hironorisports_martial_artsKarate ProbableProbableWell 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 1927The evidence favours the claim and nothing credible contradicts it, but it falls short of establishing it.(1922)
fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
2 sources expand_moreFrederico MuñozResearcher, Martialisfact_checkWell 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 -
Mochizuki Minorusports_martial_artsKarate ConfirmedConfirmedFirst-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 magazineThe evidence establishes the claim: it is sufficient and consistent, and any conflicting evidence is resolved.
fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
3 sources expand_moreFrederico MuñozResearcher, Martialisfact_checkFirst-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 magazinevisibilityFirst-hand“à Tokyo, j'ai suivi pendant 3 mois les cours de Gichin Funakoshi sensei, mais je ne me considère pas réellement comme son élève.”
visibilityFirst-hand“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.”
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Masatoshi Nakayamasports_martial_artsShotokan ConfirmedConfirmedMultiple sources confirm Nakayama learned karate under Gichin Funakoshi, the founder of Shotokan, at Takushoku UniversityThe evidence establishes the claim: it is sufficient and consistent, and any conflicting evidence is resolved.location_onTakushoku University badge (1932–1937)
fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
2 sources expand_moreFrederico MuñozResearcher, Martialisfact_checkMultiple sources confirm Nakayama learned karate under Gichin Funakoshi, the founder of Shotokan, at Takushoku University -
Konishi Yasuhirosports_martial_artsKarate ProbableProbableJapanese Wikipedia states Konishi learned karate from Funakoshi Gichin, meeting him in June 1925The evidence favours the claim and nothing credible contradicts it, but it falls short of establishing it.location_onKeio University badge (1925)
fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
2 sources expand_moreFrederico MuñozResearcher, Martialisfact_checkJapanese Wikipedia states Konishi learned karate from Funakoshi Gichin, meeting him in June 1925“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.”
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Kimura Masahikosports_martial_artsKarate ProbableProbableKimura's autobiography mentions studying Shorinji-ryu (Shotokan) under Funakoshi Gichin for over 2 yearsThe evidence favours the claim and nothing credible contradicts it, but it falls short of establishing it.
fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
1 source expand_moreFrederico MuñozResearcher, Martialisfact_checkKimura's autobiography mentions studying Shorinji-ryu (Shotokan) under Funakoshi Gichin for over 2 years“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.”
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Hirokazu Kanazawasports_martial_artsShotokan ConfirmedConfirmedWell-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 soThe evidence establishes the claim: it is sufficient and consistent, and any conflicting evidence is resolved.
fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
2 sources expand_moreFrederico MuñozResearcher, Martialisfact_checkWell-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 -
Hidetaka Nishiyamasports_martial_artsShotokan ProbableProbableNishiyama trained under Gichin Funakoshi at the Shotokan honbu dojo from 1943; extensively documentedThe evidence favours the claim and nothing credible contradicts it, but it falls short of establishing it.(1943–1950)
fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
1 source expand_moreFrederico MuñozResearcher, Martialisfact_checkNishiyama trained under Gichin Funakoshi at the Shotokan honbu dojo from 1943; extensively documented -
Funakoshi Gigōsports_martial_artsKarate ProbableProbableSon and student of Gichin Funakoshi, well-documented family relationshipThe evidence favours the claim and nothing credible contradicts it, but it falls short of establishing it.(1918)
fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
1 source expand_moreFrederico MuñozResearcher, Martialisfact_checkSon and student of Gichin Funakoshi, well-documented family relationship“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”
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Egami Shigerusports_martial_artsKarate ConfirmedConfirmedThe Shotokai Encyclopedia and English Wikipedia, two independent sources, both directly state Egami was Funakoshi's studentThe evidence establishes the claim: it is sufficient and consistent, and any conflicting evidence is resolved.location_onWaseda University badge (1930)
fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
2 sources expand_moreFrederico MuñozResearcher, Martialisfact_checkThe Shotokai Encyclopedia and English Wikipedia, two independent sources, both directly state Egami was Funakoshi's student“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.”
Honours (1)
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receipt_longRenshi (錬士) in karate-jutsu, Dai Nippon Butoku Kai Renshi ProbableProbableThe Japanese Wikipedia article cites the Butoku Kai's own register of hanshi, kyoshi and renshi holders (1941) at page 388, and names his son Gikō as co-recipient.The evidence favours the claim and nothing credible contradicts it, but it falls short of establishing it.Title (1939-07 (昭和14年7月))granted by Greater Japan Martial Virtue Society
fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
1 source expand_moreFrederico MuñozResearcher, Martialisfact_checkThe Japanese Wikipedia article cites the Butoku Kai's own register of hanshi, kyoshi and renshi holders (1941) at page 388, and names his son Gikō as co-recipient.
Sources
visibilityFirst-hand
Shoshin Nagamine. (1976). Tales of Okinawan Grand Masters (Shoshin
Nagamine)info
Identifiers
https://martial.is/entity/01KJJAWN28MWKKSN4J02MVY1VB
Cite and reuse
CC BY-SA 4.0expand_more
Plain text
Muñoz, Frederico (YEAR_PLACEHOLDER). Funakoshi Gichin. In Martialis: Martial
Arts Lineage Database. https://martial.is/entity/01KJJAWN28MWKKSN4J02MVY1VB - CC
BY-SA 4.0. Accessed ACCESSED_DATE_PLACEHOLDER.
BibTeX
@incollection{martialis_01KJJAWN28MWKKSN4J02MVY1VB, author = {Muñoz, Frederico},
title = {Funakoshi Gichin}, booktitle = {Martialis: Martial Arts Lineage
Database}, year = {YEAR_PLACEHOLDER}, url =
{https://martial.is/entity/01KJJAWN28MWKKSN4J02MVY1VB}, urldate =
{ACCESSED_DATE_PLACEHOLDER}, note = {CC BY-SA 4.0} }
Database content on this page is CC BY-SA 4.0; the database right is separately reserved. Licensing