Also known as

Teachers (2)

• 
  Funakoshi Gichin

  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
• 
  Nakayama Hakudō

  linkKendo 1balance

  Uncertain - conflicting evidence recorded

  No primary source documents this teaching relationship. The claim appears only in English-language lineage/secondary material (Shotokai Encyclopedia, JKR-UK) and is absent from Japanese-language sources and from first-person accounts, including Gichin Funakoshi's Karate-do - My Way of Life (which describes the use of Nakayama's dojo but not any teaching). Absence of evidence, not explicit denial.

  (1936-1945)

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  4 sources

  fact_check

  No primary source documents this teaching relationship. The claim appears only in English-language lineage/secondary material (Shotokai Encyclopedia, JKR-UK) and is absent from Japanese-language sources and from first-person accounts, including Gichin Funakoshi's Karate-do - My Way of Life (which describes the use of Nakayama's dojo but not any teaching). Absence of evidence, not explicit denial.

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "First of all he created the Gohon Kumite (predetermined sparring with five advancing attacks), a system very much like Kendo, an art that Yoshitaka also practiced and studied under the last Great Master, Hakudo Nakayama, from whom he obtained valuable inspiration for the future karate developments."

  — (1996). Gigo (Yoshitaka) Funakoshi - Shotokai Encyclopedia & Japanese Martial Artslinkinfo

  "Besides teaching Konishi Soke, he also taught kendo and Iaidō to Gigō Funakoshi, the third son of Gichin Funakoshi Sensei. It is thought that this led to the recognised influence in Shotokan of kendo and Iaidō based training."

  — Nakayama Hakudō - JKR-UKlinkinfo

  "In 1930, when Funakoshi was almost 60 years old, he moved out of Meishojuku and took up lodging with this youngest son Yoshitaka at a house in Koishikawa. His new base of teaching karate was set up a nearby Yushinkan, a kendo dojo belonging to Hakudo Nakayama, a well-known kendo master."

  — (1971). Black Belt (magazine), October 1971 linkinfo

  blockdisputes

  "Fortunately, the prominent swordsman and master of kendo Nakayama Hakudo offered Funakoshi the use of his own dojo in Hongo-Yumi-cho during the times when it was unoccupied."

  — Shoshin Nagamine. (1976). Tales of Okinawan Grand Masters (Shoshin Nagamine)info

  linkMuso Shinden Ryu 1balance

  Uncertain - conflicting evidence recorded

  No primary source documents this teaching relationship. The claim appears only in English-language lineage/secondary material (Shotokai Encyclopedia, JKR-UK) and is absent from Japanese-language sources and from first-person accounts, including Gichin Funakoshi's Karate-do - My Way of Life (which describes the use of Nakayama's dojo but not any teaching). Absence of evidence, not explicit denial.

  (1936-1945)

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  3 sources

  fact_check

  No primary source documents this teaching relationship. The claim appears only in English-language lineage/secondary material (Shotokai Encyclopedia, JKR-UK) and is absent from Japanese-language sources and from first-person accounts, including Gichin Funakoshi's Karate-do - My Way of Life (which describes the use of Nakayama's dojo but not any teaching). Absence of evidence, not explicit denial.

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "First of all he created the Gohon Kumite (predetermined sparring with five advancing attacks), a system very much like Kendo, an art that Yoshitaka also practiced and studied under the last Great Master, Hakudo Nakayama, from whom he obtained valuable inspiration for the future karate developments."

  — (1996). Gigo (Yoshitaka) Funakoshi - Shotokai Encyclopedia & Japanese Martial Artslinkinfo

  "Besides teaching Konishi Soke, he also taught kendo and Iaidō to Gigō Funakoshi, the third son of Gichin Funakoshi Sensei. It is thought that this led to the recognised influence in Shotokan of kendo and Iaidō based training."

  — Nakayama Hakudō - JKR-UKlinkinfo

  blockdisputes

  "Fortunately, the prominent swordsman and master of kendo Nakayama Hakudo offered Funakoshi the use of his own dojo in Hongo-Yumi-cho during the times when it was unoccupied."

  — Shoshin Nagamine. (1976). Tales of Okinawan Grand Masters (Shoshin Nagamine)info

Ranks (1)

• linkKarate

  military_tech10 dan 1

  Uncertain

  Posthumous recognition as successor to his father, mentioned in Wikipedia

  Dan-Kyu System

  granted by Funakoshi Gichin

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source

  fact_check

  Posthumous recognition as successor to his father, mentioned in Wikipedia

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "10th dan, successor waka (後継者) sensei to his father"

  — Gigō Funakoshi - Wikipedialink

Students (2)

• 
  Masatoshi Nakayama

  linkShotokan 3

  Confirmed

  Both JKA official biography and Wikipedia confirm Nakayama studied under Funakoshi's son Yoshitaka (Gigō) at Takushoku University

  sports_kabaddiTakushoku University badge (1932-1937)

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  2 sources

  fact_check

  Both JKA official biography and Wikipedia confirm Nakayama studied under Funakoshi's son Yoshitaka (Gigō) 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

  "studying under Master Funakoshi Gichin and one of the master's sons, Funakoshi Yoshitaka"

  — Japan Karate Association. Master Nakayama Masatoshi - Japan Karate Associationlinkinfo
• 
  Hidetaka Nishiyama

  linkShotokan 2

  Probable

  Nishiyama was also taught by Gichin Funakoshi's son Gigō Funakoshi, who divided teaching duties at the honbu dojo with his father

  (1943-1945)

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source

  fact_check

  Nishiyama was also taught by Gichin Funakoshi's son Gigō Funakoshi, who divided teaching duties at the honbu dojo with his father

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "Funakoshi and his son, Gigō Funakoshi, would divide the teaching load evenly between them"

  — Hidetaka Nishiyama (Wikipedia EN)linkinfo

Honors (1)

• receipt_longRenshiRenshi 2

  Probable

  Mentioned in blog article alongside other notable karateka, though source has expired certificate (moved to Patreon)

  Title

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source

  fact_check

  Mentioned in blog article alongside other notable karateka, though source has expired certificate (moved to Patreon)

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "Renshi title holders are Ōtuska Hironori (Wadō-ryū), Funakoshi Gigo (Shōtōkan, Funakoshi Gichin (Shōtōkan)"

  — Ryukyu Bugei blog post (certificate expired) link

Sources