Karatedo Tanpenshu:
Funakoshi Short Stories
Compiled & Translated by Patrick & Yuriko
McCarthy
International Ryukyu Karate Research Society
Softcover, 143 pages, $39.95
Reviewed by Rick Reichert
This is an eclectic book about Gichen Funakoshi, who
many consider to be the father of Japanese karate.
But this is not a book of commentary about this master.
Instead, the man, his background and early karate
history are intimately portrayed through his own early
writings, his portraits, many photos and other related
materials.
While not aimed at the martial arts beginner or casual
reader, the book would be enjoyed by historians, researchers,
Shotokan karate practitioners or anyone interested
in the development of karate in the early 20th century.Although
some of this information has been printed elsewhere,
the book does provide new translations, while also
revealing the sources of the information.
Central to the collection are new translations of
five early writings by Funakoshi dating back to 1914
that touch on a wide variety of subjects: His thoughts
on the origin of karate, other former martial artists,
styles of karate, kumite, points of practice and fighting,
the relationship between karate and academic study,
his personal prospective of the introduction of karate
into Japan, his recollections about his teacher Azato
Ankoh as well as the contrast of stillness and action
(yin & yang) and how it relates to karate practice.
An interesting inclusion is an article by Sasaki
Gogai which outlines karate and its possible origins,
an article that Funakoshi had referred to in his 1922
publication, "Ryuku Kempo Karate." Another
article by Graham Nobel provides insights on Gigen's
son, Yoshitaka, thought to have had an important influence
on the development of Shotokan karate.
Also included is a translation of an elusive page
of text written in old style Chinese characters that
Funakoshi carefully included in his early books and
retained in his 1935 book, "Karatedo Kyohan"
and its subsequent editions, but never translated
into Japanese for his readers (or for readers of the
English translation of his book). This text is identified
as an excerpt from the Bubishi, a once secret book
owned and treasured by many of karate's early 20th
century masters. The Bubishi excerpt talks about various
martial art precepts, principles, maxims and strategies
as well as is the importance of knowledge of the rules
of body energy, polarity and flow used in pressure
point applications. That Funakoshi included this text
but never translated it suggest its importance as
a body of knowledge, but also something to be carefully
guarded.
This excerpt is later followed by Funakoshi's own
well known twenty principles. Itosu's (Funakoshi's
teacher) Ten Articles and Bushi Matsumura's (Itosu's
teacher) Seven Virtues are also included. The reader
thus has an opportunity to compare these philosophies
and gain valuable insights to Funakoshi's own heritage
and influences upon him.
The publication is enhanced with nearly 40 pages
of rare and historical photos, portraits, sequences
of technique and translated calligraphy. Among them
are the controversial 925 King Magazine illustrations
that depict the story of Choku Motobu defeating a
foreign boxer in a challenge match, but rather than
Motobu being shown the drawings are of Funakoshi.
Also of interest to many Shotokan practitioners and
many historians is an informal chronology of Funakoshi
as well as a bibliography and a fairly comprehensive
index.
Pat McCarthy should be congratulated on producing
this text. Not only has he contributed to the investigation
and research of karate history, but he is one of only
a few who has produced their results through independent
publications.
Order Information:
This book is not available in bookstores, and must
be ordered from the publisher.i
To order this book, send your name, address (including
country and postal code), credit card (Visa/Master
Card) and credit card details (your name as it appears
on the card, card type, number and expirations date)
to:
International Ryukyu Karate Research Society
PO Box 420
Brisbane 4014, Australia
The $39.95 includes airmail shipping.
Contact Patrick McCarthy at mailto:bujin@bigpond.com
for more information or to make ordering arrangements.
Bank checks and money orders are not accepted for
international customers.
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