The Masters
Funakoshi Gichin
"Mastering technique and mastery of self, I am convinced that if young people practice karate with all their heart and all their soul, they will eventually arrive at an understanding of my words. He who is aware of his own weaknesses will remain master of himself in any situation; only a true weakling is capable of true courage. Naturally, a real karate adept must refine his technique. Through training will he be able to recognise his own weaknesses"
Gichin Funakoshi Sensei, Karate do, my way of life
Funakoshi Gichin, widely regarded as the Father of Modern Karate, was born on November 10, 1868, in Yamakawa, Shuri, Okinawa Prefecture. Coming from a samurai lineage, his family had once served as vassals to the Ryukyu Dynasty.
By the age of 11, Funakoshi had already distinguished himself in Ryukyu-style martial arts. He began training under Master Azato Anko and soon reached a level of skill that matched his teacher's, earning recognition as one of the most accomplished martial artists of his time. He also studied karate-jutsu (meaning “Chinese-hand martial art”) under Master Itosu Anko, both of whom were impressed by his noble character.
As Funakoshi continued to hone his skills, he became the chairman of the Okinawa Martial Arts Society and an instructor at the Okinawa Teacher’s School. In 1922, at the age of 54, he introduced Okinawan karate-jutsu at the first Ministry of Education-sponsored Physical Education Exhibition in Japan. This landmark event marked the first public demonstration of karate-jutsu in Japan and catapulted Funakoshi to fame in the Japanese martial arts community.
The founder of modern judo, Kano Jigoro, was quick to recognize Funakoshi’s talents, inviting him and his student Gima Shinkin to demonstrate kata at the Kodokan judo dojo. The event, which was attended by a large crowd, was a tremendous success, and Funakoshi found himself urged to remain in Tokyo.
Seizing the opportunity to further spread the art, Funakoshi began teaching karate at Tokyo’s Meiseijuku, a dormitory for Okinawan students. In 1922, he also published his first book, Ryukyu Kempo Karate, which was the first formal introduction to karate-jutsu in Japan. The book’s fresh and eloquent content sparked a karate boom across the nation.
As karate-jutsu grew in popularity, Funakoshi introduced the first-ever “Dan Ranking Certification” in April 1924. Around this time, influenced by his Zen studies under Abbot Furukawa Gyodo of Enkakuji Temple in Kamakura, Funakoshi began practicing Zen. He reflected on the Buddhist teaching, “form is emptiness and emptiness is form,” and saw its relevance to karate. This led him to change the characters for karate from kara (“Chinese”) and te (“hand”) to kara (“empty”) and te (“hand”), thus redefining the art as “the way of the empty hand.”
To make Okinawan karate more accessible to the rest of Japan, Funakoshi standardized the techniques and theory, translating the names of the kata from Chinese and Okinawan to Japanese. In 1929, after careful consideration, he renamed the art from karate-jutsu to karate-do (“the way of karate” or “the way of the empty hand”) and outlined the Twenty Precepts of Karate, establishing a comprehensive philosophy for the practice.
By this time, karate had become increasingly popular across Japan, and the demand for training spaces was growing. In response, Funakoshi established the Shotokan dojo in 1939, funding it personally. The name “Shoto” was taken from his pen name, which he used in his calligraphy and poetry. “Shoto” means “Pine Waves,” inspired by the sound of wind through pine trees, reminiscent of ocean waves.
Funakoshi had long been teaching karate to high school and university students, leading to the establishment of karate clubs in educational institutions across Japan. This contributed to karate’s growing respect and widespread practice.
During World War II, the Shotokan dojo was destroyed in air raids, and the growth of karate stalled. However, after the war, Funakoshi's followers regrouped and, in 1949, formed the Japan Karate Association (JKA) with Funakoshi as Supreme Master.
On April 10, 1957, the Ministry of Education officially recognized the JKA, granting it legal status. Just 16 days later, at the age of 89, Master Funakoshi passed away. A public memorial service held at the Ryogoku Kokugikan (Ryogoku National Sumo Hall) attracted over 20,000 people, including many prominent figures who came to honor his legacy.
In remembrance of Funakoshi, a memorial monument was erected at Enkakuji Temple in Kamakura. Every year, on April 29th, JKA members visit the monument to pay their respects during the Shoto Festival.
"Karate is, and always has been, a method of self defence, never a technique of aggression. However, it is much more than that. To a dedicated student, it is a form of combined physical and mental discipline from which a student can learn the value of personal attribute such as kindness and sincerity.
To the Karate Master, self-control is quite as important as mastery of the various techniques. The Karateka never seriously uses his skills unless a threat is unavoidable and other defences are inadequate"
Matoshi Nakayama Sensei, Best Karate book
Master Nakayama Masatoshi (1913-1987)
Carrying On the Spirit and Tradition of Funakoshi Gichin’s Work
Master Nakayama Masatoshi was born in April 1913 in Yamaguchi Prefecture, hailing from the Sanada clan in the Nagano region, whose ancestors were skilled instructors of kenjutsu (the art of swordsmanship). Martial arts were in his blood, and from a young age, Nakayama was destined to continue this tradition.
In 1932, Nakayama entered Takushoku University, where he immediately joined the university's karate club. There, he began his training under Master Funakoshi Gichin and his son, Funakoshi Yoshitaka. Nakayama was determined to devote his life to karate, so after graduating, he traveled to China to deepen his studies and training.
Upon returning from China in May 1946, Nakayama reconnected with fellow Shotokan practitioners from his university days. Together, they revived the Shotokan karate tradition, with Funakoshi Gichin as Supreme Master. In 1949, they established the Japan Karate Association (JKA), marking a pivotal moment in the history of karate. In 1955, the JKA built its headquarters dojo in Yotsuya, Tokyo, which sparked the creation of JKA branch dojos across Japan.
The Japan Karate Association's efforts to promote the spirit of karate-do earned recognition from the Ministry of Education (now the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology). In 1957, the JKA was granted exclusive legal recognition as an official association for the promotion of the way of karate.
Throughout the following years, Master Nakayama made immeasurable contributions to the art. He, along with other JKA instructors, developed a rational method of teaching karate that was tailored to students' individual needs, whether for physical development, self-defense, or competition. His approach emphasized that training must be practical and kinesthetically effective. He also scientifically analyzed the best ways to achieve this goal.
To ensure that karate-do's true essence was preserved, Master Nakayama and his disciples created a two-year specialist instructor training program. This remains the only such program in the world of karate. The JKA also became the only karate organization where full-time instructors gathered daily for joint practice, constantly striving to refine and perfect their skills.
Master Nakayama also invented karate's first official match system. The first-ever JKA All Japan Karate Championship took place in October 1957 at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium. The event was so popular that it filled the venue to capacity. Nakayama's adaptation of kata and kumite for the match system was an enormous success. By the 5th JKA All Japan Karate Championship in 1961, the event was attended by His Majesty the Crown Prince of Japan (now His Majesty the Emperor of Japan), and karate's popularity worldwide continued to grow.
Master Nakayama deeply valued the spiritual principles that Master Funakoshi had instilled in him, particularly the virtues of modesty and harmony. He led by example, continually teaching that demonstrating these virtues required both a deep sense of propriety and a constant awareness of the principle that “there is no first attack in karate.”
In practice, Master Nakayama emphasized that each technique should reflect one's strongest and most wholehearted effort. He stressed the inseparable nature of the three aspects of karate—kihon, kata, and kumite—and encouraged students to study them as a unified whole. He often reminded everyone that “the way of karate we pursue is a bare-handed martial art practiced with an unwavering heart in a state of emptiness; it is a way of developing the personality.”
In his later years, Master Nakayama summarized his techniques and philosophy in the renowned 11-volume series Best Karate.
Master Nakayama passed away in 1987 at the age of 74, leaving behind an enduring legacy as one of the most influential figures in the development of modern karate.
Enoeda Keinosuke –
The Shotokan Tiger
(1935 – 2003)
TORA: The Fighting Spirit of Enoeda Keinosuke
"Tora" is the Japanese word for tiger, and it was the nickname given to Keinosuke Enoeda during his fighting days in Japan. Enoeda was a prominent figure within the Japan Karate Association (JKA), the organization that represents Shotokan karate — the most widely practiced style in Japan and Europe. Shotokan has produced many renowned instructors, and Enoeda stands out for his extraordinary fighting spirit and dynamic teaching style. Known around the world for his indomitable will and powerful presence, Enoeda carries on the samurai tradition with honor, drawing from his lineage of two famous samurai families dating back to the Meiji period.
Born on July 4, 1935, in Fukuoka on the island of Kyushu, Enoeda began practicing martial arts at an early age. While his siblings played games, Enoeda, at just seven years old, began training in Judo. Throughout his high school years, he competed in Judo and even became a runner-up in the All Japan High School Championships. At the age of 17, after earning his second-degree black belt in Judo, Enoeda witnessed a demonstration by two members of the Takushoku University Karate Club in Tokyo. Captivated by what he saw, he switched his focus to karate, leaving behind his promising Judo career. Takushoku University was well-known for its strong martial arts program, particularly its rigorous karate club, which was a major reason for Enoeda's decision to enroll.
After two years of training, Enoeda passed his first-degree black belt exam, and by the age of 21, he was made captain of the university’s karate club. It was during his university years that he received instruction from the legendary Funakoshi Gichin, the Okinawan master who had first introduced karate to Japan.
Upon graduating in 1957 with a degree in commerce, Enoeda was invited to join the special instructors’ course at the JKA headquarters. For the next three years, he trained intensely under the guidance of Masatoshi Nakayama, JKA’s chief instructor, and senior instructor Hidetaka Nishiyama. Enoeda's competitive nature saw him regularly participating in tournaments, where he earned numerous victories, including winning the East University Karate Championships. In 1961, he placed third in kumite at the JKA All-Japan Championships, also achieving a high placement in kata. The following year, he improved his standing, securing second place in kumite and repeating his kata success.
In 1963, after a year of intense preparation, Enoeda triumphed in the kumite final, defeating Hiroshi Shirai, a fellow JKA instructor, to become the All-Japan Champion. He was again a finalist in kata. By this time, Enoeda was known across Japan for possessing the strongest punch, attributed to his powerful hip movement and relentless training on the makiwara (striking board).
Up until his 1963 victory, Enoeda had only taught locally at the Tokyo Art College and a military university. However, after his impressive performance at the championships, President Sukarno of Indonesia, who had been in the audience, was so impressed with Enoeda’s fighting prowess that he arranged for Enoeda and Master Nakayama to spend four months in Indonesia, where they taught the President’s bodyguards and military personnel.
With the JKA's global expansion efforts, Master Enoeda began traveling worldwide, spreading Shotokan karate. He eventually settled in Great Britain as the Shotokan Chief Instructor, but his travels also took him to South Africa, the USA, and across Europe, where he worked to grow the practice of karate.
Enoeda's influence in Great Britain helped turn it into one of the strongest karate nations in the world. In addition to developing countless skilled karateka, including many champions, he also worked with a number of film celebrities, coaching them for fight scenes. Actors such as Lee Marvin, Michael Caine, Sean Connery, and Edward Fox sought Enoeda’s expertise, and actress Ingrid Pitt continued to train with him for many years.
Among all the top karate Sensei, Master Enoeda stands apart not only for his remarkable skill and strength but also for his unique energy and charisma. His presence seems to radiate, inspiring those around him. Enoeda has the rare ability to push students beyond their limits, demanding that they perform with more power, precision, and enthusiasm. His teaching method forces students to evolve and strive for excellence in their karate practice, making him not only an exceptional fighter but a transformative instructor.
