Back to the source
History, documents, and sources of Karate through original accounts.
Ryūkyū Kenpō: Karate
Gichin Funakoshi’s philosophy and technique in 1922
First complete English edition, featuring a philological translation and extensive historical and editorial apparatus.
Karatejutsu
A project dedicated to the history of Karate, its origins, and the documents that chronicle its evolution.
HISTORY
The historical and cultural context in which Karate developed and evolved.
SOURCES
Texts, photographs, newspapers, and original documents that help reconstruct its history.
RESEARCH
Translations, source comparisons, and in-depth analyses of Karate and its key figures.
The source
The English edition
Ryūkyū Kenpō: Karate
In 1922, Gichin Funakoshi published his first monograph on Karate in Tōkyō. This English edition reproduces the original text through a philological translation and an extensive historical and editorial appendix.
From the Archive
History, sources, documents, and in-depth information on Karate.
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Karate and Japanese language
Read →: Karate and Japanese languageLet’s learn the basics of Japanese that are useful for us karateka: from writing to correct pronunciation, all the way to phonetic rules like rendaku, so we can master the terms used in the…
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Karate, water and tradition
Read →: Karate, water and traditionWater reveals the essence of Karate. Authentic tradition should not freeze the art into rigid dogmas, but rather provide it with solid foundations to guide its pure renewal. Let us rediscover the profound meaning…
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Throws in Karate
Read →: Throws in KarateFar from being merely a percussive art, traditional Karate incorporates throws and joint locks. From the historical teachings of Funakoshi to the principles of nage-waza, we rediscover the authentic completeness of this martial art.
From the original source
Throws in Karate
Far from being merely a striking art, traditional Karate incorporates throws and joint locks. From Funakoshi’s historical teachings to the principles of nage-waza, we rediscover the authentic and original completeness of this martial art.
Gichin Funakoshi
The man, the master, and the historic moment when Karate began its journey to Japan.
The man behind the source
Gichin Funakoshi was a leading figure in the transmission of Okinawan Karate to mainland Japan. His personal history, his teachers, and his relationship with change are an essential part of the history of the art he brought with him.
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