Intentando

The Master Text

by
Gichin Funakoshi
translated by
Tsutomu Ohshima

KODANSHA INTERNATIONAL
Tokyo • New York • London

Distributed in the United States by Kodansha America, Inc., and in the United Kingdom and continental Europe by Kodansha Europe Ltd.
Published by Kodansha International Ltd., 17-14 Otowa 1- chome, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 112-8652, and Kodansha America, Inc.
Copyright 1973by Kodansha International Ltd. All rights reserved. Printed in Japan.
ISBN-13: 978-0-87011-190-7
ISBN-10: 0-87011-190-6
ISBN 4-7700-0370-6 (in Japan)
LCC 72-90228
First edition, 1973
14 13 12 11 10 09 08 07 06 40 39 38 37 36 35 34 33 32 31 30

CONTENTS
TS
FOREWORD Vii
POSTHUMOUS NOTE TO THE SECOND EDITION Viii
PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION Viii
1. INTRODUCTION 1
Karate andKarate-do, The Way from Techniques, The Develop¬ment of Karate, Kata, Public Introduction of Karate, The Value of Karate
2. FUNDAMENTAL ELEMENTS 15
The Hand, Stances, Hand Techniques, Foot Techniques
3. BASIC TRAINING 27
4. THE KATA 33
Names of the Kata, Advice on Training, Line of Movement, The Kata
5. ENGAGEMENT MATCHES 209
Significance of Matching, Basic Sparring, Jai, ThrowingTech-niques, Weapons and Karate-do, Self-defense for Women
6. VITAL POINTS OF THE HUMAN BODY 237
Definition, The Vital Points
7. MAXIMS FOR THE TRAINEE 245
APPENDIX 251
How to Make a Makiwara
GLOSSARY 253


FOREWORD
I am highly honored that the family of Master Gichin Funakoshi, through Senior Shigeru Egami and Senior Genshin Hironishi, has permitted me to translate this book.The translation has been ten years in progress, but unhappily the duration is no guarantee of the accuracy of my aim. Rather, it is a reflection of many interruptions and, above all, of my shortcomings in coping with English.
I release this translation at present with some misgivings and with a warning to the reader that I am still unable to read far without uncovering phrases that I feel could berendered more clearly. I hope now at least that my most crooked turns have been made straight. My aim has been to remain as faithful as possible to the master's exact words. Such an attempt must at times put a strain on the English language since idiom frequently resists translation. A freer translation might have attempted, for example, to seek out English prov¬erbs for Japanese expressions, butI think it would have forced a departure from the master's words and perhaps given rise to a distortion of his thoughts. I have sought to avoid this risk as much as possible; I have tried to keep my¬self and my interpretation outside of this work.
I should also mention that I cannot certify absolutely the accuracy of my rendering of some expressions which Master Funakoshi drew from Chineseliterature. I regret that I was unable to locate all of these in their original form; perhaps someday I will be fortunate enough to have the sources identified.
Master Funakoshi worked on three different versions of this book: Rentan Goshin Karate-jutsit and two editions of Karate-do Kyohan. The second edition of the latter he did not live to complete himself. The three versions are close, but minordifferences do exist. This work follows the first edition of Karate-do Kyohan in rendering the kata. Most of the master's students will see some variations from the kata as they have long been practicing them. Where possible, these variations have been pointed out in translator's notes. Such notes are to indicate that, customarily, given moves in the kata have long been done in the describedmanner.
I want to thank three persons who have struggled with me for long hours over this text : Harvard Ito, Don Ridgeway, and Caylor Adkins.
Master Funakoshi expressed the hope that his book would be improved on by later students. That thought may stand for this work as a translation.
TSTITOMTJ OFISHIMA
Tokyo
April 26, 1972

POSTHUMOUS NOTE
TO THE SECOND EDITION
The author, Master Gichin...