| The Common misconception is that Gichin Funakoshi is | | | | impetuous, perfected his art in the violent red light |
| the father of modern Karate. Well, he could be | | | | districts of his island home. This history, and a daily |
| considered such, except that something odd happened | | | | regimen of makiwara pounding, served him in good |
| a century ago that puts a blot on this conception. | | | | stead. |
| We've got to give him credit for spreading the art, but | | | | One simple punch later Motobu climbed back over the |
| was it the true art? | | | | ropes, the Russian strongman lay sprawled and doing |
| I know what I write here is not going to be what a lot | | | | the one fist snooze. Reporters cheered and wrote |
| of people want to hear, there will be a few people | | | | colorful stories and handed them in. Editors scampered |
| who are going to argue and oppose me. However, the | | | | to make the final edition, and, since they didn't have |
| history that I am about to relay did occur, it is the real | | | | any pics of Motobu, they popped in a picture of some |
| story. That said, please know that I do respect Gichin | | | | guy named Gichin Funakoshi. |
| Funakoshi, one cannot underestimate his importance. | | | | Gichin Funakoshi, a mousey school teacher from |
| In turn of the century, last century, Japan, people, same | | | | Okinawa, got credit for the violent knock out |
| as people all over, loved the human cockfight. It wasn't | | | | performed by Motobu Choki. And Motobu, though he |
| uncommon for people to gather to watch gladiatorial | | | | did teach karate and did spread the art somewhat, |
| contests between different arts and artists. Certain of | | | | because the media did such a bang up job of |
| these gladiators even offered open challenges to the | | | | reporting, got no credit. And Funakoshi became |
| audience, step up if you think you can beat me. | | | | famous and shared Karate with the world, yet, it |
| One night a Russian strongman threw down the | | | | wouldn't have happened without Motobu's one punch |
| gauntlet to the Japanese audience. One can imagine | | | | one kill prowess. |
| the outraged audience, and the surprise when a | | | | Now, you have to ask yourself who has the real |
| frumpy, old Okinawan stepped up to the ring and | | | | karate, a school teacher who benefited from the |
| prepared to fight. The year was 1921, and Karate was | | | | wrong picture, or a rough cob who got the job done. |
| about to become famous. | | | | No, Funakoshi's karate is not bad, and generations of |
| Motobu ChAki was 52 years old when he climbed | | | | karateka have contributed to the art. However, there is |
| through the ropes that night. He had studied with | | | | still that one blot, a hundred years ago, provided by a |
| virtually every Karate master on the island of | | | | man whoknew one punch one kill, which argues the |
| Okinawa, and he had, when he was young and | | | | concept of who had the True Art. |