Yasuhiro Konishi
Encyclopedia
was one of the first karateka to teach karate
on mainland Japan
. He was instrumental in developing modern karate
, as well as a driving force in the art's acceptance in Japan. He is credited with developing the style known as Shindo Jinen Ryu (神道自然流).
, Japan
. His martial arts training began at the age of six, in Muso Ryu Jujitsu, which was followed by kendo
when he was 13, and subsequently, Takenouchi-ryū
Jujitsu, a style characterized by strong punches and kicks, similar to those later employed in karate
. In 1915, he entered Keio University
in Tokyo
where he became captain of the school’s kendo
team.
Konishi's first exposure to te (the art form which would later be developed into karate) was through a university classmate named Tsuneshige Arakaki, who was from Okinawa. Konishi found te techniques to be similar to those he had learned in Jujitsu, and although Arakaki was not a master instructor, Konishi was intrigued by the system. After graduating, Konishi entered the business world, but also continued coaching Keio University
’s kendo club. The life of a “salary man” was not fulfilling for him, however, and with the encouragement of his wife, Konishi quit his job in 1923, to open his own martial arts center. Naming his dojo
the Ryobu-Kan ("The House of Martial Arts Excellence"), Sensei Konishi provided instruction in kendo
and jujitsu.
, and Gichin Funakoshi
, respectively the future founders of the Wado-Ryu and Shotokan
styles of karate, came to the Keio University
kendo training hall. Approaching Konishi with a letter of introduction from one of the school’s professors, Funakoshi
asked if it would be possible to use the training hall to practice Ryukyu Kempo To-Te Jutsu
. An inquiry like this would have been considered a “challenge” to Sensei Konishi at the time, and it was unheard of for one martial arts school to allow an instructor from another system to teach in his dojo
. Nonetheless, Konishi remembered his university friend Arakaki's kata
demonstrations, and accepted Funakoshi
's request in the interest of expanding his own knowledge.
Within a month of joining the Ryobu-Kan - and with Sensei Konishi's help - Funakoshi
established a to-te practice club at Keio University
, making it the first university karate
club in Japan
. Senseis Konishi, Funakoshi
, and Ohtsuka
were the principal instructors, and with the addition of to-te to Konishi's curriculum of kendo
, jujitsu, and western boxing, modern karate-jutsu
was born. (Although no names were yet applied to the emerging styles.)
As the Ryobu-Kan became more established, practitioners of what they considered "pure" jujitsu occasionally challenged Sensei Funakoshi
to unarmed combat with the intent of demonstrating their disdain for karate
and the superiority of jujitsu. Under the traditions of budo
– the Japanese martial tradition - however, the master of a school or style could not be directly challenged. Instead, a challenge was first issued to a senior student, and if the challenger was victorious, he could then challenge the master. If the challenger defeated the master, he claimed the defeated dojo
's sign as a trophy - a profound humiliation for the losing school - but one never experienced by the Ryobu-Kan. Acting as Funakoshi
's senior students, Konishi and Ohtsuka
were victorious in all the challenges they faced.
, and because of Sensei Konishi's open-mindedness, many of these budoka
(martial artists) visited the Ryobu-Kan to exchange techniques and teach. Among them were Kenwa Mabuni
(founder of Shito-Ryu karate), Chojun Miyagi
(founder of Goju-Ryu karate), and Choki Motobu, one of the most renowned fighters of his day. These three men profoundly influenced Konishi in various ways, and helped shape his own emerging style of karate.
Konishi considered Motobu in particular to be a martial arts genius, and trained with him as frequently as he could. A native of Okinawa, Motobu did not speak Japanese
well, and was forced to rely on others to translate for him when he taught. A man of modest means, Motobu also had difficulty making ends meet on his visits to Japan
. Konishi made every effort to assist him, however, and organized the Choki Motobu Support Society to that end, arranged seminars and training sessions for which Motobu was able to collect instruction fees, and frequently accompanied him to assist in explaining concepts and techniques.
Konishi did not train with Miyagi
as much or as often as he did with other karate masters, but the Goju-Ryu soke
made a significant impact on his knowledge of karate by presenting him with an original manuscript, "An Outline of Karate-Do", dated March 23, 1934. This document is considered a foundational work in the realm of karate, and was only translated into English in the late 20th century. Konishi trained extensively with Kenwa Mabuni
, who resided at Konishi's house for ten months in 1927 and 1928, and the two men became very close friends. Mabuni was celebrated for the depth of his knowledge of kata
, and Konishi later developed the kata
Seiryu in collaboration with him.
masters, Konishi also studied under Sensei Morihei Ueshiba
, who would later found aikido
, but who was teaching Daito-Ryu Aikijujitsu at the time. Konishi considered Ueshiba
the best martial artist he had ever encountered, and having already studied karate
for a number of years, was eager to get his thoughts on this new art. With that in mind, Konishi demonstrated Heian Nidan - a kata
he had learned from Funakoshi
- to Ueshiba
. Ueshiba
was unimpressed, however, and opined that Konishi should cease pursuing what he perceived to be ineffective techniques.
This came as a blow to Konishi, who was committed to karate
but also greatly respected Ueshiba
's opinions. Still believing that karate
held tremendous value, Konishi felt he had the responsibility to develop it, and asked Ueshiba
to allow him to continue training in karate with the intent of improving its techniques to a level that would make it acceptable to his teacher. After many months of research and experimentation, Konishi created a kata he named Tai Sabaki
(“body movement”). This form was rooted in the fundamentals of karate
but also incorporated principles found in Ueshiba
's teachings. A notable difference from most karate
kata
was the fact that, although Tai Sabaki contained no complex movements, it was an unbroken chain of actions, performed without any complete stops. After seeing his student demonstrate it, Sensei Ueshiba
remarked, "The demonstration you did just now was satisfactory to me, and that kata
is worth mastering." Konishi would later developed two more forms based on the same principles, and these three kata
became known as Tai Sabaki Shodan, Tai Sabaki Nidan, and Tai Sabaki Sandan.
("Greater Japan Martial Virtue Society") is the governing Japanese governing body for budo
. It is tasked with encouraging, promoting, and standardizing all martial disciplines and systems in Japan
, and in the early part of the 20th century, it not only set the standards for ranking individual martial artists, but signed all certificates of membership.
Already a member of the Dai Nippon Butoku Kai
because of his kendo
and jujitsu training, Konishi felt strongly that karate should become part of Japanese education, and petitioned to have karate
officially recognized as a martial art. However, while the Dai Nippon Butoku Kai
continued to award titles in jujitsu and judo
, karate
was not acknowledged until 1935. With eventual recognition, however, came kyoshi
("master instructor") rankings for Konishi, Miyagi
and Sannosuke Ueshima
(the founder of Kushin-Ryu karate
).
required that all budo
have distinct names, and Konishi encouraged his contemporaries to name their individual styles. Taking the Japanese words for "hard" ("go") and "soft" ("ju"), Sensei Miyagi
named his style Goju-Ryu, since it blended hard and soft techniques. Sensei Mabuni
, who had studied under Okinawan to-te masters Yasutsune (Anko) Itosu
and Kanryo Higashionna, named his style Shito-Ryu, combining the first kanji
from each of their names. For Sensei Ohtsuka
, the study of budo
placed one in harmony ("wa") with the universe, and his style became known as Wado-Ryu. Sensei Ueshima
rooted the name Kushin-Ryu ("Sky-Heart") in the concept of harmony between the universe and the individual. And students convinced Sensei Funakoshi
to name his style Shotokan
, after Shoto ("Pine Waves"), his pen name.
For himself, Sensei Konishi believed that if one lives a moral life, then one is naturally following the divine way. Extending this idea, he posited that, if training in karate
in a natural way leads one to mastery of one's body, knowledge and experience are vastly increased, and the foundation for naturally living a moral life is established. For this reason, and at the recommendation of Morihei Ueshiba
(the founder of Aikido
and Shinto
scholar Danjo Yamaguchi, Konishi named his own style Shindo Jinen Ryu Karate-Jutsu ("godly, natural style, complete empty-handed way").
In 1938, in recognition of his role as one of the pioneers of Japanese karate
, and because of his efforts to advance the art, the Dai Nippon Butoku Kai
appointed Konishi chairman of the committee that screened all licensing applications for karate.
approached Sensei Konishi and asked him to develop self-defense techniques for women serving in the Japanese Government Railways
. At the time, Konishi, Ueshiba
, Mabuni
and Ohtsuka
were training together almost daily, and Konishi asked Mabuni
to work with him on delivering what the government had requested.
Together, the two men developed a kata
incorporating significant elements of their respective styles, Shindo Jinen Ryu
and Shito-Ryu, as well as feedback from Sensei Ueshiba
, who advised them on changes intended to more closely tailor the techniques included in the form to the needs of women, for whom it was being designed. The kata
that resulted from the collaboration between these three masters - Seiryu - includes core principles from karate, aikido and jujitsu, and became part of the training regiment for female railway workers.
embroiled in World War II
, the continued evolution and refinement of karate
plateaued as many practitioners enlisted to fight for their country. With Japan
's surrender in 1945, however, the nation's male population returned, only to encounter a prohibition on the practice of all martial arts
(with the exception of sumo
) that had been ordered by General Douglas MacArthur
, commander of the Allied Occupation. As life slowly returned to normal, General MacArthur
's ban was lifted, and Sensei Konishi worked dilligently to revive the practice of both kendo
and karate
.
, Konishi used budo
training in his personal quest to build character while creating harmony between body, mind, and art. He believed karate
and Zen
are different aspects of the same thing, and expressed that conviction in a short poem:
While less famous than many of his contemporaries outside of Japan
, Konishi is today recognized as one of history's most significant budo
masters. He was a successful businessman, teacher, and political activist, who strove to bring respectability to martial arts
, and his efforts are a major reason that karate
enjoys the position it does today. Sensei Konishi died in 1983.
Karate
is a martial art developed in the Ryukyu Islands in what is now Okinawa, Japan. It was developed from indigenous fighting methods called and Chinese kenpō. Karate is a striking art using punching, kicking, knee and elbow strikes, and open-handed techniques such as knife-hands. Grappling, locks,...
on mainland Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. He was instrumental in developing modern karate
Karate
is a martial art developed in the Ryukyu Islands in what is now Okinawa, Japan. It was developed from indigenous fighting methods called and Chinese kenpō. Karate is a striking art using punching, kicking, knee and elbow strikes, and open-handed techniques such as knife-hands. Grappling, locks,...
, as well as a driving force in the art's acceptance in Japan. He is credited with developing the style known as Shindo Jinen Ryu (神道自然流).
Early Life
Yasuhiro Konishi was born in 1893 in Takamatsu, KagawaTakamatsu, Kagawa
is a city located in central Kagawa Prefecture on the island of Shikoku in Japan, and is the seat of the prefectural government. It is designated a core city by the Japanese Government. It is a port city located on the Seto Inland Sea, and is the closest port to Honshu from Shikoku island...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. His martial arts training began at the age of six, in Muso Ryu Jujitsu, which was followed by kendo
Kendo
, meaning "Way of The Sword", is a modern Japanese martial art of sword-fighting based on traditional Japanese swordsmanship, or kenjutsu.Kendo is a physically and mentally challenging activity that combines strong martial arts values with sport-like physical elements.-Practitioners:Practitioners...
when he was 13, and subsequently, Takenouchi-ryū
Takenouchi-ryu
is one of the oldest jujutsu koryū in Japan. It was founded in 1532, the first year of Tenbun on the twenty-fourth of the sixth lunar month by Takenouchi Chūnagon Daijō Nakatsukasadaiyū Hisamori, the lord of Ichinose Castle in Sakushū...
Jujitsu, a style characterized by strong punches and kicks, similar to those later employed in karate
Karate
is a martial art developed in the Ryukyu Islands in what is now Okinawa, Japan. It was developed from indigenous fighting methods called and Chinese kenpō. Karate is a striking art using punching, kicking, knee and elbow strikes, and open-handed techniques such as knife-hands. Grappling, locks,...
. In 1915, he entered Keio University
Keio University
,abbreviated as Keio or Keidai , is a Japanese university located in Minato, Tokyo. It is known as the oldest institute of higher education in Japan. Founder Fukuzawa Yukichi originally established it as a school for Western studies in 1858 in Edo . It has eleven campuses in Tokyo and Kanagawa...
in Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
where he became captain of the school’s kendo
Kendo
, meaning "Way of The Sword", is a modern Japanese martial art of sword-fighting based on traditional Japanese swordsmanship, or kenjutsu.Kendo is a physically and mentally challenging activity that combines strong martial arts values with sport-like physical elements.-Practitioners:Practitioners...
team.
Konishi's first exposure to te (the art form which would later be developed into karate) was through a university classmate named Tsuneshige Arakaki, who was from Okinawa. Konishi found te techniques to be similar to those he had learned in Jujitsu, and although Arakaki was not a master instructor, Konishi was intrigued by the system. After graduating, Konishi entered the business world, but also continued coaching Keio University
Keio University
,abbreviated as Keio or Keidai , is a Japanese university located in Minato, Tokyo. It is known as the oldest institute of higher education in Japan. Founder Fukuzawa Yukichi originally established it as a school for Western studies in 1858 in Edo . It has eleven campuses in Tokyo and Kanagawa...
’s kendo club. The life of a “salary man” was not fulfilling for him, however, and with the encouragement of his wife, Konishi quit his job in 1923, to open his own martial arts center. Naming his dojo
Dojo
A is a Japanese term which literally means "place of the way". Initially, dōjōs were adjunct to temples. The term can refer to a formal training place for any of the Japanese do arts but typically it is considered the formal gathering place for students of any Japanese martial arts style to...
the Ryobu-Kan ("The House of Martial Arts Excellence"), Sensei Konishi provided instruction in kendo
Kendo
, meaning "Way of The Sword", is a modern Japanese martial art of sword-fighting based on traditional Japanese swordsmanship, or kenjutsu.Kendo is a physically and mentally challenging activity that combines strong martial arts values with sport-like physical elements.-Practitioners:Practitioners...
and jujitsu.
Training with Japanese Masters
In September, 1924, Hironori OhtsukaHironori Ohtsuka
was a Japanese master of karate who created the Wadō-ryū style of karate. He was the first Grand Master of Wadō-ryū karate, and received high awards within Japan for his contributions to karate.-Early life:...
, and Gichin Funakoshi
Gichin Funakoshi
was the creator of Shotokan karate, perhaps the most widely known style of karate, and is attributed as being the 'father of modern karate.' Following the teachings of Anko Itosu, he was one of the Okinawan karate masters who introduced karate to the Japanese mainland in 1921...
, respectively the future founders of the Wado-Ryu and Shotokan
Shotokan
is a style of karate, developed from various martial arts by Gichin Funakoshi and his son Gigo Funakoshi . Gichin was born in Okinawa and is widely credited with popularizing karate through a series of public demonstrations, and by promoting the development of university karate clubs, including...
styles of karate, came to the Keio University
Keio University
,abbreviated as Keio or Keidai , is a Japanese university located in Minato, Tokyo. It is known as the oldest institute of higher education in Japan. Founder Fukuzawa Yukichi originally established it as a school for Western studies in 1858 in Edo . It has eleven campuses in Tokyo and Kanagawa...
kendo training hall. Approaching Konishi with a letter of introduction from one of the school’s professors, Funakoshi
Gichin Funakoshi
was the creator of Shotokan karate, perhaps the most widely known style of karate, and is attributed as being the 'father of modern karate.' Following the teachings of Anko Itosu, he was one of the Okinawan karate masters who introduced karate to the Japanese mainland in 1921...
asked if it would be possible to use the training hall to practice Ryukyu Kempo To-Te Jutsu
Ryukyu Kempo
Ryūkyū Kempo is a generic term often used to describe all forms of karate from the Ryūkyū Islands, and more specifically to refer to the particular styles associated with Taika Seiyu Oyata and, without any form of endorsement by Oyata or his organization, with George Dillman.Oyata is credited with...
. An inquiry like this would have been considered a “challenge” to Sensei Konishi at the time, and it was unheard of for one martial arts school to allow an instructor from another system to teach in his dojo
Dojo
A is a Japanese term which literally means "place of the way". Initially, dōjōs were adjunct to temples. The term can refer to a formal training place for any of the Japanese do arts but typically it is considered the formal gathering place for students of any Japanese martial arts style to...
. Nonetheless, Konishi remembered his university friend Arakaki's kata
Kata
is a Japanese word describing detailed choreographed patterns of movements practised either solo or in pairs. The term form is used for the corresponding concept in non-Japanese martial arts in general....
demonstrations, and accepted Funakoshi
Gichin Funakoshi
was the creator of Shotokan karate, perhaps the most widely known style of karate, and is attributed as being the 'father of modern karate.' Following the teachings of Anko Itosu, he was one of the Okinawan karate masters who introduced karate to the Japanese mainland in 1921...
's request in the interest of expanding his own knowledge.
Within a month of joining the Ryobu-Kan - and with Sensei Konishi's help - Funakoshi
Gichin Funakoshi
was the creator of Shotokan karate, perhaps the most widely known style of karate, and is attributed as being the 'father of modern karate.' Following the teachings of Anko Itosu, he was one of the Okinawan karate masters who introduced karate to the Japanese mainland in 1921...
established a to-te practice club at Keio University
Keio University
,abbreviated as Keio or Keidai , is a Japanese university located in Minato, Tokyo. It is known as the oldest institute of higher education in Japan. Founder Fukuzawa Yukichi originally established it as a school for Western studies in 1858 in Edo . It has eleven campuses in Tokyo and Kanagawa...
, making it the first university karate
Karate
is a martial art developed in the Ryukyu Islands in what is now Okinawa, Japan. It was developed from indigenous fighting methods called and Chinese kenpō. Karate is a striking art using punching, kicking, knee and elbow strikes, and open-handed techniques such as knife-hands. Grappling, locks,...
club in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. Senseis Konishi, Funakoshi
Gichin Funakoshi
was the creator of Shotokan karate, perhaps the most widely known style of karate, and is attributed as being the 'father of modern karate.' Following the teachings of Anko Itosu, he was one of the Okinawan karate masters who introduced karate to the Japanese mainland in 1921...
, and Ohtsuka
Hironori Ohtsuka
was a Japanese master of karate who created the Wadō-ryū style of karate. He was the first Grand Master of Wadō-ryū karate, and received high awards within Japan for his contributions to karate.-Early life:...
were the principal instructors, and with the addition of to-te to Konishi's curriculum of kendo
Kendo
, meaning "Way of The Sword", is a modern Japanese martial art of sword-fighting based on traditional Japanese swordsmanship, or kenjutsu.Kendo is a physically and mentally challenging activity that combines strong martial arts values with sport-like physical elements.-Practitioners:Practitioners...
, jujitsu, and western boxing, modern karate-jutsu
Karate
is a martial art developed in the Ryukyu Islands in what is now Okinawa, Japan. It was developed from indigenous fighting methods called and Chinese kenpō. Karate is a striking art using punching, kicking, knee and elbow strikes, and open-handed techniques such as knife-hands. Grappling, locks,...
was born. (Although no names were yet applied to the emerging styles.)
As the Ryobu-Kan became more established, practitioners of what they considered "pure" jujitsu occasionally challenged Sensei Funakoshi
Gichin Funakoshi
was the creator of Shotokan karate, perhaps the most widely known style of karate, and is attributed as being the 'father of modern karate.' Following the teachings of Anko Itosu, he was one of the Okinawan karate masters who introduced karate to the Japanese mainland in 1921...
to unarmed combat with the intent of demonstrating their disdain for karate
Karate
is a martial art developed in the Ryukyu Islands in what is now Okinawa, Japan. It was developed from indigenous fighting methods called and Chinese kenpō. Karate is a striking art using punching, kicking, knee and elbow strikes, and open-handed techniques such as knife-hands. Grappling, locks,...
and the superiority of jujitsu. Under the traditions of budo
Budo
is a Japanese term describing martial arts. In English, it is used almost exclusively in reference to Japanese martial arts.-Etymology:Budō is a compound of the root bu , meaning war or martial; and dō , meaning path or way. Specifically, dō is derived from the Buddhist Sanskrit mārga...
– the Japanese martial tradition - however, the master of a school or style could not be directly challenged. Instead, a challenge was first issued to a senior student, and if the challenger was victorious, he could then challenge the master. If the challenger defeated the master, he claimed the defeated dojo
Dojo
A is a Japanese term which literally means "place of the way". Initially, dōjōs were adjunct to temples. The term can refer to a formal training place for any of the Japanese do arts but typically it is considered the formal gathering place for students of any Japanese martial arts style to...
's sign as a trophy - a profound humiliation for the losing school - but one never experienced by the Ryobu-Kan. Acting as Funakoshi
Gichin Funakoshi
was the creator of Shotokan karate, perhaps the most widely known style of karate, and is attributed as being the 'father of modern karate.' Following the teachings of Anko Itosu, he was one of the Okinawan karate masters who introduced karate to the Japanese mainland in 1921...
's senior students, Konishi and Ohtsuka
Hironori Ohtsuka
was a Japanese master of karate who created the Wadō-ryū style of karate. He was the first Grand Master of Wadō-ryū karate, and received high awards within Japan for his contributions to karate.-Early life:...
were victorious in all the challenges they faced.
Training with Okinawan Masters
As karate gained popularity, a number of Okinawan masters began traveling to JapanJapan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, and because of Sensei Konishi's open-mindedness, many of these budoka
Budo
is a Japanese term describing martial arts. In English, it is used almost exclusively in reference to Japanese martial arts.-Etymology:Budō is a compound of the root bu , meaning war or martial; and dō , meaning path or way. Specifically, dō is derived from the Buddhist Sanskrit mārga...
(martial artists) visited the Ryobu-Kan to exchange techniques and teach. Among them were Kenwa Mabuni
Kenwa Mabuni
was one of the first karateka to teach karate on mainland Japan and is creditied as developing the style known as Shitō-ryū .-Achievements:# Funakoshi Gichin learned kata from Kenwa Mabuni: In order to expand his knowledge he sent his son Gigō to study kata in Mabuni's dōjō in Osaka.# Kenwa Mabuni,...
(founder of Shito-Ryu karate), Chojun Miyagi
Chojun Miyagi
was an Okinawan martial artist who founded the Goju-ryu school of karate.-Early life and training:Miyagi was born in Higashimachi, Naha, Okinawa on April 25, 1888, the adopted son of a wealthy businessman. He began his study in Karate-do at the age of nine . He first learned martial arts from Ryuko...
(founder of Goju-Ryu karate), and Choki Motobu, one of the most renowned fighters of his day. These three men profoundly influenced Konishi in various ways, and helped shape his own emerging style of karate.
Konishi considered Motobu in particular to be a martial arts genius, and trained with him as frequently as he could. A native of Okinawa, Motobu did not speak Japanese
Japanese language
is a language spoken by over 130 million people in Japan and in Japanese emigrant communities. It is a member of the Japonic language family, which has a number of proposed relationships with other languages, none of which has gained wide acceptance among historical linguists .Japanese is an...
well, and was forced to rely on others to translate for him when he taught. A man of modest means, Motobu also had difficulty making ends meet on his visits to Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. Konishi made every effort to assist him, however, and organized the Choki Motobu Support Society to that end, arranged seminars and training sessions for which Motobu was able to collect instruction fees, and frequently accompanied him to assist in explaining concepts and techniques.
Konishi did not train with Miyagi
Chojun Miyagi
was an Okinawan martial artist who founded the Goju-ryu school of karate.-Early life and training:Miyagi was born in Higashimachi, Naha, Okinawa on April 25, 1888, the adopted son of a wealthy businessman. He began his study in Karate-do at the age of nine . He first learned martial arts from Ryuko...
as much or as often as he did with other karate masters, but the Goju-Ryu soke
Soke
The word soke has several meanings:* Soke , an early Western jurisdictional concept.* Soke or eke is a Tongan stick dance, originating from Wallis and Futuna., a Japanese title meaning "head of the family," and is usually used to denote the headmaster of a school of Japanese martial arts.* Soke of...
made a significant impact on his knowledge of karate by presenting him with an original manuscript, "An Outline of Karate-Do", dated March 23, 1934. This document is considered a foundational work in the realm of karate, and was only translated into English in the late 20th century. Konishi trained extensively with Kenwa Mabuni
Kenwa Mabuni
was one of the first karateka to teach karate on mainland Japan and is creditied as developing the style known as Shitō-ryū .-Achievements:# Funakoshi Gichin learned kata from Kenwa Mabuni: In order to expand his knowledge he sent his son Gigō to study kata in Mabuni's dōjō in Osaka.# Kenwa Mabuni,...
, who resided at Konishi's house for ten months in 1927 and 1928, and the two men became very close friends. Mabuni was celebrated for the depth of his knowledge of kata
Kata
is a Japanese word describing detailed choreographed patterns of movements practised either solo or in pairs. The term form is used for the corresponding concept in non-Japanese martial arts in general....
, and Konishi later developed the kata
Kata
is a Japanese word describing detailed choreographed patterns of movements practised either solo or in pairs. The term form is used for the corresponding concept in non-Japanese martial arts in general....
Seiryu in collaboration with him.
The Influence of Morihei Ueshiba
In addition to training with fellow karateKarate
is a martial art developed in the Ryukyu Islands in what is now Okinawa, Japan. It was developed from indigenous fighting methods called and Chinese kenpō. Karate is a striking art using punching, kicking, knee and elbow strikes, and open-handed techniques such as knife-hands. Grappling, locks,...
masters, Konishi also studied under Sensei Morihei Ueshiba
Morihei Ueshiba
was a famous martial artist and founder of the Japanese martial art of aikido. He is often referred to as "the founder" or , "Great Teacher".-Early years:Morihei Ueshiba was born in Tanabe, Wakayama Prefecture, Japan on December 14, 1883....
, who would later found aikido
Aikido
is a Japanese martial art developed by Morihei Ueshiba as a synthesis of his martial studies, philosophy, and religious beliefs. Aikido is often translated as "the Way of unifying life energy" or as "the Way of harmonious spirit." Ueshiba's goal was to create an art that practitioners could use to...
, but who was teaching Daito-Ryu Aikijujitsu at the time. Konishi considered Ueshiba
Morihei Ueshiba
was a famous martial artist and founder of the Japanese martial art of aikido. He is often referred to as "the founder" or , "Great Teacher".-Early years:Morihei Ueshiba was born in Tanabe, Wakayama Prefecture, Japan on December 14, 1883....
the best martial artist he had ever encountered, and having already studied karate
Karate
is a martial art developed in the Ryukyu Islands in what is now Okinawa, Japan. It was developed from indigenous fighting methods called and Chinese kenpō. Karate is a striking art using punching, kicking, knee and elbow strikes, and open-handed techniques such as knife-hands. Grappling, locks,...
for a number of years, was eager to get his thoughts on this new art. With that in mind, Konishi demonstrated Heian Nidan - a kata
Kata
is a Japanese word describing detailed choreographed patterns of movements practised either solo or in pairs. The term form is used for the corresponding concept in non-Japanese martial arts in general....
he had learned from Funakoshi
Gichin Funakoshi
was the creator of Shotokan karate, perhaps the most widely known style of karate, and is attributed as being the 'father of modern karate.' Following the teachings of Anko Itosu, he was one of the Okinawan karate masters who introduced karate to the Japanese mainland in 1921...
- to Ueshiba
Morihei Ueshiba
was a famous martial artist and founder of the Japanese martial art of aikido. He is often referred to as "the founder" or , "Great Teacher".-Early years:Morihei Ueshiba was born in Tanabe, Wakayama Prefecture, Japan on December 14, 1883....
. Ueshiba
Morihei Ueshiba
was a famous martial artist and founder of the Japanese martial art of aikido. He is often referred to as "the founder" or , "Great Teacher".-Early years:Morihei Ueshiba was born in Tanabe, Wakayama Prefecture, Japan on December 14, 1883....
was unimpressed, however, and opined that Konishi should cease pursuing what he perceived to be ineffective techniques.
This came as a blow to Konishi, who was committed to karate
Karate
is a martial art developed in the Ryukyu Islands in what is now Okinawa, Japan. It was developed from indigenous fighting methods called and Chinese kenpō. Karate is a striking art using punching, kicking, knee and elbow strikes, and open-handed techniques such as knife-hands. Grappling, locks,...
but also greatly respected Ueshiba
Morihei Ueshiba
was a famous martial artist and founder of the Japanese martial art of aikido. He is often referred to as "the founder" or , "Great Teacher".-Early years:Morihei Ueshiba was born in Tanabe, Wakayama Prefecture, Japan on December 14, 1883....
's opinions. Still believing that karate
Karate
is a martial art developed in the Ryukyu Islands in what is now Okinawa, Japan. It was developed from indigenous fighting methods called and Chinese kenpō. Karate is a striking art using punching, kicking, knee and elbow strikes, and open-handed techniques such as knife-hands. Grappling, locks,...
held tremendous value, Konishi felt he had the responsibility to develop it, and asked Ueshiba
Morihei Ueshiba
was a famous martial artist and founder of the Japanese martial art of aikido. He is often referred to as "the founder" or , "Great Teacher".-Early years:Morihei Ueshiba was born in Tanabe, Wakayama Prefecture, Japan on December 14, 1883....
to allow him to continue training in karate with the intent of improving its techniques to a level that would make it acceptable to his teacher. After many months of research and experimentation, Konishi created a kata he named Tai Sabaki
Tai sabaki
is a term from Japanese martial arts and which relates to 'whole body movement', or repositioning. It can be translated as body-management. It is a term used widely in kendo, jujutsu, aikido, judo, karate and ninjutsu...
(“body movement”). This form was rooted in the fundamentals of karate
Karate
is a martial art developed in the Ryukyu Islands in what is now Okinawa, Japan. It was developed from indigenous fighting methods called and Chinese kenpō. Karate is a striking art using punching, kicking, knee and elbow strikes, and open-handed techniques such as knife-hands. Grappling, locks,...
but also incorporated principles found in Ueshiba
Morihei Ueshiba
was a famous martial artist and founder of the Japanese martial art of aikido. He is often referred to as "the founder" or , "Great Teacher".-Early years:Morihei Ueshiba was born in Tanabe, Wakayama Prefecture, Japan on December 14, 1883....
's teachings. A notable difference from most karate
Karate
is a martial art developed in the Ryukyu Islands in what is now Okinawa, Japan. It was developed from indigenous fighting methods called and Chinese kenpō. Karate is a striking art using punching, kicking, knee and elbow strikes, and open-handed techniques such as knife-hands. Grappling, locks,...
kata
Kata
is a Japanese word describing detailed choreographed patterns of movements practised either solo or in pairs. The term form is used for the corresponding concept in non-Japanese martial arts in general....
was the fact that, although Tai Sabaki contained no complex movements, it was an unbroken chain of actions, performed without any complete stops. After seeing his student demonstrate it, Sensei Ueshiba
Morihei Ueshiba
was a famous martial artist and founder of the Japanese martial art of aikido. He is often referred to as "the founder" or , "Great Teacher".-Early years:Morihei Ueshiba was born in Tanabe, Wakayama Prefecture, Japan on December 14, 1883....
remarked, "The demonstration you did just now was satisfactory to me, and that kata
Kata
is a Japanese word describing detailed choreographed patterns of movements practised either solo or in pairs. The term form is used for the corresponding concept in non-Japanese martial arts in general....
is worth mastering." Konishi would later developed two more forms based on the same principles, and these three kata
Kata
is a Japanese word describing detailed choreographed patterns of movements practised either solo or in pairs. The term form is used for the corresponding concept in non-Japanese martial arts in general....
became known as Tai Sabaki Shodan, Tai Sabaki Nidan, and Tai Sabaki Sandan.
Formal Acceptance of Karate in Japan
Established in 1895, the Dai Nippon Butoku KaiDai Nippon Butoku Kai
is a Japanese martial arts organization established in 1895 in Kyoto, Japan, under the authority of the Ministry of Education and sanction of the Emperor Meiji. Its purpose, at that time, was to standardize martial disciplines and systems throughout Japan. This was the first official martial arts...
("Greater Japan Martial Virtue Society") is the governing Japanese governing body for budo
Budo
is a Japanese term describing martial arts. In English, it is used almost exclusively in reference to Japanese martial arts.-Etymology:Budō is a compound of the root bu , meaning war or martial; and dō , meaning path or way. Specifically, dō is derived from the Buddhist Sanskrit mārga...
. It is tasked with encouraging, promoting, and standardizing all martial disciplines and systems in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, and in the early part of the 20th century, it not only set the standards for ranking individual martial artists, but signed all certificates of membership.
Already a member of the Dai Nippon Butoku Kai
Dai Nippon Butoku Kai
is a Japanese martial arts organization established in 1895 in Kyoto, Japan, under the authority of the Ministry of Education and sanction of the Emperor Meiji. Its purpose, at that time, was to standardize martial disciplines and systems throughout Japan. This was the first official martial arts...
because of his kendo
Kendo
, meaning "Way of The Sword", is a modern Japanese martial art of sword-fighting based on traditional Japanese swordsmanship, or kenjutsu.Kendo is a physically and mentally challenging activity that combines strong martial arts values with sport-like physical elements.-Practitioners:Practitioners...
and jujitsu training, Konishi felt strongly that karate should become part of Japanese education, and petitioned to have karate
Karate
is a martial art developed in the Ryukyu Islands in what is now Okinawa, Japan. It was developed from indigenous fighting methods called and Chinese kenpō. Karate is a striking art using punching, kicking, knee and elbow strikes, and open-handed techniques such as knife-hands. Grappling, locks,...
officially recognized as a martial art. However, while the Dai Nippon Butoku Kai
Dai Nippon Butoku Kai
is a Japanese martial arts organization established in 1895 in Kyoto, Japan, under the authority of the Ministry of Education and sanction of the Emperor Meiji. Its purpose, at that time, was to standardize martial disciplines and systems throughout Japan. This was the first official martial arts...
continued to award titles in jujitsu and judo
Judo
is a modern martial art and combat sport created in Japan in 1882 by Jigoro Kano. Its most prominent feature is its competitive element, where the object is to either throw or takedown one's opponent to the ground, immobilize or otherwise subdue one's opponent with a grappling maneuver, or force an...
, karate
Karate
is a martial art developed in the Ryukyu Islands in what is now Okinawa, Japan. It was developed from indigenous fighting methods called and Chinese kenpō. Karate is a striking art using punching, kicking, knee and elbow strikes, and open-handed techniques such as knife-hands. Grappling, locks,...
was not acknowledged until 1935. With eventual recognition, however, came kyoshi
Japanese honorifics
The Japanese language has many honorifics, parts of speech which show respect, and their use is mandatory in many social situations. Honorifics in Japanese may be used to emphasize social distance or disparity in rank, or to emphasize social intimacy or similarity in rank.The system of honorifics...
("master instructor") rankings for Konishi, Miyagi
Chojun Miyagi
was an Okinawan martial artist who founded the Goju-ryu school of karate.-Early life and training:Miyagi was born in Higashimachi, Naha, Okinawa on April 25, 1888, the adopted son of a wealthy businessman. He began his study in Karate-do at the age of nine . He first learned martial arts from Ryuko...
and Sannosuke Ueshima
Sannosuke Ueshima
Kiyotada Sannosuke Ueshima was a Japanese martial arts master who developed and founded the Kushin-ryu style of karate in Osaka, Japan.-Karate-do:...
(the founder of Kushin-Ryu karate
Karate
is a martial art developed in the Ryukyu Islands in what is now Okinawa, Japan. It was developed from indigenous fighting methods called and Chinese kenpō. Karate is a striking art using punching, kicking, knee and elbow strikes, and open-handed techniques such as knife-hands. Grappling, locks,...
).
The Naming of Shindo Jinen Ryu
The Dai Nippon Butoku KaiDai Nippon Butoku Kai
is a Japanese martial arts organization established in 1895 in Kyoto, Japan, under the authority of the Ministry of Education and sanction of the Emperor Meiji. Its purpose, at that time, was to standardize martial disciplines and systems throughout Japan. This was the first official martial arts...
required that all budo
Budo
is a Japanese term describing martial arts. In English, it is used almost exclusively in reference to Japanese martial arts.-Etymology:Budō is a compound of the root bu , meaning war or martial; and dō , meaning path or way. Specifically, dō is derived from the Buddhist Sanskrit mārga...
have distinct names, and Konishi encouraged his contemporaries to name their individual styles. Taking the Japanese words for "hard" ("go") and "soft" ("ju"), Sensei Miyagi
Chojun Miyagi
was an Okinawan martial artist who founded the Goju-ryu school of karate.-Early life and training:Miyagi was born in Higashimachi, Naha, Okinawa on April 25, 1888, the adopted son of a wealthy businessman. He began his study in Karate-do at the age of nine . He first learned martial arts from Ryuko...
named his style Goju-Ryu, since it blended hard and soft techniques. Sensei Mabuni
Kenwa Mabuni
was one of the first karateka to teach karate on mainland Japan and is creditied as developing the style known as Shitō-ryū .-Achievements:# Funakoshi Gichin learned kata from Kenwa Mabuni: In order to expand his knowledge he sent his son Gigō to study kata in Mabuni's dōjō in Osaka.# Kenwa Mabuni,...
, who had studied under Okinawan to-te masters Yasutsune (Anko) Itosu
Anko Itosu
is considered by many the father of modern karate, although this title is also often given to Gichin Funakoshi because the latter spread karate throughout Japan.- Biography :...
and Kanryo Higashionna, named his style Shito-Ryu, combining the first kanji
Kanji
Kanji are the adopted logographic Chinese characters hanzi that are used in the modern Japanese writing system along with hiragana , katakana , Indo Arabic numerals, and the occasional use of the Latin alphabet...
from each of their names. For Sensei Ohtsuka
Hironori Ohtsuka
was a Japanese master of karate who created the Wadō-ryū style of karate. He was the first Grand Master of Wadō-ryū karate, and received high awards within Japan for his contributions to karate.-Early life:...
, the study of budo
Budo
is a Japanese term describing martial arts. In English, it is used almost exclusively in reference to Japanese martial arts.-Etymology:Budō is a compound of the root bu , meaning war or martial; and dō , meaning path or way. Specifically, dō is derived from the Buddhist Sanskrit mārga...
placed one in harmony ("wa") with the universe, and his style became known as Wado-Ryu. Sensei Ueshima
Sannosuke Ueshima
Kiyotada Sannosuke Ueshima was a Japanese martial arts master who developed and founded the Kushin-ryu style of karate in Osaka, Japan.-Karate-do:...
rooted the name Kushin-Ryu ("Sky-Heart") in the concept of harmony between the universe and the individual. And students convinced Sensei Funakoshi
Gichin Funakoshi
was the creator of Shotokan karate, perhaps the most widely known style of karate, and is attributed as being the 'father of modern karate.' Following the teachings of Anko Itosu, he was one of the Okinawan karate masters who introduced karate to the Japanese mainland in 1921...
to name his style Shotokan
Shotokan
is a style of karate, developed from various martial arts by Gichin Funakoshi and his son Gigo Funakoshi . Gichin was born in Okinawa and is widely credited with popularizing karate through a series of public demonstrations, and by promoting the development of university karate clubs, including...
, after Shoto ("Pine Waves"), his pen name.
For himself, Sensei Konishi believed that if one lives a moral life, then one is naturally following the divine way. Extending this idea, he posited that, if training in karate
Karate
is a martial art developed in the Ryukyu Islands in what is now Okinawa, Japan. It was developed from indigenous fighting methods called and Chinese kenpō. Karate is a striking art using punching, kicking, knee and elbow strikes, and open-handed techniques such as knife-hands. Grappling, locks,...
in a natural way leads one to mastery of one's body, knowledge and experience are vastly increased, and the foundation for naturally living a moral life is established. For this reason, and at the recommendation of Morihei Ueshiba
Morihei Ueshiba
was a famous martial artist and founder of the Japanese martial art of aikido. He is often referred to as "the founder" or , "Great Teacher".-Early years:Morihei Ueshiba was born in Tanabe, Wakayama Prefecture, Japan on December 14, 1883....
(the founder of Aikido
Aikido
is a Japanese martial art developed by Morihei Ueshiba as a synthesis of his martial studies, philosophy, and religious beliefs. Aikido is often translated as "the Way of unifying life energy" or as "the Way of harmonious spirit." Ueshiba's goal was to create an art that practitioners could use to...
and Shinto
Shinto
or Shintoism, also kami-no-michi, is the indigenous spirituality of Japan and the Japanese people. It is a set of practices, to be carried out diligently, to establish a connection between present day Japan and its ancient past. Shinto practices were first recorded and codified in the written...
scholar Danjo Yamaguchi, Konishi named his own style Shindo Jinen Ryu Karate-Jutsu ("godly, natural style, complete empty-handed way").
In 1938, in recognition of his role as one of the pioneers of Japanese karate
Karate
is a martial art developed in the Ryukyu Islands in what is now Okinawa, Japan. It was developed from indigenous fighting methods called and Chinese kenpō. Karate is a striking art using punching, kicking, knee and elbow strikes, and open-handed techniques such as knife-hands. Grappling, locks,...
, and because of his efforts to advance the art, the Dai Nippon Butoku Kai
Dai Nippon Butoku Kai
is a Japanese martial arts organization established in 1895 in Kyoto, Japan, under the authority of the Ministry of Education and sanction of the Emperor Meiji. Its purpose, at that time, was to standardize martial disciplines and systems throughout Japan. This was the first official martial arts...
appointed Konishi chairman of the committee that screened all licensing applications for karate.
Seiryu Kata
During the 1930s, the Japanese government was largely controlled by the military, and around 1935, the commanding general of the Imperial Japanese ArmyImperial Japanese Army
-Foundation:During the Meiji Restoration, the military forces loyal to the Emperor were samurai drawn primarily from the loyalist feudal domains of Satsuma and Chōshū...
approached Sensei Konishi and asked him to develop self-defense techniques for women serving in the Japanese Government Railways
Japanese Government Railways
The Japanese Government Railways was the national railway system directly operated by the central government of Japan until 1949. It is a predecessor of Japanese National Railways and the Japan Railways Group.- Name :...
. At the time, Konishi, Ueshiba
Morihei Ueshiba
was a famous martial artist and founder of the Japanese martial art of aikido. He is often referred to as "the founder" or , "Great Teacher".-Early years:Morihei Ueshiba was born in Tanabe, Wakayama Prefecture, Japan on December 14, 1883....
, Mabuni
Kenwa Mabuni
was one of the first karateka to teach karate on mainland Japan and is creditied as developing the style known as Shitō-ryū .-Achievements:# Funakoshi Gichin learned kata from Kenwa Mabuni: In order to expand his knowledge he sent his son Gigō to study kata in Mabuni's dōjō in Osaka.# Kenwa Mabuni,...
and Ohtsuka
Hironori Ohtsuka
was a Japanese master of karate who created the Wadō-ryū style of karate. He was the first Grand Master of Wadō-ryū karate, and received high awards within Japan for his contributions to karate.-Early life:...
were training together almost daily, and Konishi asked Mabuni
Kenwa Mabuni
was one of the first karateka to teach karate on mainland Japan and is creditied as developing the style known as Shitō-ryū .-Achievements:# Funakoshi Gichin learned kata from Kenwa Mabuni: In order to expand his knowledge he sent his son Gigō to study kata in Mabuni's dōjō in Osaka.# Kenwa Mabuni,...
to work with him on delivering what the government had requested.
Together, the two men developed a kata
Kata
is a Japanese word describing detailed choreographed patterns of movements practised either solo or in pairs. The term form is used for the corresponding concept in non-Japanese martial arts in general....
incorporating significant elements of their respective styles, Shindo Jinen Ryu
Shindō jinen-ryū
is a form of karate that was founded in 1933 by .- Yasuhiro Konishi :Yasuhiro Konishi was born in 1893 in Takamatsu, Kagawa, Japan. His martial arts training began at the age of six, in Muso Ryu Jujitsu, which was followed by kendo when he was 13, and subsequently, Takenouchi-ryū Jujitsu, a style...
and Shito-Ryu, as well as feedback from Sensei Ueshiba
Morihei Ueshiba
was a famous martial artist and founder of the Japanese martial art of aikido. He is often referred to as "the founder" or , "Great Teacher".-Early years:Morihei Ueshiba was born in Tanabe, Wakayama Prefecture, Japan on December 14, 1883....
, who advised them on changes intended to more closely tailor the techniques included in the form to the needs of women, for whom it was being designed. The kata
Kata
is a Japanese word describing detailed choreographed patterns of movements practised either solo or in pairs. The term form is used for the corresponding concept in non-Japanese martial arts in general....
that resulted from the collaboration between these three masters - Seiryu - includes core principles from karate, aikido and jujitsu, and became part of the training regiment for female railway workers.
World War II and Karate
With JapanJapan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
embroiled in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the continued evolution and refinement of karate
Karate
is a martial art developed in the Ryukyu Islands in what is now Okinawa, Japan. It was developed from indigenous fighting methods called and Chinese kenpō. Karate is a striking art using punching, kicking, knee and elbow strikes, and open-handed techniques such as knife-hands. Grappling, locks,...
plateaued as many practitioners enlisted to fight for their country. With Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
's surrender in 1945, however, the nation's male population returned, only to encounter a prohibition on the practice of all martial arts
Martial arts
Martial arts are extensive systems of codified practices and traditions of combat, practiced for a variety of reasons, including self-defense, competition, physical health and fitness, as well as mental and spiritual development....
(with the exception of sumo
Sumo
is a competitive full-contact sport where a wrestler attempts to force another wrestler out of a circular ring or to touch the ground with anything other than the soles of the feet. The sport originated in Japan, the only country where it is practiced professionally...
) that had been ordered by General Douglas MacArthur
Douglas MacArthur
General of the Army Douglas MacArthur was an American general and field marshal of the Philippine Army. He was a Chief of Staff of the United States Army during the 1930s and played a prominent role in the Pacific theater during World War II. He received the Medal of Honor for his service in the...
, commander of the Allied Occupation. As life slowly returned to normal, General MacArthur
Douglas MacArthur
General of the Army Douglas MacArthur was an American general and field marshal of the Philippine Army. He was a Chief of Staff of the United States Army during the 1930s and played a prominent role in the Pacific theater during World War II. He received the Medal of Honor for his service in the...
's ban was lifted, and Sensei Konishi worked dilligently to revive the practice of both kendo
Kendo
, meaning "Way of The Sword", is a modern Japanese martial art of sword-fighting based on traditional Japanese swordsmanship, or kenjutsu.Kendo is a physically and mentally challenging activity that combines strong martial arts values with sport-like physical elements.-Practitioners:Practitioners...
and karate
Karate
is a martial art developed in the Ryukyu Islands in what is now Okinawa, Japan. It was developed from indigenous fighting methods called and Chinese kenpō. Karate is a striking art using punching, kicking, knee and elbow strikes, and open-handed techniques such as knife-hands. Grappling, locks,...
.
Later Recognition
Like Sensei UeshibaMorihei Ueshiba
was a famous martial artist and founder of the Japanese martial art of aikido. He is often referred to as "the founder" or , "Great Teacher".-Early years:Morihei Ueshiba was born in Tanabe, Wakayama Prefecture, Japan on December 14, 1883....
, Konishi used budo
Budo
is a Japanese term describing martial arts. In English, it is used almost exclusively in reference to Japanese martial arts.-Etymology:Budō is a compound of the root bu , meaning war or martial; and dō , meaning path or way. Specifically, dō is derived from the Buddhist Sanskrit mārga...
training in his personal quest to build character while creating harmony between body, mind, and art. He believed karate
Karate
is a martial art developed in the Ryukyu Islands in what is now Okinawa, Japan. It was developed from indigenous fighting methods called and Chinese kenpō. Karate is a striking art using punching, kicking, knee and elbow strikes, and open-handed techniques such as knife-hands. Grappling, locks,...
and Zen
Zen
Zen is a school of Mahāyāna Buddhism founded by the Buddhist monk Bodhidharma. The word Zen is from the Japanese pronunciation of the Chinese word Chán , which in turn is derived from the Sanskrit word dhyāna, which can be approximately translated as "meditation" or "meditative state."Zen...
are different aspects of the same thing, and expressed that conviction in a short poem:
- Karate is
- Not to hit someone
- Nor to be defeated
- It is to avoid trouble
While less famous than many of his contemporaries outside of Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, Konishi is today recognized as one of history's most significant budo
Budo
is a Japanese term describing martial arts. In English, it is used almost exclusively in reference to Japanese martial arts.-Etymology:Budō is a compound of the root bu , meaning war or martial; and dō , meaning path or way. Specifically, dō is derived from the Buddhist Sanskrit mārga...
masters. He was a successful businessman, teacher, and political activist, who strove to bring respectability to martial arts
Martial arts
Martial arts are extensive systems of codified practices and traditions of combat, practiced for a variety of reasons, including self-defense, competition, physical health and fitness, as well as mental and spiritual development....
, and his efforts are a major reason that karate
Karate
is a martial art developed in the Ryukyu Islands in what is now Okinawa, Japan. It was developed from indigenous fighting methods called and Chinese kenpō. Karate is a striking art using punching, kicking, knee and elbow strikes, and open-handed techniques such as knife-hands. Grappling, locks,...
enjoys the position it does today. Sensei Konishi died in 1983.
See Also
- Shindo Jinen RyuShindō jinen-ryūis a form of karate that was founded in 1933 by .- Yasuhiro Konishi :Yasuhiro Konishi was born in 1893 in Takamatsu, Kagawa, Japan. His martial arts training began at the age of six, in Muso Ryu Jujitsu, which was followed by kendo when he was 13, and subsequently, Takenouchi-ryū Jujitsu, a style...
- Japan Karate-Do Ryobu-KaiJapan Karate-Do Ryobu-Kai-Overview:Japan Karate-Do Ryobu-Kai is an international karate organization under the leadership of Yasuhiro Konishi, 10th Dan, son of the organization's founder Yasuhiro Konishi...
- Kiyoshi Yamazaki
Sources
- Ancient Okinawan Martial Arts, Volume 2: Koryu Uchinadi by Patrick McCarthy [Book]. Boston, MA: Tuttle Publishing. 1999
- Japanese Karate, Volume 1: Shindo Jinen Ryu. [Motion Picture]. Thousand Oaks, CA: Tsunami Productions. 1998
- Japanese Karate, Volume 2: Ryobukai and Shotokan. [Motion Picture]. Thousand Oaks, CA: Tsunami Productions. 1998
- Japan Karate-Do Ryobu-Kai Instructors Manual. 1996