Old Okinawan Funakoshi Chinto

An alternative demonstration of Okinawan Funakoshi chinto (gankaku) showing the same movement as the first, for the sixth, as described by Master Gichin Funakoshi in his text, Rentan Goshin Karate Jutsu (Karate Jutsu).

Old Okinawan Funakoshi Sesan

Another performance of Okinawan-style Funakoshi sesan (hangetsu), based, as usual, on direct instruction combined with ongoing study of the teachings of Master Gichin Funakoshi, specifically focusing on his old Okinawan teachings. In this illustration, I have emphasised the yoriashi during the jabs, and altered the final technique. This is based on Master Gichin Funakoshi's writings and Master Otsuka's demonstration and Sensei Ohshima's illustrations. I believe this is correct. 

The signature stance varies depending on the source and exponent. The old way in Funakoshi karate is, evidently, a short front-stance. By 1935, Master Funakoshi lengthened the zenkutsu-shitsu dachi used in his sesan (hangetsu). And by the time of the second edition of Karate-Do: Kyohan, in 1958, Master Funakoshi described the stance also as a front stance but added that it is not like other front stances. There is a feeling of solidity. This is like the feeling of what became known as hangetsu-dachi, which is not just a later-developed stance but one used by, for example, one of Master Funakoshi's first Japanese students, Hironori Otsuka. His earlier version you might rather call sesan-dachi, but it is really a type of sanchin-dachi. There is a similarity between sanchin-dachi, hangetsu-dachi, han-zenkutsu-shitsu dachi and naihanchi-dachi. They all require and train solidity which needs a feeling of pulling inwards. An additional note is that using a short front-stance for this kata, for instance, is comparable with the Chinese sanzhan stance which varies in motion but partly resembles a short front-stance. 

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Old Okinawan Funakoshi Wansu

Another illustration of the Okinawan-style of Funakoshi wansū (enpi) kata, lifting the left leg as it's retracted into a horse stance / naihanchi-dachi. This seems to be the way Master Funakoshi might have meant for it to be performed, based on his descriptions and Master Otsuka's demonstration. However, it could have been either way, I feel. To describe further, I'm referring to the point at which you are in a front stance executing a lower-level parry and intend to retreat back with your left leg to sit in a horse-riding stance at the same moment as opening the left hand and looking at it as it comes round to your diagonal left before lifting the right knee and striking the left palm with the right forearm followed by returning the right foot to the horse stance whilst retracting the right fist in a circular fashion to the right hip and lightly extending the left open hand in front of your chest. This is clear in the footage.

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Funakoshi Pin'an Nidan (Heian Shodan)

The performer seems to be wearing a sash, and can clearly be seen to be one of Master Funakoshi's students, rather than Funakoshi himself as in some other footage that looks to have at least been shot in the same location (a university; maybe Keio (noted by a club of Sensei Ohshima's Shotokan Karate of America) or Waseda), if not also at the same time (around 1935 for the other films), as he is wearing glasses and has short gi-trousers. It's a good example of an older version of Funakoshi pin'an nidan. It is very Okinawan in style. 

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Okinawan Funakoshi Passai

Another demonstration of Okinawan Funakoshi passai [dai] kata.

Funakoshi Taikyoku (Shodan, Nidan, & Sandan)

Above are two illustrations of Okinawan-style Funakoshi taikyoku [shodan] kata, one with the rear foot at 45 degrees, the other with the rear foot positioned at 90 degrees. This is because Master Funakoshi applied both methods, and each have advantages and disadvantages. 

From my perspective, the taikyoku kata and the ten-no-kata (omote and ura being inseparable) are one and the same. The ten-no-kata, devised and published at the same time as taikyoku, by 1943, are composed of fundamental movements which are also found in the taikyoku kata that include shodan, nidan and sandan stages, as well as further variations to the techniques and the general performance as shown below. You can alter the depth of stances, the speed of movements, the formation of the fist, the hardness / softness of execution, etc. In my opinion you should experiment with kata practice to try to understand karate kenpō better. It is a constant struggle to find understanding of anything in life, and that struggle is emulated in the art of karate. 

Of course, if a person would prefer to practice the ten-no-kata as they were published by Masters Gichin and Gigō Funakoshi, arguably that would follow his teachings more purely. It depends how you look at it, though, as Master Funakoshi taught not to just follow blindly, but rather that evolution of practice is natural. It was always the way to make alterations based on your various teachers's instruction and your own experience. "Finding your own kenpō" is what Master Funakoshi was taught and what he transmitted, evident by the various lines stemming from his ever-changing school. 

Taikyoku is taiji in Mandarin Chinese. It means "grand ultimate" and refers to what happens after there is nothing; that there is stillness and then action. It is yin and yang, in and yo, soft and hard. Master Funakoshi taught these principles in his karate, evident, for example, from his article entitled "Stillness & Action / Yin & Yang", written in 1934 and translated into English by Patrick and Yuriko McCarthy in 2001 in the text Karate-Dō Tanpenshu, appearing on pages 54-58. 

Taikyoku [Nidan]

Taikyoku [Sandan]

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Old Okinawan Funakoshi Wansu Kata

Two demonstrations of Funakoshi wansū kata, including back-stances following the lunging punches into kosa-dachi. 

Tenryu nu Bo (Tenryu no Kon): Funakoshi Bojutsu

A Funakoshi bōjutsu kata is Tenryū nu bō (Tenryū no kon). No kobujutsu kata is / are actually mentioned by Master Funakoshi. However, Shinkin Gima noted in an interview that he learnt Tenryū no Kon directly from Gichin Funakoshi. Otherwise, the best way to follow Funakoshi’s kobudō is to practise the techniques he demonstrated and consider the kobujutsu within the kata of Funakoshi karate. Of course, that doesn’t mean that a student shouldn’t learn other kata from elsewhere. On the contrary, you should always look to learn from good teachers of any effective martial / fighting art.

S. R. Marshall

Edited on 25 November 2022

Okinawan Funakoshi Wanshu Kata (alternative)

An alternative version of Funakoshi wansu kata.
Including diagonal front-stances after the lunging punches into kosa-dachi.

Okinawan Funakoshi Wansu: With and without the jump - Alternatives

Variations of Master Gichin Funakoshi's Okinawan wansu kata.

Including diagonal front-stances after the lunging punches into kosa-dachi.

Okinawan Funakoshi Chinto

A demonstration of Master Gichin Funakoshi's Okinawan chinto kata.