Funakoshi Okinawan Karate Study Group - Facebook Group

The Funakoshi Okinawan Karate Study Group has a facebook group that you can join, though you must be approved to become a member and be able to discuss the topic via the group with the group.

Funakoshi Okinawan Karate Study Group in Essex - Studying the Okinawan Origins of Japanese Shotokan Karate

I have decided to start a free (i.e. no fees) karate study group for Okinawan Funakoshi-ha Shorin Ryu karate kenpo & kobujutsu, called the Funakoshi Okinawan Karate Study Group (or the Funakoshi Karate Study Group), as an extension of my research into the Okinawan origins of Japanese Shotokan karate. Visit the link below or the dedicated page on this web-page for more details.

Funakoshi Okinawan Karate Study Group

List of Karate Research

Articles

Master Gichin Funakoshi's Real Knowledge of Karate Kenpo:

Shotokan Karate Magazine, Issue 124, July 2015

The Okinawan Origins of Japanese Shotokan Karate:

Shotokan Karate Magazine, Issue 120, July 2014

Online Copy of the Article

Three articles centred around "Itosu gojushiho karate kata":

Part One: Itosu Gojushiho (Useshi/Ueseishi): The Evidence of Master Itosu's Version of the Kata

Part Two: Itosu Useshi (Gojushiho) Variants: Master Kanken Toyama's "Koryu Useshi"

Part Three: An Analysis of Gojushiho/Useshi Kata: Matsumura Useshi and the Various Itosu Useshi

The Evidence of the "Okinawan Fist": Teachings of Master Anko Shishu (Yasutsune Itosu)

Jion Kata

Chibana-ha Shorin Ryu Karate Passai Kata: Matsumura No Passai - "Tawada Passai"

The Evidence That Master Seisho Aragaki Taught Master Gichin Funakoshi

The Dance of Okinawa and Its Relationship with Karate

(originally written as the application article for The Culture Trip Ltd, before being accepted to write for them [when they first started their website] - I have updated the piece for my own publication)

More to be published, both independently and with magazine publishers.

Scripts

Origins of Shotokan

(script for narration)

Productions

Origins of Shotokan - sold by Kamikaze Karategi
(documentary film {2013} - Marshalls' Art-Productions)

Funakoshi passai [dai] - Itosu & Matsumura passai kata combined - Funakoshi-ha Shorin Ryu karate kenpo

From the documentary DVD-film, Origins of Shotokan, available on Amazon.co.uk

Check out the latest issue of Shotokan Karate Magazine, Issue 120, for my article entitled "The Okinawan Origins of Japanese Shotokan Karate".

Origins of Shotokan (Trailer): inc. Naihanchi, Useshi (Matsumura Gojushiho, rather than Itosu Gojushiho, in this particular footage), Kusanku, Bojutsu, Saijutsu, and Hojo Undo: Makiwara (Machiwara), Nigiri Game, Striking Stones (Ishi) - Iron-body/palm...

From the documentary DVD-film, Origins of Shotokan, available on Amazon.co.uk

Check out the latest issue of Shotokan Karate Magazine, Issue 120, for my article entitled "The Okinawan Origins of Japanese Shotokan Karate".

Hojo Undo - Iron-body Method - Hitting self with sticks - Funakoshi-ha Okinawan Shorin Ryu karate kenpo

From the documentary DVD-film, Origins of Shotokan, available on Amazon.co.uk

Check out the latest issue of Shotokan Karate Magazine, Issue 120, for my article entitled "The Okinawan Origins of Japanese Shotokan Karate".

Funakoshi Passai [Sho] no Bo - Okinawan Funakoshi-ha Shorin-ryu karate kenpo to kobujutsu

From the documentary DVD-film, Origins of Shotokan.

Check out the latest issue of Shotokan Karate Magazine, Issue 120, for my article entitled "The Okinawan Origins of Japanese Shotokan Karate".

Comment on the karate book, "Shotokan Mysteries..."

I took a quick look at the preview of a book called "Shotokan Mysteries: The Hidden Answers to the Secrets of Shotokan Karate". Scrolling down to see if I might be interested in purchasing the Kindle edition, I read a section discussing the reason for the frequent use of back-stances (kokutsu-shitsu dachi - bent rear-knee stance). The author states that the back-stance is a development of Master Gichin Funakoshi's, based on his "encounter" with Master Kano Jigoro's judo-ka. Whatever the demonstration actually contained, what the author says is not true, and not based on research, but on theory. Master Funakoshi developed many of the kata to be his own versions, and in some cases, to be essentially his own creations entirely. This is largely based on his studies under various teachers, principally including Masters Asato and Itosu. Combining the teachings of both of these lineages resulted in the kata devised and the new versions of kata developed by Itosu, to be altered and developed with the inclusion of the teachings of Master Sokon Matsumura's lineage through Asato, primarily, besides directly from Matsumura. In Matsumura's school, it can be observed that the back-stance exists prominently, proving my point. These changes were made by Funakoshi while he resided in Okinawa before the 1920s, and probably long before, since he was teaching karate in Okinawa for around 15 years before moving to mainland-Japan.