Karate-Do: My Way of Life

by Gichin Funakoshi

Linking the time when karate was a strictly Okinawan art of self-defense shrouded in the deepest secrecy and the present day, when it has become a martial art practiced throughout the world, is Gichin Funakoshi, the "Father of Karate-do."

Out of modesty, he was reluctant to write this autobiography and did not do so until he was nearly ninety years of age. Trained in the Confucian classics, he was a schoolteacher early in life, but after decades of study under the foremost masters, he gave up his livelihood to devote the rest of his
life to the propagation of the Way of Karate. Under his guidance, techniques and nomenclature were refined and modernized, the spiritual essence was brought to the fore, and karate evolved into a true martial art.

Various forms of empty-hand techniques have been practiced in Okinawa for centuries, but due to the lack of historical records, fancy often masquerades as fact. In telling of his own famous teachers-and not only of their mastery of technique but of the way they acted in critical situations-the
author reveals what true karate is. The stories he tells about himself are no less instructive: his determination to continue the art, after having started it to improve his health; his perseverance in the face of difficulties, even of poverty; his strict observance of the way of life of the
samurai; and the spirit of self-reliance that he carried into an old age kept healthy by his practice of Karate-do.

Genres: Martial Arts, Biography, Nonfiction, Philosophy, History, Memoir, Autobiography

144 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 1975

Reviews

[Ivana - Diary of Difference · Rating 5 out of 5]

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In this autobiography, Karate-Do: My Way of Life, Gichin Funakoshi looks back over his 80+ years of life and tells us the story of where it all began and the important circumstances and decisions that made him become who he has become, alongside with some very thought-provoking stories. 

I have had a connection with Karate since I was a toddler. My father is a karate coach and he has taught me the first kata, he has given me the karate-gi and my white belt, alongside with all the belts that came after it, until I got my black belt. 

Karate is not just Martial Arts - it is a Way of Life, which is why Gichin Funakoshi named this book Karate-Do: My Way of Life. It is not only those hours that you spend in the dojo that define you, but it is every moment of your life, everything you do, everything you say, every decision you make - it is all Karate. 

A way of life, respect, value of the little things, dedication, motivation, being good to one another, persistence, curiosity and mentorship.

I enjoyed reading Gichin Funakoshi’s stories, and even though I already knew many of them from my father telling me, they still managed to make me think and teach me something new. His writing style is very easy to read and apprehensive. 

I personally loved the story where he managed to defeat his opponent by only having stronger confidence, without a single punch. 

Honestly, I am so glad I read this book and learned more about the life journey of the very man that was the reason why Karate made its way to Europe. I highly recommend you to read this book if you are a Karate artist or love martial arts. I also recommend this book if you love good autobiographies as well.

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[Debbie Zapata · Rating 4 out of 5]

Aug 3, 2024 ~~ We finished reading today! I really have nothing to add to my original review, except that, as always, re-reading any book with Marco makes the book even more entertaining. And I wish we could have met Funakoshi in person. I think he was cool.

July 2, 2024 ~~ My turn to pick the next title for the Zapata Reading Club! Marco and I started this one today, and I will return to add to the review when we are finished.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Original review, February 2016
In this book, Gichin Funkoshi looks back over 90 years of his life, sharing stories of his experiences and his karate. The developer of the Shoto-kan school of karate, Funakoshi was born in 1868 and saw many changes in the world during his 92 years. From demonstrating his Shoto-kan style of karate before the future Emperor to teaching United States airmen during the occupation after the Pacific War, Funakoshi spent his life promoting karate. Not just the movements, but the spirit, the essence of what karate as a way of life truly means.

This is not just a book for karate students or the curious. It is for anyone who is interested in life, history, and getting to know a man who lived simply, humbly, but had a huge impact upon the world. I thought it was fascinating.

[Aaron · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is among the best autobiographies I've come across, on all accounts. Funakoshi synthesized the karate styles of his two masters in Okinawa (where he had to learn in secret due to a government ban), and later brought his new style to mainland Japan. (The style came to be called "Shotokan" after his pen name, to differentiate it from the other styles that followed one things loosened up at the turn of the century.)

Funakoshi was an amazing man with an amazing story, or more like a reservoir of amazing stories, including the time he "faced off" a hurricane standing on his roof (which he later passed off as a foolish stunt of his youth), his encounter with a poisonous snake at night, his confrontation with a mugger in devastated Tokyo just after the war ended, and many more. What I like about most Funakoshi is the refreshing sincerity and humility he shows consistently throughout. He staunchly opposes violence and shows again and again that there are alternatives to fighting if you are willing to see them. Furthermore, he was strongly opposed to petty favoritism of one style over another, calling his martial art simply karatedo, without insisting on his own contributions.

Also, Funakoshi stands out from so many of the master interviewed in Fraguas' Karate Masters who generally seem bent on impressing the reader with their chest beating and stories of unequaled feats and unbearable training. Instead, Funakoshi tells his struggles with karate training, with deciding whether to cut his topknot and shame his family (by order of the Meiji government, which his family opposed), his challenges going to school and later becoming a teacher, his struggles to avoid fights even when ambushed on a dark path. He criticizes egos looking for respect and charlatans promoting martial arts as magic; in one encounter he met a man claiming he could tear flesh with his bare hands before a crowd - Funakoshi offered to use his arm to demonstrate this impossible feat; another time one of his masters was jumped on the street - the attacker was stopped, grabbed and dragged to a bar to talk out whatever could be the problem (he was just trying to make a name for himself by "besting" the master). Overall, he was truly a seasoned man, and it comes through in his writing.

This book sets the standard for all other autobiographies in style and content. While not everyone will live a life like his, this writing should be held as the model for all others. A good, quick read for anyone and everyone, especially anyone interested in martial arts.

[Bon Tom · Rating 4 out of 5]

I remember reading this multiple times when I was a kid, and it left me wide-eyed every time. It also wetted my appetite for traditional karate for years to come. Now I realize (or at least seriously suspect) that a lot of these stories, if not all, are nothing more than fisherman stories, but still, myths or not, they illustrate perfectly well the real spirit, or essence of karate.

[Mason · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great book Gichin Funakoshi was a great man and he changed the world!

[Abraham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Es una suerte haber encontrado este libro en una librería de usado, es referencia en el campo de las artes marciales y sobretodo del karate, todos los marcialistas deberíamos leerlo.
Algo que me gustó de este libro que podría clasificarse como una autobiografía de Funakoshi es que no es el clásico libro de karate donde te explican las formas y técnicas básicas del arte marcial sino que aborda todos estos temas pero siempre enfocado principalmente en el aspecto filosófico de esta disciplina. Respeto, humildad y lealtad son los valores que caracterizan nuestro estilo.
No sé si se le pueda dar el título del padre del karate al maestro Funakoshi pero si podemos decir que fue el primer y de los más grandes precursores del karate y responsable de que esta arte marcial se hubiera difundido alrededor del mundo. Su disciplina a lo largo de su vida fue algo que lo hizo ganarse el respeto de los demás y garantizó la credibilidad a su estilo por lo que actualmente es el arte marcial más conocida y difundida por el mundo.

[Michelle ‧͙⁺˚*･༓☾ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read per my Sensei’s recommendation. This was beautifully written, a book I would recommend to every martial artist. Funokoshi’s autobiography brought a new appreciation, honor, and a deeper understanding of the style I train. There were many lessons I took away and this book was both touching and philosophical. I only wish it was longer.

“Of course many of my students died in battle– so many, alas, I lost count of them. I felt my heart would break as I received report after report telling me of the deaths of so many promising young men. Then I would stand alone in the silent dōjō and offer a prayer to the soul of the deceased, recalling the days when he had practiced his karate so diligently.”

A favorite quote, and one that hit me the hardest.

[Dylan Worthey · Rating 5 out of 5]

In my formal Goju Ryu Karate training I read a library of books to better put myself on the righteous path of a centered existence. This book was by far the greatest of all, it is a personal look back into the history of Okinawan Karate and the life of Master Gichin Funakoshi where he expounds on his personal learning's through youth with the clandestine Okinawan activity too his teaching in adulthood of one of Japan's greatest martial arts and how he was influential in its understanding and growth. A humble man and a great master, he explains all in this autobiography he wrote prior to his death in his nineties.

[Nikiforos Rigas · Rating 5 out of 5]

This man has a very deep way of thinking about karate and life and his stories are so enjoyable. I really am glad I practice his style... Osu!

[Jorge Delarco Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Me resulta muy interesante leer las reflexiones y las anécdotas de uno de los grandes maestros de kárate.
Lleno de tópicos filosóficos que llevo escuchando desde bien pequeño que empecé a practicar kárate. Supongo que tendrá interés para la gente metida en artes marciales y el que le guste Japón

[Jerjonji · Rating 4 out of 5]

I know it's odd to put this in the writing category, but I read it when I was first learning to write action sequences in my fiction. I still refer to it once in a while.

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gichin Funakoshi is considered the "father" of modern karate, as he spread its influence from Okinawa into mainland Japan. It can be argued that without Funakoshi, the global spread of karate may not have happened. With this in mind, the great master's influence cannot be understated.

Karate-Do: My Way of Life is a valuable primary resource for those seeking to understand the philosophy which girds the practice of this well-known but oft-misunderstood art.

Karate begins and ends with courtesy.

It is about improving one’s character.

It is about modesty, discipline, and humility.

It is about respect for the life of self and others.

It is understanding that despite its usefulness in a variety of combat scenarios, the art is for the overall betterment of its practitioner, as it strengthens body and mind, develops strength of character, and adds to one’s longevity.

The author is a product of his time and culture when it comes to certain social topics. Specifically, the relationships of husbands and wives (with wives being in a more subservient position), and of the duty a person has towards their country. These portions of the book are no doubt worthy of criticism. However, if not looked at through too harsh a lens, a reader can at least understand these brief sections of the book in the context they were written in, or outright discard them if they feel the sections are too old-fashioned of disagreeable. As mentioned, these passages are quite brief and a small part of a substantial work.

The writing in this book is often dry and matter-of-fact, but there are moments of delight to be found in its stories, and understanding of life and karate to be gained. By not viewing karate as just a form of combat, but as a way of life approached seriously, it can be a keystone to a person's self-actualization.

[Chris Santillo · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are some among us who believe that we all craft our lives from the same raw materials. There are others who assert that serendipity plays an outsize role in the course of our lives. Upon inspection, it often becomes clear to us that it is indeed a combination of these two situations that create our lives. It certainly was so with Gichin Funakoshi. Had Mister Funakoshi not been born at that specific moment in time when there was an opportunity to spread Okinawan Karate to the Japanese Mainland he could have not had the effect that he had. That said, and with no interest in diminishing is tremendous accomplishments, we must also point out that were many other people who might have done what he did and yet didn't. He was fortuitous in the moment in history in which he was born, but he also took the tremendous steps necessary in order to create the impact that he had.
I will begin, for formality's sake, with a very brief overview of Mr. Funakoshi’s life. He was born in 1868, the same year that the Meiji Era began in Japan. The Meiji government of Japan then annexed the Ryukyu Islands eleven years later setting the stage for a dramatic cultural shift as the Meiji government sought to abolish the existing culture and its structure. This hit Mr. Funakoshi very directly as he was of the Pechin class, a mid to upper-level social class. He found himself as a young adult with few options but to become a school teacher. To take the position the department of education required him to cut off his topknot, a symbolic measure that underscores the movement from the old to the new.
Class issues aside, becoming a teacher was a good fit; in his childhood, he had been well schooled in both the Japanese and Chinese Classics by his grandfather. Further, and perhaps even more importantly, he had -- and was continuing -- to train in the art of Karate under Anko Itosu, Anko Asato, and upon occasion, even Matsumura Sokon.
All of this eventually led to a 1917 Karate demonstration in Kyoto, Japan. Then a 1921 Karate demonstration at Shuri Castle that the Crown Prince observed. Then in 1922 to Karate demonstration in Tokyo, Japan and the publishing of his first book Ryukyu Kempo: Karate. From this launching point, he moved permanently to Japan and began spreading Karate throughout Japan one student at a time.
In 1936 — a mere fourteen years after he moved to Japan — the first official Karate Dojo was built in Tokyo. Over the door hung the name “Shoto-kan," meaning “the house of Shoto” — Shoto being Mr. Funakoshi’s pen name. This, despite, Mr. Funakoshi’s protests, led to “Shotokan” being regarded as the name of a unique branch of Karate (Mr. Funakoshi insisted that he was not teaching a specific branch of Karate, that all Karate was one).
Lastly — as far as background is concerned — it was Mr. Funakoshi’s use of the kanji character kara that means ‘empty’ in place of the kara that means ‘Chinese’ that was eventually adopted as the new standard. He did this, of course, to distance Okinawa Karate from China and brand it more directly with Okinawa. After doing this, he endeavored to construct a comfortable explanation for why the art was now called “empty hand." He might have renamed the art “strong hand” or “proud hand” but these would have required a change of pronunciation as well as of character and would certainly have led to greater resistance. Instead, he opted for “empty hand” and reworked the symbolism after the fact.
Background aside, this book was an interesting look into Mr. Funakoshi’s mind and life. What he accomplished in life was remarkable but as you read this book you can’t help but observe that he was, in fact, just an ordinary man with a particular passion for Karate and a high tolerance for pain. He was possessed — and so was his book — of so many of the contradictions that make us so (depressingly) human.
He begins by describing his role in the spread of Karate as “modest success” and then he explains that he was too humble to write a short history of Karate and instead submitted this autobiography instead. I confess to editorializing a bit, but I feel that writing an autobiography presumes quite a bit more than writing a history. It also belies his earlier statement about his belief that he only achieved “modest success.”
He also seemed to be as conflicted as a modern American male about the proper use of force. He said repeatedly throughout the book that Karate was only to be used for self-defense. In support of this, he related a number of situations in which people used Karate to defend themselves. However, at another time he resorted to unnecessarily using force to defend himself and allowed himself to be pulled into an unwinnable hand wrestling situation another time. He was, understandably, ashamed of both of these situations.
With this backdrop, it is interesting to see how he recounted the story of Matsumura eagerly taking up the challenge with the engraver whom he was almost certain to defeat. It was with great pride that he described his one-time instructor meeting the engraver at dawn for a completely unnecessary dual to the death. Perhaps Karate is for more than self-defense? Or perhaps even its greatest masters are human and sometimes allow vanity to rule them?
The theme of vanity comes up many times throughout the book, including the very quotable line that, “Vanity is the only obstacle to life.” This was attributed to Matsumura at the conclusion of his dual. This was after first saying, “Matter is void. All is vanity.” This same verbiage made a reappearance as Mr. Funakoshi explained the change to using the character kara that means ‘empty’. He quotes Buddhist scriptures that translate “mater is void” and “all is vanity” and remarks that the character Ku is in both statements and that Ku can also be pronounced kara. It feels like a stretch but I don’t know Japanese so I can’t speak more to it. That said, it is interesting that the exact same phrases were used. What came first the Matsumura legend or the work to justify the Kara character change?
In summary, Mr. Funakoshi was an amazing person who worked untiringly to spread an art that he sincerely felt improved the lives of those who dedicated themselves to it. He also was a person with the foibles that we all have. He took a beautiful but secretive art and shared it with millions of people. He should be forever remembered for that. It should also be remembered that it was accomplished by an ordinary man.

[Gabriel Tiburcio · Rating 4 out of 5]

Down-to-earth and plainspoken, Funakoshi-sensei gets to the heart of what constitutes proper karate practice. While at times the book may feel like it meanders too much, I welcome Funakoshi-sensei’s digressions, his little asides, because, like a grandfather who is telling a story (and oftentimes reading this book does sound like my grandfather’s rambling stories), he always finds a way to bring it back to the overarching theme: Karate as a way of living ethically in the world. Not as a method for taking away life, but for enriching it. Yes, it’s a cliche but I find it worth repeating to myself every now and then.

[Tigran Mooradian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just like noted in the first few pages of the book, this is a must read for anyone, not just folks interested in karate. Interesting to read about about the journey of a man so deeply spiritual and obedient of almost every rule both in Japan during the times of Meiji Restoration and of the art of "the empty hands" itself.

a resounding 5/5.

[cas · Rating 3 out of 5]

had to read for my martial arts test. got more interesting at the end

[Sabin · Rating 5 out of 5]

O carte excelenta despre viata si invataturile fondatorului stilului de karate Shoto-kan, Gichin Funakoshi.

[Sally · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have just started doing karate, so I wanted to learn more Master Funakoshi - the man credited with popularizing karate throughout the world. I found this book easy reading and would recommend it (see below)

Summary
This book is the story of Master Funakoshi's life, from a small child and how he grew to learn and love karate and the many turns in his life. It tells about the origin of the term shotokan and karate.

The Good
This book is very straightforward and simple and from the choice of words you can tell that Master Funakoshi was a very simple and humble man, surprised by his success at spreading karate and not without a touch of humour. He was very much committed to karate and endured many hardships in his life.


The Bad
Unfortunately I wanted more, more! But there really isn't anything bad, just very limited details about his training. For example. we know he trained almost every day, but I would have loved to understand more about what was going on in his head and what kept him motivated night after night to master karate.

Favourite Quote
There are a few, here is just one," Only those with a higher ideal will find karate interesting enough to persevere in the rigors it entails.Those who do will find that the harder they train the more fascinating the art becomes."
This is true, because here I am after just 3 months and I am reading this book!


Recommended For
Any karateka who wants to learn more about Master Funakoshi and his philosophy as it applies to karate. It is not full of any "tricks" on how to break boards and kill people.
I really enjoyed reading it and wished he had more help financially in his life.

[Gareth Otton · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an interesting book about the life of Gichin Funakoshi written towards the end of his life. It is a collection of interesting tales and an enlightening book for any person interested in Karate.

On the down side even though this book is short it can be quite hard to read as the events of this great man's life have not been noted in any particular order but seemingly as the memories came to him. With a bit of editing to create a more flowing narrative this book would be far easier to read.

Still very informative and an enjoyable read, I would recommend to anyone who is learning or has an interest in karate.

[Ian · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read this book countless times, as it used to be like a bible to me. Gichin Funakoshi [founder of Shotokan Karate], recounts his life story in this book from his early years in Okinawa, where he practised Karate in secret, until his subsequent arrival in Japan where he founded probably the most widely practised fighting art. Loads of great stories and a great read for all martial artist's, not just Karateka.

[Craig Ramsay · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a quick read, and an interesting insight into Master Funakoshi's life: his training in Karate, his development of Shotokan, moving to Japan, and promoting his style there, as well as a look into life in Okinawa. For someone who has studied Karate for a while, it doesn't have anything new to offer, but is a must for beginners.

[Rene Verweg · Rating 5 out of 5]

I knew that commitment, respect, endurance, strength, etc. were all values, but after reading this book about the life of Gichin Funakoshi, it has really opened my eyes to what karate really is. He brings new meaning to all of those sayings and phrases that you see pasted throughout dojos all over the world, like spirit, tranquility, and respect.

[Juan · Rating 5 out of 5]

More than the story of a man's - a GREAT man's - life, this is a primer for how to live one's life. Whether you are a martial artist or not, the manner in which Funakoshi Sensei lived is an example to us all. A fantastic story and a great read!

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

Karate-Do is a story about the man, Funakoshi Gichin, who took Okinawa-te from Okinawa to Japan and developed the art into what became the Japan Karate Association and Shotokan Karate. Worth a read if you are interested in martial arts and Japan.

[Cameron · Rating 5 out of 5]

Being a longstanding practitioner of Shotokan Karate, I found that the book did exactly what Gichin Funakoshi hoped for, as he stated, that it allowed for a bit more insight into how he developed the style, and also how it relates to his personality.

I absolutely loved it.

[Jolina rodriguez · Rating 4 out of 5]

thanks

[Chi · Rating 4 out of 5]

When you think of Karate (as we know it in the 20th and 21st centuries) think of Funakoshi Sensi. This book is a template for what and when to use Karate for. Brilliant.

[John Perlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has some great insights into one of Martial Arts greatest teachers. This is a book I reread every so often.

[Jake · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book annually to not forget the roots of Shotokan-ryu karate-do. Gichin Funakoshi is truly a master to learn from and such a great example of what karate is and teaches.

[Brian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic book. I am sure I will read it again.