In his bibliography, Gichin Funakoshi wrote that he had two main teachers, Masters Azato and Itosu, though he sometimes trained under Matsumura, Kiyuna, Kanryo Higaonna, and Niigaki. Who were these two Masters and how did they influence him?
Yasutsune “Ankoh” Azato (1827–1906) was born into a family of hereditary chiefs of Azato, a village between the towns of Shuri and Naha.
Both he and his good friend Yasutsune Itosu learned karate from Sokon “Bushi” Matsumura, bodyguard to three Okinawan kings. He had legendary martial skills employing much intelligence and strategy over strength and ferocity. Funakoshi states that though lightly built when he began training, after a few years Azato as well as Itosu had developed their physiques “to admirable and magnificent degrees.”
Azato was skilled in karate, horsemanship, archery, Jigen Ryu ken-jutsu, Chinese literature and politics.
He was well-versed in Confucian Classics (a study of morals and virtues) and discussed these so much with the young Funakoshi (who began studying with Azato at age 11) that this was one of the factors that prompted Funakoshi to become a schoolteacher.
“Like all traditional Okinawan teachers, Azato stressed the development of skill through the practice of kata, although when it came to applying karate techniques in fighting his advice was to ‘think of your arms and legs as swords'.”
It is said that Azato was a very skilled swordsman. He once had a bout with Yorin Kanna, one of Okinawa’s most famous swordsmen in which Azato was unarmed. When Kanna thrust at him, Azato avoided the blade. “With a deft flip of his hand...(Azato)...brought Kanna to his knees,” writes Funakoshi. Azato explained that much of Kanna’s previous success was the result of his ability to overawe his opponent with his reputation and fighting spirit. But by remaining calm and looking for weakness in Kanna’s attack, he was able to defeat him. “Azato’s whole approach to combat seems to have been based on a highly developed sense of timing coupled with an instant response."
He was once asked to explain the meaning of ippon-ken. “Azato told the questioner to try and hit him. Before the man could blink, Azato blocked his attack and instantly delivered an ippon-ken which stopped at the man’s solar plexus. Funakoshi says that the man realized ‘that the fist, had it actually struck his solar plexus, might have killed him.’”
A widely read man, “Azato followed the advice of Chinese military strategist Sun Tzu, who wrote, ‘Know the enemy and know yourself; in a hundred battles you will never be in peril.’ He kept detailed records on all living karate masters living in Okinawa, including names and addresses, strengths and weaknesses, and any special skills or techniques.” He lived to be eighty years old. Yasutsune Itosu (1832-1915) started to train from an early age. He was a very powerful man “with a great round chest like a beer barrel” and strong in atemi (striking the vital points), certainly strong enough to kill an enemy with one stroke. He also had a reputation as a scholar and a calligrapher.
“He taught karate secretly at his home to a select band of six or seven followers... They trained as Bu (martial art) not as sport, like they do now.” About 1906, Sensei Itosu began to teach karate in schools in Okinawa, “We have to thank Sensei Itosu for development of karate not only in mainland Japan, but also in the rest of the world.”
It was Itosu’s students who developed the major part of what is now called Shuri-te or Shorin-Ryu karate. Itosu kept the line of Gusukuma, a remarkable teacher with powerful forearms who could also leap eight feet in the air in the kick and drop technique in Kankudai.
Itosu had remarkable gripping power. Once he was attacked from behind by a sturdy young man outside a restaurant. Without even turning, Itosu hardened the muscles of his stomach so that the blow glanced off his body, and at the very same instant his right hand grasped the wrist of his assailant and he calmly dragged the man into the restaurant and ordered food and wine. He took a sip of wine and pulled the assailant in front of him of him, smiled and said, “I don’t know what your grudge against me could be, but let’s have a drink together!”
Later, a Japanese doctor examining a number of candidates for military service, was impressed with their physical excellence. When he found they were students of Itosu and of the art of Tode (which can also be pronounced karate, meaning “Chinese hand” at that time), the Japanese authorities agreed to introduce it to into the education system.
Itosu taught until his death at the age of 84. Gichin Funakoshi continued to teach and demonstrate karate. He later combined the teachings of Azato and Itosu (of the Shuri-te/Shorin lineage) with elements of the Shorei systems to create a modern system of karate called Shotokan.
Excerpted from Shotokan Karate A Precise History by Harry Cook, published in Norfolk, England, 2001.
