Karate Jutsu: The Original Teachings of Gichin Funakoshi

Rating:
Summary: If you've read "Karate-do Kyohan" you're gonna want this!
Review: For those who already are familiar with Master Funakoshi's 1935 masterpiece, "Karate-do Kyohan: The Master Text" (Kyohan), this book, "Karate Jutsu" (Jutsu), should be of great interest. Originally published in 1922 under the title, "Ryukyu Kenpo Karate", this was the first book ever published on the subject of karate! Virtually every karate book subsequently written seems to have followed Funakoshi's original method of presenting instructional material step-by-step with photos and accompanying text. The translator, John Teramoto, was 13 in 1960 when he began practicing Karate under Tsutomu Ohshima (the translator of "Karate-do Kyohan"). He received a Ph.D. from the University of Michigan in Japanese Art History, is an Associate Curator of Asian Art at the Indianapolis Museum of Art, and president of the Black Belt Council of Shotokan Karate of America. His intimate knowledge and understanding of karate, his fluency in English and Japanese, and his exceptional scholarship, and his previous experience in translating "Karate-do Nyumon" into English make him the ideal translator of Jutsu. Several years ago I bought an English translation of "Karate Jutsu" titled "To-te Jitsu". Although it is a translation of the exact same Japanese text, the language is so awkward and stiff, sometimes with errors and incomplete translations that I found it virtually impossible to understand. So I appreciate the wonderful job Dr. Teramoto did with "Karate Jutsu" even more. His prose is extremely clear, readable, and sometimes even poetic! And he included a long and very helpful Translator's Introduction and almost 100 footnotes which genuinely enhanced my understanding. The original photographs of Funakoshi from the 1925 edition are reproduced, and they depict the master in his prime at about 50 years of age. It is very satisfying to see his posture and serious demeanor. The 'skeleton' of Kyohan is first published here in Jutsu. Jutsu is divided into four major sections, "The History, Value, and Methods of Karate", "The Compositional Structure of Karate", The Fundamentals and Kata of Karate", and "Additional Comments on the History and Research of Karate." The narrative portions can be read through in just a few hours time and appear to be entirely repeated and expanded in the later Kyohan. Still, there are many differences to ponder and savor. For example, it was so interesting to read that in Kehanashi (snapping kick) power is mainly placed in the standing leg while in kekomi (thrusting kick) power is mainly placed in the kicking leg as one continues to step in (not pulling back the kicking leg). Only five of the nine throws described in Kyohan are illustrated in Jutsu (some with different names) plus there's one not seen in Kyohan called Nodo-osae. There are also changes in the list of basic techniques with Jutsu describing techniques like 'inner and outer thigh kick', for example, which are absent from Kyohan. With the exception of Taikyoku kata and Ten no Kata, the forms described in Jutsu are the same ones described in Kyohan and their performance is similar but not the same. The five Pinan kata (renamed Heian kata by the time Karate-do Kyohan was published), three Naihanchi kata (later renamed Tekki), Sehshan (later renamed Hangetsu), Passai (later renamed Bassai), Wanshu (later renamed Empi), Chinto (later renamed Gankaku), Jitte (later renamed Jutte), and Jion (which has somehow managed to retain its original Okinawan title) are all described with identical counts in both Jutsu and Kyohan, but the Jutsu descriptions are generally made in less detail. Of interest are the numerous small but significant differences in the movements of these kata. One can infer something about the direction karate practice was taking between 1922 and 1935 by the changes which are apparent between Jutsu and Kyohan. I can't recommend "Karate Jutsu" highly enough. If you've studied "Karate-do Kyohan", you'll want to study "Karate Jutsu". If you don't have "Karate-do Kyohan", I suggest you get it first!

Rating:
Summary: Excellent Historical Material.
Review: Here is a book I reccommend for ALL Itosu/Funakoshi lineage karate lineage people (Shotokan, Tang Soo Do, Chung Do Kwan, etc.). This version, published by kodansha, is an improvement over the edition put out by Master's publications with regard to the actual translation (I own and have read both, as well as the original Japanese version). It is also more affordable than the original hardback by Master's Publications, although the same company has since issued a paperback version, and I did not find the differences to be confusing throughout either work.

As a historical work, this book offers a look at Funakoshi himself, who was the starting point for so many Japanese and Korean lineages, demonstrating kata and technique. This is not an in-depth study, and although all of 3 kata are shown in sequential photographs of Funakoshi (Pinan Sho-dan, Naihanchi, and Koshokun aka Kusanku), the other 13 kata only include 1 or 2 extra photographs and written descriptions...so if you are looking for a kata bible to refer to in your practice, you'd be better of with Nakayama's technically astute "Best Karate" series.

For the era in which it was published, Funakoshi's work was truely an advancement, especially in that it was one of the (if not the) first karate books to include so many illustrative photographs as opposed to just drawings or written descriptions. Due to it's primative nature though, it is a less than complete guide for the beginner or anyone looking for perfect technical instruction. As a device to shed light on the origins of modern Shotokan and Tang Soo Do forms (and the like), to show the evolution of an art for the interested martial acholar this book is a must.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent Historical Material.
Review: Here is a book I reccommend for ALL Itosu/Funakoshi lineage karate lineage people (Shotokan, Tang Soo Do, Chung Do Kwan, etc.). This version, published by kodansha, is an improvement over the edition put out by Master's publications with regard to the actual translation (I own and have read both, as well as the original Japanese version). It is also more affordable than the original hardback by Master's Publications, although the same company has since issued a paperback version, and I did not find the differences to be confusing throughout either work.

As a historical work, this book offers a look at Funakoshi himself, who was the starting point for so many Japanese and Korean lineages, demonstrating kata and technique. This is not an in-depth study, and although all of 3 kata are shown in sequential photographs of Funakoshi (Pinan Sho-dan, Naihanchi, and Koshokun aka Kusanku), the other 13 kata only include 1 or 2 extra photographs and written descriptions...so if you are looking for a kata bible to refer to in your practice, you'd be better of with Nakayama's technically astute "Best Karate" series.

For the era in which it was published, Funakoshi's work was truely an advancement, especially in that it was one of the (if not the) first karate books to include so many illustrative photographs as opposed to just drawings or written descriptions. Due to it's primative nature though, it is a less than complete guide for the beginner or anyone looking for perfect technical instruction. As a device to shed light on the origins of modern Shotokan and Tang Soo Do forms (and the like), to show the evolution of an art for the interested martial acholar this book is a must.

Rating:
Summary: A MUST READ FOR TANG SOO DO STUDENTS
Review: In reading the book you learn that the first book published was only done so in a very limited number and that drawings were used to illustrate the techniques within the book. When the later version in 1925 was published, Master Funakoshi himself posed for photographs which were used in place of the original drawings, allowing a much more detailed look at the techniques. The version I have, the modern English version, still has these same photos of Funakoshi performing the techniques. It was from Rentan Goshin Karate Jutsu that Funakoshi much later expanded into the Karate Do Kyohan and his students were photographed performing the techniques. However, if you want to see karate as it looked when men such as Won Kuk Lee and others were learning it in Japan, you must see the book Rentan Goshin Karate Jutsu. I can't begin to emphasize enough the importance of this work to the historical understanding of the development of Tang Soo Do. I personally believe this book was one of those that Hwang Kee found to study in the 1930's in Seoul. While the original Ryukyu Kempo Karate was not widely disseminated (if you can find a copy it will be in Japanese and will be worth a fortune), the Rentan Goshin Karate Jutsu was widely disseminated through many printings and could readily have been available even in Korea during the time period. For those of us who have seen and had a chance to work with some older members of the Moo Duk Kwan, a glance at Funakoshi in these photos immediately impacts upon you the closeness with our style and what karate was like when Funakoshi was teaching in Japan in the late 1920's. Keeping in mind that only a decade before the Japanese had no knowledge of Karate and that it is considered that Funakoshi demonstrated the populace style of karate extant on Okinawa at the turn of the last century, and you can see the root of Tang Soo Do Moo Duk Kwan as far back as the late 1800's. For this reason alone if no other I can't imagine a Tang Soo Do Moo Duk Kwan decendant NOT having Karate Jutsu in their library. It should be kept right alongside "Tang Soo Do/Soo Bahk Do, Vol. 1".

John Hancock
President
International Tangsoodo Alliance

Rating:
Summary: Better than To-te Jutsu
Review: The above reviewer is correct. I bought Karate Jutsu and was not sure if it was the same as To-te Jutsu, so I went to the martial arts store and looked inside To-te Jutsu. The names are different because of the timing of when the book came out, I think? I think the name of Karate changed from Ryu Kyu Kempo, to To-te Jutsu, to Karate Jutsu? Although Karate Jutsu has fewer pages, it is because they fit 2 photos on one page instead of just one. If you are wondering if all 10 Katas from the To-te Jutsu are in Karate Jutsu, they are. In both books, the first 3 katas are fully illustrated and the other 7 are accompanied with 2-3 photos and the rest of the Kata described in detail. Although I liked To-te Jutsu's cover, I am very happy I bought Karate Jutsu. The binding is better and so is the wording. Please look at the reviews for Karate Jutsu, some of those reviews were very good.

Rating:
Summary: STUDENT OF GICHIN
Review: This is one of the best books for teaching martial arts the correct way. What you learn is realistically how to defend yourself from an attacker or a group of thugs. I studied it nearly ten years ago. Thanks to black belt karate I have not had anyone attack me since I was gang beatin in 1989. This book is the real way to learn the sport or art. WHAT A GREAT BOOK!

Rating:
Summary: For "thinking" Shotokan karate practitioners
Review: This is the text that Master Funakoshi wrote to replace Ryukyu Kenpo Karate after it's original plates were destroyed. This text also precedes Karate-Do Nyumon and Karate-Do Kyohan. This text is interesting in that it shows some pictures of Gichin Funakoshi throughout various stages of his life, and several still photos of various kata performed by Master Funakoshi himself. To see what these 'original' kata may have looked like, it is absolutely necessary to have a working knowledge of the kata as they are today. Many schools of Shotokan have small variations compared to this text, but are largely similar to the photos of Funakoshi from nearly 100 years ago. This is reassuring. However, it is important to note that Gichin was a very small man and many techniques for real life defense for a man his size would be slightly different for larger Western men. However, the concept remains the same, which is again, reassuring. The selling point of this book is some Shotokan karateka philosophy written by Funakoashi himself, which at times are enlightening, and amusing in others. For beginners or intermediate practitioners of Shotokan, this book will not help much because it gives no sense of timing in kata, and very poor idea of direction and specific fine movements (better to see Nakayama's 'Best Karate' series). However, it should be clear to most advanced students (say, 1st kyu and up). This book shares features of Karate-Do Kyohan, in that it shows fundamentals like hand and foot positions, stances, how to build a makiwara, etc. But it is perhaps more interesting because it shows some throws that are not practiced in many Shotokan dojos these days. Overall, I give 5 stars to this old classic text that brings us back to the Father of Modern Karate, Master Funakoshi, and I further recommend it to any advanced Shotokan karateka.