Gichin Funakoshi

[BadgerFu57]

Gichin Funakoshi is one of the great karate masters....

I am reading his autobiography and it has changed my perspective on karate.

I don' think karate is much of a fighting art compared to more modern and scientific methods, such as boxing, judo, etc.

However, Karate seems to be about more than fighting. Particularly, improving one's well-being and making them a better person seems to be the goal of karate practice.

Gichin was a little eccentric, and I think some of his stories a little far-fetched.

Basically, karate seems to be a semi-cultic art bent more on changing one's way of life. So comparing it to other fighting arts is pointless, since karate is not about winning fights, but rather not fighting.

I am not pro or against karate, this is just my 2 cents based on my reading.

[Toudiyama[NL]]

excactly, and it being about not fighting, makes it good selfdefence

Actually it is true for most japanesse MA, be it kendo iaido, aikido, judo or almost anything with do in it

It is like teaching someone with a gun, restraint, you don't want him to shoot anyone he has an argument with
Or better still teaching restraint by shooting at the range, it is nothing like shooting at a real peron but still potentially dangerous

[Roland]

One thing to bear in mind was that Gichin Funakoshi was considered a minor player in the Karate scene during his time.

The incredible influence he had on the development on modern Karate were due to the fact that he could speak fluent Japanese, was cognizant of Japanese cultural norms and had influential Japanese friends (one of whom was Jigaro Kano).