Gichin Funakoshi

Gichin Funakoshi is the founder of Shotokan KarateDo, perhaps the most widely known style of karate, and is attributed as being the father of modern karate. Following the teachings of Anko Itosu and Anko Asato, he was one of the Okinawan karate masters who introduced karate to the Japanese mainland in 1922. He taught karate at various Japanese universities and became honorary head of the Japan Karate Association upon its establishment in 1949.

Gichin Funakoshi was born on November 10, 1868 , the year of the Meiji Restoration, in Shuri, Okinawa, to a lowrank Rykyan Pechin and originally had the family name Tominakoshi. Funakoshi was born prematurely. His fathers name was Gisu. After entering primary school he became close friends with the son of Ank Azato, a karate and Jigenry master who would soon become his first karate teacher. Funakoshis family was stiffly opposed to the abolition of the Japanese topknot, and this meant he would be ineligible to pursue his goal of attending medical school, despite having passed the entrance examination. Being trained in both classical Chinese and Japanese philosophies and teachings, Funakoshi became an assistant teacher in Okinawa. During this time, his relations with the Azato family grew and he began nightly travels to the Azato family residence to receive karate instruction from Ank Azato.

Source: Wikipedia