Ankō Itosu (糸洲 安恒, Okinawan: Ichiji Ankō, Japanese: Itosu Ankō, 1831 – 11 March 1915) is considered by many the father of modern karate. This title is also often given to Gichin Funakoshi because of the latter spreading karate throughout Japan, but only after Ankō sensei had introduced the art of Okinawate to the country.
Itosu was born in 1831 and died in 1915.[2] A low-rank Ryūkyūan Pechin, Itosu was small in stature, shy, and introverted as a child. He was raised in a strict home of the keimochi (a family of position), and was educated in the Chinese classics and calligraphy. Itosu began his tode (karate) study under Nagahama Chikudun Pechin. His study of the art led him to Sokon Matsumura. Part of Itosu's training was makiwara practice. He once tied a leather sandal to a stone wall in an effort to build a better makiwara. After several strikes, the stone fell from the wall. After relocating the sandal several times, Itosu had destroyed the wall.[3]
Itosu served as a secretary to the last king of the Ryūkyū Kingdom until Japan abolished the Okinawa-based native monarchy in 1879.[4] In 1901, he was instrumental in getting karate introduced into Okinawa's schools. In 1905, Itosu was a part-time teacher of To-te at Okinawa's First Junior Prefectural High School. It was here that he developed the systematic method of teaching karate techniques that are still in practice today.[5] He created and introduced the Pinan forms (Heian in Japanese) as learning steps for students, because he felt the older forms (kata in Japanese) were too difficult for schoolchildren to learn. The five Pinan forms were (allegedly) created by drawing from two older forms: kusanku and chiang nan.[6] In Okinawa, it is said Itosu always walked in the Naihanchi stance.[7] According to Chibana Chosin, Itosu may also have expanded on the existing Naihanchi forms (Tekki in Japan) to create the third form, which would become Naihanchi Sandan. In 1908, Itosu wrote the influential "Ten Precepts (Tode Jukun) of Karate," reaching beyond Okinawa to Japan. Itosu's style of karate, Shorin-ryu, came to be known as Itosu-ryu in recognition of his skill, mastery, and role as teacher to many.
In October 1908, Itosu wrote a letter, "Ten Precepts (Tode Jukun) of Karate," to draw the attention of the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of War in Japan. A translation of that letter reads:[8]
Ten Precepts of Karate
Ten Precepts of Karate
Karate did not develop from Buddhism or Confucianism. In the past the Shorin-ryu school and the Shorei-ryu school were brought to Okinawa from China. Both of these schools have strong points, which I will now mention before there are too many changes:
Karate is not merely practiced for your own benefit; it can be used to protect one's family or master. It is not intended to be used against a single assailant but instead as a way of avoiding a fight should one be confronted by a villain or ruffian.
The purpose of karate is to make the muscles and bones hard as rock and to use the hands and legs as spears. If children were to begin training in Tang Te[1] while in elementary school, then they will be well suited for military service. Remember the words attributed to the Duke of Wellington after he defeated Napoleon: "The Battle of Waterloo was won on the playing fields of Eton."
Karate cannot be quickly learned. Like a slow moving bull, it eventually travels a thousand miles. If one trains diligently every day, then in three or four years one will come to understand karate. Those who train in this fashion will discover karate.
In karate, training of the hands and feet is important, so one must be thoroughly trained on the makiwara.[2] In order to do this, drop your shoulders, open your lungs, take hold of your strength, grip the floor with your feet, and sink your energy into your lower abdomen. Practice using each arm one to two hundred times each day.
When one practices the stances of Tang Te, be sure to keep your back straight, lower your shoulders, put strength in your legs, stand firmly, and drop your energy into your lower abdomen.
Practice each of the techniques of karate repeatedly, the use of which is passed by word of mouth. Learn the explanations well, and decide when and in what manner to apply them when needed. In karate, there are techniques for striking an opponent, as well as for receiving and deflecting an opponent's attack. In addition, there is a secret technique called torite (tuitī in Okinawan dialect), which is a rule passed down orally..
You must decide if karate is for your health or to aid your duty.
When you train, do so as if on the battlefield. Your eyes should glare, shoulders drop, and body harden. You should always train with intensity and spirit, and in this way you will naturally be ready.
One must not overtrain; this will cause you to lose the energy in your lower abdomen and will be harmful to your body. Your face and eyes will turn red. Train wisely.
In the past, masters of karate have enjoyed long lives. Karate aids in developing the bones and muscles. It helps the digestion as well as the circulation. If karate should be introduced beginning in the elementary schools, then we will produce many men each capable of defeating ten assailants. I further believe this can be done by having all students at the Okinawa Teachers' College practice karate. In this way, after graduation, they can teach at the elementary schools at which they have been taught. I believe this will be a great benefit to our nation and our military. It is my hope you will seriously consider my suggestion.
Anko Itosu, October 1908
This letter was influential in the spread of karate.[5]
^ abBishop, Mark (1989). Okinawan karate: teachers, styles and secret techniques. Martial Arts. A & C Black. ISBN0-7136-5666-2.
^. Archived from the original on 2008-09-08. Retrieved 2009-10-08.
^Arakaki, Kiyoshi (2002). The Secrets of Okinawan Karate. Japan. p. 78.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
^. Archived from the original on May 9, 2003. Retrieved 2017-04-14.
External linksedit
Ankō Itosu on fightingarts.com
Does the photo of Itosu Ankō show a different person?
Newly discovered photo of Itosu Anko
Itosu-ryu Website
January 01, 1970
ankō, itosu, this, okinawan, name, surname, itosu, 糸洲, 安恒, okinawan, ichiji, ankō, japanese, itosu, ankō, 1831, march, 1915, considered, many, father, modern, karate, this, title, also, often, given, gichin, funakoshi, because, latter, spreading, karate, throu. In this Okinawan name the surname is Itosu Ankō Itosu 糸洲 安恒 Okinawan Ichiji Ankō Japanese Itosu Ankō 1831 11 March 1915 is considered by many the father of modern karate This title is also often given to Gichin Funakoshi because of the latter spreading karate throughout Japan but only after Ankō sensei had introduced the art of Okinawate to the country Ankō Itosu糸洲 安恒Born1831Gibo Village Shuri Ryukyu Kingdom Present day Okinawa prefecture Japan Died11 March 1915 aged 83 84 Shuri Okinawa JapanOther namesItosu YasutsuneStyleShuri teTeacher s Nagahama Chikudun of Naha Sokon Matsumura 1 Notable studentsChoyu Motobu Choki Motobu Kentsu Yabu Chomo Hanashiro Gichin Funakoshi Moden Yabiku Kanken Toyama Shinpan Gusukuma Shiroma Anbun Tokuda Kenwa Mabuni Chōshin Chibana Contents 1 Biography 2 Ten Precepts Tode Jukun of Karate 3 See also 4 Notes 5 References 6 External linksBiography editItosu was born in 1831 and died in 1915 2 A low rank Ryukyuan Pechin Itosu was small in stature shy and introverted as a child He was raised in a strict home of the keimochi a family of position and was educated in the Chinese classics and calligraphy Itosu began his tode karate study under Nagahama Chikudun Pechin His study of the art led him to Sokon Matsumura Part of Itosu s training was makiwara practice He once tied a leather sandal to a stone wall in an effort to build a better makiwara After several strikes the stone fell from the wall After relocating the sandal several times Itosu had destroyed the wall 3 Itosu served as a secretary to the last king of the Ryukyu Kingdom until Japan abolished the Okinawa based native monarchy in 1879 4 In 1901 he was instrumental in getting karate introduced into Okinawa s schools In 1905 Itosu was a part time teacher of To te at Okinawa s First Junior Prefectural High School It was here that he developed the systematic method of teaching karate techniques that are still in practice today 5 He created and introduced the Pinan forms Heian in Japanese as learning steps for students because he felt the older forms kata in Japanese were too difficult for schoolchildren to learn The five Pinan forms were allegedly created by drawing from two older forms kusanku and chiang nan 6 In Okinawa it is said Itosu always walked in the Naihanchi stance 7 According to Chibana Chosin Itosu may also have expanded on the existing Naihanchi forms Tekki in Japan to create the third form which would become Naihanchi Sandan In 1908 Itosu wrote the influential Ten Precepts Tode Jukun of Karate reaching beyond Okinawa to Japan Itosu s style of karate Shorin ryu came to be known as Itosu ryu in recognition of his skill mastery and role as teacher to many While Itosu did not invent karate himself he modified the kata forms he learned from his master Matsumura Sōkon and taught many karate masters Itosu s students included Choyu Motobu 1857 1927 Choki Motobu 1870 1944 Kentsu Yabu 1866 1937 Chomo Hanashiro 1869 1945 Gichin Funakoshi 1868 1957 Moden Yabiku 1880 1941 Kanken Toyama 1888 1966 Shinpan Shiroma Gusukuma 1890 1954 Anbun Tokuda 1886 1945 Kenwa Mabuni 1889 1952 and Chōshin Chibana 1885 1969 Ten Precepts Tode Jukun of Karate editIn October 1908 Itosu wrote a letter Ten Precepts Tode Jukun of Karate to draw the attention of the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of War in Japan A translation of that letter reads 8 nbsp Ten Precepts of Karate Ten Precepts of Karate Karate did not develop from Buddhism or Confucianism In the past the Shorin ryu school and the Shorei ryu school were brought to Okinawa from China Both of these schools have strong points which I will now mention before there are too many changes Karate is not merely practiced for your own benefit it can be used to protect one s family or master It is not intended to be used against a single assailant but instead as a way of avoiding a fight should one be confronted by a villain or ruffian The purpose of karate is to make the muscles and bones hard as rock and to use the hands and legs as spears If children were to begin training in Tang Te 1 while in elementary school then they will be well suited for military service Remember the words attributed to the Duke of Wellington after he defeated Napoleon The Battle of Waterloo was won on the playing fields of Eton Karate cannot be quickly learned Like a slow moving bull it eventually travels a thousand miles If one trains diligently every day then in three or four years one will come to understand karate Those who train in this fashion will discover karate In karate training of the hands and feet is important so one must be thoroughly trained on the makiwara 2 In order to do this drop your shoulders open your lungs take hold of your strength grip the floor with your feet and sink your energy into your lower abdomen Practice using each arm one to two hundred times each day When one practices the stances of Tang Te be sure to keep your back straight lower your shoulders put strength in your legs stand firmly and drop your energy into your lower abdomen Practice each of the techniques of karate repeatedly the use of which is passed by word of mouth Learn the explanations well and decide when and in what manner to apply them when needed In karate there are techniques for striking an opponent as well as for receiving and deflecting an opponent s attack In addition there is a secret technique called torite tuiti in Okinawan dialect which is a rule passed down orally You must decide if karate is for your health or to aid your duty When you train do so as if on the battlefield Your eyes should glare shoulders drop and body harden You should always train with intensity and spirit and in this way you will naturally be ready One must not overtrain this will cause you to lose the energy in your lower abdomen and will be harmful to your body Your face and eyes will turn red Train wisely In the past masters of karate have enjoyed long lives Karate aids in developing the bones and muscles It helps the digestion as well as the circulation If karate should be introduced beginning in the elementary schools then we will produce many men each capable of defeating ten assailants I further believe this can be done by having all students at the Okinawa Teachers College practice karate In this way after graduation they can teach at the elementary schools at which they have been taught I believe this will be a great benefit to our nation and our military It is my hope you will seriously consider my suggestion Anko Itosu October 1908 This letter was influential in the spread of karate 5 See also editOkinawan martial arts Pechin PeichinNotes edit Tang Te means China Art or China Hand Makiwara refers to the striking post a training aid in karate References edit Examining Yasutsune Itosu Origins of Beikoku Shido kan Karate Archived 2012 11 26 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved on 29 August 2007 Nagamine Shōshin 2000 Tales of Okinawa s Great Masters trans Patrick McCarthy Tuttle Publishing ISBN 0 8048 2089 9 Kerr George H 2000 Okinawa The History of an Island People revised ed Tuttle Publishing ISBN 0 8048 2087 2 a b Bishop Mark 1989 Okinawan karate teachers styles and secret techniques Martial Arts A amp C Black ISBN 0 7136 5666 2 The Origin of tang Soo Do s Forms Archived from the original on 2008 09 08 Retrieved 2009 10 08 Arakaki Kiyoshi 2002 The Secrets of Okinawan Karate Japan p 78 a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a CS1 maint location missing publisher link Anko Itosu Archived from the original on May 9 2003 Retrieved 2017 04 14 External links editItosu s Ten Precepts of Okinawa karate Ankō Itosu on fightingarts com Notes on Anko Itosu Does the photo of Itosu Ankō show a different person Newly discovered photo of Itosu Anko Itosu ryu Website Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ankō Itosu amp oldid 1194468320, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
