Karate-Do: My Way Of Life (1981) - Plot & Excerpts
This is among the best autobiographies I've come across, on all accounts. Funakoshi synthesized the karate styles of his two masters in Okinawa (where he had to learn in secret due to a government ban), and later brought his new style to mainland Japan. (The style came to be called "Shotokan" after his pen name, to differentiate it from the other styles that followed one things loosened up at the turn of the century.) Funakoshi was an amazing man with an amazing story, or more like a reservoir of amazing stories, including the time he "faced off" a hurricane standing on his roof (which he later passed off as a foolish stunt of his youth), his encounter with a poisonous snake at night, his confrontation with a mugger in devastated Tokyo just after the war ended, and many more. What I like about most Funakoshi is the refreshing sincerity and humility he shows consistently throughout. He staunchly opposes violence and shows again and again that there are alternatives to fighting if you are willing to see them. Furthermore, he was strongly opposed to petty favoritism of one style over another, calling his martial art simply karatedo, without insisting on his own contributions. Also, Funakoshi stands out from so many of the master interviewed in Fraguas' Karate Masters who generally seem bent on impressing the reader with their chest beating and stories of unequaled feats and unbearable training. Instead, Funakoshi tells his struggles with karate training, with deciding whether to cut his topknot and shame his family (by order of the Meiji government, which his family opposed), his challenges going to school and later becoming a teacher, his struggles to avoid fights even when ambushed on a dark path. He criticizes egos looking for respect and charlatans promoting martial arts as magic; in one encounter he met a man claiming he could tear flesh with his bare hands before a crowd - Funakoshi offered to use his arm to demonstrate this impossible feat; another time one of his masters was jumped on the street - the attacker was stopped, grabbed and dragged to a bar to talk out whatever could be the problem (he was just trying to make a name for himself by "besting" the master). Overall, he was truly a seasoned man, and it comes through in his writing. This book sets the standard for all other autobiographies in style and content. While not everyone will live a life like his, this writing should be held as the model for all others. A good, quick read for anyone and everyone, especially anyone interested in martial arts.
Less an autobiography and more a discussion of Funakoshi's personal philosophies using examples and anecdotes from his life. It makes for interesting, if short, reasoning, and you can certainly pick out significant bits of the master's personality and lifestyle, as well as a uniquely Japanese outlook on the world.There are a number of almost casual phrases through the short book that I imagine are not actually intended to be, but rather major points that Funakoshi wanted to make. I resisted going through the book with a highlighter, but a few of them stand out to me. Perhaps my favourites:"Never make use of your trained body for any illicit purpose.""The great virtues of karate are prudence and humility.""Anyplace can be a dojo.""Karate-Do is not only the acquisition of certain defensive skills but also the mastering of the art of being a good and honest member of society."
What do You think about Karate-Do: My Way Of Life (1981)?
Interesting, but it's very hard to separate mythology and story telling from reality in this book. I think that this could be used as a primary source to show the author's views on a martial art that he was indeed instrumental in shaping. I would have to allow for an unreliable narrator. Some statements (students of karate need never be sick or ill) are clearly dismissible, and others are worthy of skepticism. (karateka hardening fingers in bags of rocks, until they can disable opponents with a single finger thrust?)With that said, it was an endearing and fascinating book. Kept in context, it's valuable, and a ridiculously quick, entertaining read. I'd recommend it to people interested in karate, but I'd suggest that readers stay alert.
—Geoff
This is an interesting book about the life of Gichin Funakoshi written towards the end of his life. It is a collection of interesting tales and an enlightening book for any person interested in Karate. On the down side even though this book is short it can be quite hard to read as the events of this great man's life have not been noted in any particular order but seemingly as the memories came to him. With a bit of editing to create a more flowing narrative this book would be far easier to read. Still very informative and an enjoyable read, I would recommend to anyone who is learning or has an interest in karate.
—Gareth Otton
Every Shotokan Karate-ka ought to be given this when they 1st join their club: In his biographical masterpiece, Grand Master Funakoshi gives a very witty, intelligent & often funny account of his whole life, from his early days when he was forced to take up training for his poor health to when he was finally invited to Japan to give the first successful demonstration of his art - Shotokan Karate. He was obviously a very clever man who really had a passion for his art. At an early age he developed a goal, a vision and a passion to learn all he could about karate from the then great masters of his time and present it to the world. He recounts several times in his life when he was confronted by would-be assailants and describes how he got out of the potentially lethal encounter, he does this in a very witty and often funny way. Despite the book being very small and could be read by some perhaps in a day or so, it really is very interesting and worth reading several times, especially if you practice Karate. I think that it's the sort of book that should be given to new students on joining a Shotokan club. It's just packed with gems of wisdom worth there weight in gold for successful living, even in today's manic society. As in all the other positive reviews listed here already, Funakohi's book is full of wisdom, inspiration and hope. Check out Clive Layton's "Training With Funakoshi" too, an excellent work from a different perspective not to mention Funakoshi's "Twenty Guiding Principles".
—Graham
