"Karate Ni Sente Nashi"

Okinawan master Chōjun Miyagi, founder of Goju-ryu karate.

Shotokan Master Keigo Abe at the memorial of Gichin Funakoshi, the founder of Shotokan Karate, pointing to the second of his twenty precepts (Niju Kun).

The precept reads: “Hitosu, Karate Ni Sente Nashi”.

This translates to: “There is no first strike in karate.”

(The word Hitotsu means “one” or “first” and precedes each rule, to place it at the same level of importance as the others.)

My sensei (Hanshi M.A. Sharifi) received his third dan from Sensei Abe.

Shotokan Karate Institute -1988

The Way of the Warrior: Karate, the Way of the Empty Hand (BBC documentary 1983).

The film features Goju-ryu Sensei Morio Higaonna of Okinawa.

Training with Sensei Shinpan Gusukuma at Shuri Castle.

Shinpan Gusukuma was a disciple of Master Anko Itosu. He and Sensei Kenwa Mabuni later founded Shito-ryu Karate.

Shuri, Okinawa Perfecture, 1938.

Satunushi “Tode” Sakugawa.

Peichin Satunushi Sakugawa is the first teacher in the Shotokan lineage who made specific contributions to the karate we study today. He is credited with creating the “dojo” system, and writing the first set of “kun”.

As a boy he sought out instruction from a Buddhist monk named Peichin Takahara, an expert in “tode”, the Okinawan version of early Chinese martial arts. Upon Takahara’s death he asked Sakugawa to take the name “Tode” in honor of the art. He later became the first teacher of Sokon Matsumara.

Okinawan Karate Keizu (family tree). Spelling of names may vary slightly from other translations.

(red lines denotes a direct teacher - blue lines denote a significant influence)

One of the earliest fathers of Okinawan Karate - Anko Itosu

He and Master Anko Azato were responsible for teaching Gichin Funakoshi karate. This is the only picture of Master Itosu known to exist.

second row up from the bottom, second from the left (white mustache)

Master Gichin Funakoshi - Tekki Shodan

Master Gichin Funakoshi