Monthly Archives: June 2016

May I introduce myself? My name is Kanō Jigorō.

Out of personal interest I regularly surf the internet and also read, participate in and contribute in discussions in social media groups. One of the stereotypes found almost everywhere is what I would paraphrase as follows: Gichin Funakoshi introduced and popularized karate … Continue reading

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The First Uniform and Black Belt in Karate

In the board-game of Go, Hon’inbō Dōsaku 本因坊道策 (1645-1702) created the first rank system. It had three ranks only: Meijin (9th dan), Jun-meijin (8th dan), and Jōzu (7th dan). Later this classification was enhanced to include nine dan 段 ranks. … Continue reading

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The Charter of Karate-dō (inofficial translation)

The Charter of Karate-dō Karate-dō developed in Okinawa as an original empty-handed martial art of Japan. Within the process of its dissemination inside Japan, and while it inherited the original spirit of the ancient Japanese martial ways (budō), it developed … Continue reading

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