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The oldest written description of Wanshû was published in 1922. It was written by G. Funakoshi (1868-1957). He has to say about the movement in question that one has to jump up high and...

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No version of the modern interpretations for "Naihanchi" contains the term "horse". A. Itosu's style of stepping in Naihanchi was referred to as "crab walking" in an article published...

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The name “Tekki” 鉄騎, chosen by G. Funakoshi (1868–1957) for this kata, signifies “Iron Horse Rider” (not “Iron Horse”).

The kata was formally known by another name that was transmitted...

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As for A. Itosu (1831–1915), immediately after his death an article series was published in an Okinawa newspaper wherein he is described as sixty percent Naha and forty percent Shuri. This...

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Unfortunately I am not able to watch the video in your link. However, I guess you are referring to this clip:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KjGZLa50Z_w

If so, the performer is a...

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Here you can find some observations regarding translation problems in the autobiography of G. Funakoshi (1868-1957):
...

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Back in 1935 G. Funakoshi wrote that his karate can not be transformed into sportive tournaments nor commercialized activities. So, I guess that his karate would have nothing to do with the...

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Over the past two decades I heard the same thing times and again, namely that the numbers of members of “established” karate schools and clubs decrease, at least here in Germany, Western...

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I own both editions of the encyclopedia from 2001 and 2010, and the question arose if there are plans for a third edition in the future. If so, are the contributors (for example for the...

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One week ago my latest German book was published. It’s title is "Shōtōkan - überlieferte Texte & historische Untersuchungen. Band III" ("Shōtōkan - Transmitted Texts & Historical Research....

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T. Watanabe passed away on January 5, 2018. He became 100 years old. T. Watanabe started to practise karate after Middle School, and subsequently learnt it as a member of Waseda...

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Yes, the Japanese term “hakkei” 發勁 (old) or 発勁 (modern) is the Chinese term “fa-ching” 發勁 (transcripted more commonly “fajin”). Please note, however, that the same term may be interpreted...

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This is what I guess. As I wrote above, perhaps in the process of writing down and editing/publishing the interview the editor misread "shihan" instead of "shinan" 指南, or maybe...

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It is really strange to read this interpretation of "shihan". The character 南 for "south" is spelled "na" or "nan" in Sino-Japanese, certainly not "han". Therefore it really makes no sense....

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In order to know what went wrong with Shōtōkan, it would be good to know, what G. Funakoshi – the very first director of the Shōtōkan – practised and preached. At least I think this would...

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My words are simply an answer to your statement that you don't know about G. Funakoshi. In the same statement you mention "bunkai", a word G. Funakoshi apparently did not use. Now you state...

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A simple fact is that G. Funakoshi (1868-1957) did not use the term "bunkai" in his Japanese writings. He certainly used the term "kumite" ...

Regards,

Henning Wittwer

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Just as a note: In 1965 Higaonna did publish a short article on the development of karate in mainland Japan, which he compares to the situation in Okinawa at that time. I would call it some...

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Publishing books does not prevent certain folks to “use” the published research on their own. In my case, for example, I translated and analysed some old Japanese karate texts and published...

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I simply do it. Now it is like suggested by karate pioneer Motobu Chōki (1870–1944) and recounted by his dear student Higaonna Kamesuke (1905–1968) “a habit”.

Regards,

Henning Wittwer

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Thank you, Mr. Beish, for your reminder that there used to be a time without internet. I am just translating a newspaper article written by a karate teacher from Okinawa which was published...

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With the opening of karate in the 1910s and 1920ies a few articles were published which contained "histories" of karate as well. The term "Shōrin" in various Japanese spellings obviously...

Hello David,

There is no need to apologize. I appreciate your feedback always. If you should have questions after reading just let me know...

Regards,

Henning Wittwer

Hello David,

K. Higaonna himself describes C. Motobu and his karate not as “brutal fighter” respectively “brutal”, which is interesting, I think. In fact, he highlights the technical subtlety of...

Hello David,

Thank you for your kind words!

K. Higaonna was an interesting individual. He loved his mother and adored his karate teacher, C. Motobu. He was open-minded, perhaps “avant-garde”...