24/01/2026
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Yosh*taka Funakoshi changed karate more than his father.
Yosh*taka Funakoshi, also known as Gigo Funakoshi, was the son of Gichin Funakoshi, but his influence on karate was very different from his father’s. While Gichin focused on spreading karate, shaping its philosophy, and making it acceptable to Japanese society, Yosh*taka focused on how karate was actually practiced. During the 1930s and early 1940s, Yosh*taka radically transformed training methods by introducing deep stances, longer and more powerful techniques, dynamic body movement, and high kicks that were rarely used before. These changes created the strong, linear, and physically demanding style that later became known as modern Shotokan.
Unlike his father, who emphasized peace, self-control, and moral development, Yosh*taka pushed karate toward intensity and realism. Training under him was harsh and physically demanding, aimed at building endurance, fighting spirit, and strong bodies capable of delivering decisive techniques. Many of the features people now associate with Shotokan karate—such as low stances, explosive power, long-distance attacks, and strong kihon—are the result of Yosh*taka’s innovations rather than traditional Okinawan methods. Although he died young in 1945, his influence continued through his students, shaping generations of karate practitioners. This is why many historians argue that while Gichin Funakoshi gave karate its philosophy and global reach, Yosh*taka Funakoshi changed its technical form more than anyone else, leaving a lasting mark on modern
