Motobu Choki: One Tough Master Of Karate
Posted: Wednesday, June 02, 2010
by Al Case
http://www.alcasebooks.com/
There's going to be a lot of different ideas on who was the toughest Master of Karate, but Motobu Choki certainly deserves consideration. He was one of the first instructors to spread Karate outside of Okinawa, and he is responsible for the fame and notoriety that resulted in the spread of Karate. Interestingly, not many people have heard of this 'George Washington' of Karate.
Eventually, because he developed such a high degree of agility, people called him Motobu the Monkey. He also was looked on as a fierce, though untrained (brutal?) street fighter. Though he was held in low esteem for his brawling, instructors took him on as a student, probably because of his lineage.
His instructors read like a Who's Who of early Okinawan Karate. Among the masters who taught him were Anko Itosu, Sakuma Pechin, Sokon Matsumura, Tokumine Pechin, and Kosaku Matsumora. This would be like somebody who trained under Ed Parker, Morihei Uyeshiba, Bruce Lee, and Gichin Funakoshi.
Motobu eventually made his way to Japan, where some Karate instructors were earning a living teaching. Motobu being a rough character, and not succeeding at business, signed up to fight in a 'Judo v Boxing' match. He was fifty-two years old the night he stepped into the prize fight ring, and he was about to change Karate for all time.
His opponent is said to have been a strongman from some western country. Strong or not, Motobu is said to have moved forward with a single punch to put the fellow down for the count. People were astonished at this incredible win, and newspapers gave the story coverage, and here is where the tale takes an odd twist.
The newspapers didn't have a picture of Motobu, so they published the only image they did have, which was of a young fellow name of Gichin Funokoshi. That's right, Motobu knocked the strongman out, but his fellow countryman, and competitor, Gichin Funokoshi, got the credit. Thus, Shotokan was spread around the world, and Motobu went home.
Motobu Choki, brawler and roughneck, is as responsible for the spread of Karate as anyone. He was a karate fighter of tremendous punching power, and he founded the Motobu Ryu Karate style. People may have forgotten about him, but they shouldn't, for he is definitely in the running for toughest Karate Master of all time.
If you would like to learn more about Karate, and a totally new method for teaching that wonderful art, go to Monster Martial Arts . Pick up a free ebook on Matrixing while you're there. 4
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Top-level comments on this article: (2 total)Hi al, it's nice to see you back! What a sad story in some ways, but may Motobu retained his personal freedom. Would make a great movie...
Hi Jennifer, never away, just trying to figure out sites and adsense and all that bushwah. What an interesting question you've posed...would you prefer personal freedom or money? Sort of cuts through to the American corporate culture and blah blah. But you're right about the movie...the wild east is like the wild west, but with more gore and tea ceremonies. Have great day. Al
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