Tokuda Antei’s
Memorandum
As can be seen in newspaper accounts, karate spread
and developed as a compulsory subject of physical education. On January 25,
1911 (Meiji 44), the sole daily newspaper within Okinawa prefecture at the time
published the following article:
The Karate Convention of
the Normal School
Yesterday from 2 p.m. in the school’s
courtyard the karate convention of the pupils of the just
mentioned school commenced. Yabu Kentsū was named the instructor. First, up to
80 sets of karate were performed by the pupils. Furthermore
about 4 sets of kumite were also performed. Afterwards 5 sets of karate were
demonstrated by middle school pupils as distinguished guests. Finally, [the
following was demonstrated] by masters in this field of study kindly present on
this day:
Sēsan by Funakoshi Gichin,
Passai by Mr. Kiyuna,
Gojūshiho (AKA Ūsēshi) by Yabu Kentsū,
Naihanchi by Mr. Itokazu,
and the like.
And with this the convention was concluded.
These are all things of undeniable reputation within this prefecture’s karate circles,
but are also things which could not be seen as easily as during this day’s
demonstrations.
The kinds [=kata] of karate are
the 15 types:
Nanhanchi [=Naifanchi]
Pinan
Chintō
Wansū
Passai
Ronsū [=Chinsū]
Kūsankū
Rōhai
Gojūshiho (AKA Ūsēshi)
Jitte
Nantei [=Chintē]
Jī [=Jiin]
Sēsan
Wandō [=Wandau]
Jūmu [=Jion]
Among the pupils who excelled in these
fifteen types the following persons were presented an award of excellence. […]
Altogether sixty-eight pupils were presented
the award of excellence. Among them was Tokuda Antei (1884–1979).
Tokuda entered the Prefectural Middle School
in 1905 and graduated in 1910, in the 22nd graduation class. As
can be seen in the chronological records of the Prefectural Middle School as
well as in newspaper articles, karate had been introduced as
a compulsory subject of physical education in the Prefectural Middle School in
the year of Tokuda’s entrance, so he became acquainted with it for a period of
five years. After graduation from the Prefectural Middle School he matriculated
in the evening course of the Normal School (teacher college), which was a one
year course to become a primary school teacher. There he was also a member of
the Normal School karate club and also received instruction
in karate until his graduation in 1911.
During the six years from 1905 to 1911,
Tokuda received instruction from Itosu Ankō. He is therefore a contemporary
witness of the invention of school karate by Itosu Ankō.
Well, the introduction and spread of karate to
mainland Japan is usually dated to have begun with Funakoshi Gichin’s
demonstration at the 1st Physical Education Exhibition
sponsored by the Ministry of Education in 1922. However, according to a
memorandum by above mentioned Tokuda Antei, karate had
already been introduced in 1908 at the Kyōto Butokuden.
Tokuda Antei’s Memorandum
Miscellaneous thoughts on karate.
By Tokuda Antei
My memories are numerous, but I would like to
mention mainly those about physical training. During my school years, karate, jūdō, sumō and
the like were performed for the first time. Karate began
with both Hanashiro and Yabu senseis and about twenty volunteer students.
Practice took place inside the grounds of the Okinawa Ginko Bank, on the
remains of the former National Academy (Kokugaku) of Ryūkyū in Shuri
Tōnokura. Practice commenced with techniques such as the fundamental
Naihanchi. Occasionally we went to the house of venerable old man Higaonna
[Kanryō] in Naha, where we practiced Sanchin, and later we welcomed venerable
old man Itosu at school and received instruction. Moreover, during times of
physical exercises (taiso), karate was also adopted
and in this way the so-called “physical exercise karate” (karate-taisō)
was born. Later, team or individual kumite was demonstrated
at athletic meets and the like. I also coached as an assistant instructor.
During the summer lecture meetings at venerable old man Itosu’s home, with
Hanashiro sensei as the initiator, and Yabu, Funakoshi and other warriors (bujin),
all sorts of performances were seen performed. Staff members also increased
more and more and I remember Kuniyoshi Seikun and Taira Kana, both from Naha,
as well as others.
At times me and Kanemoto Seijin visited
Yamannī Usumē (i.e. venerable old man Chinen Sanrā) from Shuri Kinjō, venerable
old man Kiyuna from Tamaudun as well as other warriors (bujin). As a
result we received a lot of answers and corrections to our questions. Every
time inspectors of the school and prefectural offices appeared, staff members
performed and tried to introduce karate to them. If I
remember correctly it was in my 5th year at middle school [i.e.
in 1910] when famous rear admiral Yashiro [Rokurō, 1860–1930, admiral in the
Imperial Japanese Navy and Navy Minister] visited our school and he was
astonished by our amazingly developed physique and he said that at some point
in the future he will try to have it [karate] adopted by the central
government. When I participated as a jūdō athlete at the
Butokuden [in 1908]
I also performed school karate in
front of Kanō Jigorō sensei and answered several of his questions. […]
Venerable old man Itosu always said to me “Your remarkable progress in jūdō
is due to your karate!” [the remainder was omitted]
The above memorandum was published in the
magazine “Yōshū”, published in 1961 on occasion of the eightieth
anniversary of the founding of the Shuri (Senior) High School.
Note: The above is an adaption of text and research
written and published by Kinjo Hiroshi in “Karate1 kare
Karate2 made”.
© 2017, Andreas
Quast. All rights reserved.
No comments:
Post a Comment