Gichin Funakoshi is widely considered the primary "father" of modern karate due to his efforts to introduce the Okinawan art to mainland Japan, from where it spread to the rest of the world. Born in 1868, he began to study karate at the age of 11, and was a student of the two greatest masters of the time, Azato and Itosu. He grew so proficient that he was initiated into all the major styles of karate in Okinawa at the time. For Master Funakoshi, the word karate eventually took on a deeper and broader meaning through the synthesis of these many methods, becoming karate-do, literally the "way of karate," or of the empty hand. Training in karate-do became an education for life itself.
 

In 1916 he gave a demonstration to the Butokuden in Kyoto, Japan, which at that time was the official center of all martial arts. On March 6, 1921, the Crown Prince, who was later to become the Emperor of Japan, visited Okinawa and Master Funakoshi was asked to demonstrate karate. In the early spring of 1922 Master Funakoshi traveled to Tokyo to present his art at the First National Athletic Exhibition in Tokyo organized by the Ministry of Education. He never returned to Okinawa.
 
Master Funakoshi taught just one method, a total discipline, which represented a synthesis of Okinawan karate styles. This method became known as Shotokan, literally the clan or the house of Shoto, which was the Master's pen name for his poetry.

In the first chapter of Master Funakoshi's book, Karate-do Kyohan, he tells us the most important point of Karate-do is "spiritual rather than physical matters." He discusses both positive and negative aspects of karate, telling us Karate-do can be misused if it is misunderstood.

Those who want to learn karate must understand what karate really is. Then after learning what karate is, the student must learn how to use techniques and skills properly.

We should stop to reconsider his original philosophy of Karate-do as he explained it in twenty lessons.

 1.  Karate is not only dojo training.
 2.  Don't forget that Karate begins with a bow and ends with a bow.
 3.  In Karate, never attack first.
 4.  One who practices Karate must follow the way of justice.
 5.  First you must know yourself. Then you can know other
 6.  Spiritual development is paramount, and technical skills are merely a means to the end.
 7.  You must release your mind.
 8.  Misfortune comes out of laziness.
 9.  Karate is a lifelong training.
10. Put Karate into everything you do.
11. Karate is like hot water. If you do not give heat constantly it will again become cold.
12. Do not think you have to win. Think that you do not have to lose.
13. Victory depends on your ability to tell vulnerable points from invulnerable ones.
14. Move according to your opponent.
15. Consider your opponent's hands and legs as you would sharp swords.
16. When you leave home, think that millions of opponents are waiting for you.
17. Ready position for beginners and natural position for advanced students.
18. Kata is one thing. Engaging in a real fight is another.
19. Do not forget   
     i strength and weakness of power,
     ii expansion and contraction of the body,
     iii slowness and speed of techniques.
20. Devise at all times.