ANKO ITOSU

YOU MUST DECIDE IF KARATE IS FOR YOUR HEALTH OR TO AID YOUR DUTY

- JUSTIN HAGEN

Anko Itosu (1831-1915) stated the following when he issued his 10 Precepts of Karate: “You must decide if karate is for your health or to aid your duty.” His assertion emphasizes the importance of identifying the reason we train in the martial arts. To answer this for yourself, the first thing you must ask is, “What is my intent?”

What are you hoping to get from your martial arts study? Do you want to be a fighting champion? Do you want to learn how to defend yourself? Do you want to bolster your hand-to-hand skills for a career in law enforcement or the military? Maybe you just want to get healthy.

Whatever your reason, it’s essential to identify it early so you understand why you’re training and so you can stay motivated as you train in the most appropriate manner.

THE MAN 

Anko Itosu was an Okinawan martial arts master who’s considered the father of modern karate. (The title also has been bestowed on his student Gichin Funakoshi, founder of shotokan.) Studying under masters Nagahama Chikudun and Sokon Matsumura, Itosu learned shuri-te, an Okinawan self-defense art. Itosu’s modifications to the traditional aspects of shuri-te would lead to his own style later being called Itosu-ryu.

Throughout his life, Itosu instructed and influenced many prominent martial arts masters. They included Chosin Chibana of shorin-ryu, Kenwa Mabuni of shito-ryu and Choki Motobu of Motobu-ryu.