Empi Kata - Funakoshi Gichen 1924

This is a clip of Master Funakoshi Gichen performing Kata Empi. This form is more commonly known as Wanshu in Okinawa. The film was made in 1924 and is one of only a few films of the Master.

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• Funakoshi
• Wanshu
• Wansu
• Shotokan
• Empi
• Kata

[Shooter16a2]

Well, that's who the original film claimed it was and I have no reason to disagree with them.

[Shooter16a2]

Well, accordind to the people who put the tape out, it is. They should know, some of them were his students.

[Luca87V]

Karate isn't "just a fight". People that thinks of karate just as a way to show "I hit harder than you" can't understand the philosophy behind this Martial ART.

Hitting harder than someone doesn't make you a karateka...to do karate you don't nedd someone else to fight, yourself is enough...

know what you're talking about, before speaking

[AlexSevast2008]

Actually I do agree with you. Karate for me is fighting with myself rather than with somebody else. This is the Way I wil follow untill the end of my life.

[MultiZON123]

He was a true Master... A legend among legends! :)))

[acerwk]

He is not Gichin ''the midget faggot'' Funakoshi.Just calcurate the years

[chudanjufood]

@JimCaronArtist I will agree that this is most likely not Funakoshi. But being a student of Oshima, I'm surprised you don't recognize Empi. It is part of the SKA curriculum. Its a senior kata, so not much attention is paid to it until later on in training.

[Darragh62]

he does look a bit tall compared to the other pics n footage of him

[orel1996]

Wow.. I wish I could see him in action, that would be an amazing honour. Great respect sensei, oss :)

[parkermartin161]

@Shooter16a2 Back then it would of course have been analog film camera, not tape. The images do look to me like old home movies, which is my only frame of reference for analog film cameras, so this looks to me like it's genuine. But I am not an expert. It would be interesting to have a old film expert take a look at this to verify its authenticity.

Thank you for posting it. Sensei and I were just discussing the other day whether or not Funakoshisan did empi. This seems to answer it! Ossu.

[JimCaronArtist]

FARCE-In no way shape or form is this Gichin Funikoshi. Footage is too new and enhanced to look old, besides, this is not the style he taught at all. As a long time student of Tsutomo Ohshima I will verify that. What person would try to create such a farce and for what stupid reason?

[Sochinstudent]

@thebringerofjustic Incorrect. Mas Oyama created Kyokushinkai. Shotokan is Funakoshi's art. To say different against all the historical and documented evidence is ludicrous and you'd better have some good evidence to back it up.

[gordhill]

@dogfacedboyuk1 I agree! It looks like the guy who posed for the english Kyohan.. Egami, iirc (at least the outline of his hair looks the same).