Gichin Funakoshi was born in 1868 in Shuri, Okinawa, and trained when he was a young boy. He was first introduced to karate by a great master, and scholar named Yasutsune Azato. This allowed Funakoshi to train with other great Okinawan Karate masters, including Shuri-te instructor, Yasutune Itosu.

Funakoshi gave the first public Karate demonstration in 1902, and has been known as the person who spread karate to other lands. Shotokan is also regarded as Japan's first karate system. The largest Shotokan organization is the Japan Karate Association, and has roughly five million members.