Karate was first brought to the Japanese mainland in 1915 by a man named Gichin Funakoshi who was born in 1868 in the capital of Okinawa, Shuri, within the Ryukyu islands.
Funakoshi studied under various noted masters of his time in the skills of Okinawa-te / Shuri-te, including Master Azato and Master Itosu, (whose grip was allegedly so powerful that he could crush an adult bamboo stem with one hand).
In time Funakoshi became a noted authority in Shuri-te and in 1922 was invited to Japan to give a demonstration in Tokyo. Not only was the display a great success, but Jigoro Kano, the founder of Judo, asked Funakoshi to lecture at the Kodokan (judo hall) on his skill. This was the turning point in Funakoshi's career.
Instead of returning to Okinawa he stayed in Tokyo to promote Karate (Empty Hand)..
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