Karate-Do was a book that was written by Gichin Funakoshi. It was his autobiography detailing about his normal routines of his life and the various historical events he has lived through his lifetime. To put into context, he was considered the father of modern karate. Funakoshi was born on November 10, 1868 and died on April 26, 1957. The Meiji Restoration a period of time that modernized Japan politically, socially, and economically. The act of carrying or just keeping weapons was prohibited and therefore, a new type of “weapon” needed to be created for self-defense; fisticuffs.
Throughout the book Funakoshi constantly reminds and demonstrates to the reader of how karate can be used throughout the book strongly emphasizing that karate should never be used for offensive purposes, it must and only can be defensive. Funakoshi states encounters with armed thugs or thieves who try to rob him. However, rather than fight them physically, he uses the principles of karate to exit peacefully. One incident had him faced up by two armed men. Rather than fight them, he assures them that he wouldn’t try to fight them if he knew he would lose. Calming down the thugs as Funakoshi lets them take his cakes.
Funakoshi states that karate is a universal fighting style that since it can be used and learned by both the young and the old and its principles can help anybody throughout life. As long as the abilities of karate are not abused and only used for good. It is a useful skill that anyone can learn no matter how old or young.