On December 5th, the electronic edition of Walking Upright: The Story of Gichin Funakoshi will be available on Amazon. Written by Milton Chanes, this book pays tribute to one of the greatest figures of modern martial arts. The printed edition will follow shortly after, but the Kindle pre-order is already open.

Who was Gichin Funakoshi?

All karate practitioners, especially those who follow Shotokan, know him.
In almost every dōjō, there is at least one photograph of him hanging on the wall, along with a frame displaying the dōjō kun, and often the twenty principles that guide the practice. His image is present, his name is spoken with respect, and his legacy is repeated in ceremonies and training sessions.

Everyone knows who he is. But… do they really know him?

Gichin Funakoshi (1868–1957) is regarded as the father of modern karate. Born in Shuri, Okinawa, he transformed a once-secret martial art, known as tōde, into a universal discipline: karate-dō.

He was not only a master of combat techniques but also a poet, teacher, and scholar who saw karate not as an instrument of violence, but as a way of life. His guiding principle, carved on his tombstone at Engaku-ji Temple in Kamakura, encapsulates his philosophy:

KARATE NI SENTE NASHI
In karate, there is no first attack.

What is the book about?

Walking Upright is not an academic biography nor a technical manual. It is a narrative that blends documented history, reconstructed scenes, and respectfully crafted fiction to bring the atmosphere of that era to life.

The book traces Funakoshi’s journey from his frail and sickly childhood in Okinawa, through his training with masters such as Ankō Azato and Itosu, to his triumph in Tokyo, where he turned karate into a global discipline.

Beyond the historical milestones, the work seeks to convey the spirit of personal growth that Funakoshi embodied: true victory does not lie in defeating others, but in mastering oneself.

Languages and accessibility

The book was originally written in Spanish and professionally translated into English to reach a wider audience. With the support of artificial intelligence tools, versions in other languages are also being developed, making this story accessible to readers around the world.

Where to find it?

• Kindle edition (ebook): available on Amazon starting December 5th (pre-order now open).
• Print edition: to be released shortly afterward, also via Amazon.

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