World Shotokan Karate-do Federation - Perth - Brisbane - Melbourne - Martial Arts, Self Defence, School

TORA NO MAKI

The Shotokan Tiger is the icon that symbolises Funakoshi Gichin Sensei’s style of unarmed combat. The drawing was originally created by a Japanese man named Hoan Kosugi who was a friend and student of Funakoshi Sensei, the founder of Shotokan Ryu Karate.  Kosugi was instrumental in convincing Funakoshi Sensei  to both teach Karate in Japan, and to write his knowledge of Karate into a book, and promised he would design the book and make a painting for the cover.

The painting was used to illustrate the cover of Funakoshi Sensei’s book KARATE- DO KYOHAN. In Japanese tradition, the official written document of an art, or system, that is used as a definitive reference source for that particular art, is termed “Tora No Maki” (master text / scroll). Kosugi told Funakoshi Sensei his Karate-Do Kyohan was the Tora No Maki of karate and since “Tora” also means tiger, he designed the tiger as a representation of Funakoshi Sensei’s art.

 The irregular appearance of the circle itself suggests that it was drawn free hand and with one continuous stroke of his brush. The kanji found in the upper right hand corner is Hoan Kosugi's own name.