The life of Gichin Funakoshi transcends that of a martial arts master. Weak in his childhood, he found in Tode not only physical strength but also a spiritual path that would accompany him throughout his entire life.

Under the guidance of Asato and Itosu, he understood that karate (as it would later be called) was an inner discipline and a training of character.

From Okinawa to Tokyo, he transformed this secret art into a universal discipline, always teaching with humility: Karate had to be a way of life, never an instrument of violence; eventually evolving into Karate-Do as it became integrated into Budo.