· A NOVEL INSPIRED BY TRUE EVENTS  · 

Bushi

The guardian of Shuri

Bushi: The Guardian of Shuri is the second book in the Walking Upright Trilogy. It tells the story of Matsumura Sōkon, the legendary warrior who served the royal court of Shuri and became one of the most influential figures in the early development of Okinawan martial arts.


Through his life, the book explores the world that existed before modern Karate-Dō: the traditions of the Ryūkyū Kingdom, the responsibilities of a warrior, and the balance between strength, loyalty, wisdom, and duty.


For Matsumura Sōkon, martial arts were not merely a means of combat, but a way to protect, serve, and preserve a legacy for future generations.

 · A NOVEL INSPIRED BY TRUE EVENTS  · 

Walking Upright

Walking Upright  is the first book in the trilogy that bears its name. It tells the story of Gichin Funakoshi, the master who brought Tōde from Okinawa to Japan and helped transform it into Karate-Dō.


Through his life, the book opens the path for the rest of the trilogy, exploring the spirit of Budō: discipline, humility, respect, and character.


For Gichin Funakoshi, Karate was not merely a technique, but a way of walking upright through life.

Walking Upright

Discover Walking Upright in your language. Select one of the available editions and begin reading the opening chapters of this historical novel, inspired by the life of Gichin Funakoshi, directly on the website. You can also download a free PDF sample and continue reading whenever you like. Choose your language, discover the story, and begin the journey.

Bushi. The guardian of Shuri

Discover Bushi: The Guardian of Shuri in your language. Choose one of the available editions and begin reading the opening chapters of this historical novel, inspired by the life of Matsumura Sōkon, directly in your browser. You can also download a free PDF sample and continue reading whenever you like. Select your language, enter the world of the Ryūkyū Kingdom, and discover the story of the legendary warrior of Shuri.

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Step into the extraordinary story of Matsumura Sōkon and discover the world of Shuri during the final decades of the Ryūkyū Kingdom.


Bushi: The Guardian of Shuri is a historical novel that brings to life the warrior behind one of the most important legacies in Okinawan martial arts. Through loyalty, political change, personal conflict, and a lifelong commitment to duty, the novel reveals the human story behind the man who helped shape the foundations of modern karate.



Download the free preview, read the opening chapters, and enter the world of the Guardian of Shuri.

BUSHI - The guardian of shuri

Book 2

EXAMPLE IN ENGLISH

A NOVEL INSPIRED BY TRUE EVENTS  ·  PUBLISHED

Bushi. The guardian of Shuri

Okinawan Martial Arts · The Story of Matsumura Sōkon

A fictional novel inspired by real events. Not a manual of techniques, but a reflection on duty, loyalty, courage, and the responsibilities of a warrior. Set in the final decades of the Ryūkyū Kingdom, the novel explores how martial knowledge was preserved through discipline, service, and personal sacrifice.

A meditation on legacy, honour, and the quiet strength required to protect what must not be lost.


Walking Upright Trilogy - Book 2.

Milton Chanes — Author’s Blog

Kōdōkan – Its History

By Milton Chanes • August 6, 2026
The Kōdōkan: Where Judo Became a Way and Karate Found Its Gateway to Japan
Kōdōkan, historia del Kōdōkan, Jigorō Kanō, Gichin Funakoshi, historia del judo, historia del karate

Kōdōkan - Su historia

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Descubre la historia del Kōdōkan, fundado por Jigorō Kanō, y la decisiva visita de Gichin Funakoshi en 1922, recreada en Walking Upright.
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The Story of Gigō Funakoshi: Karate as Reconstruction

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The story of Gigō Funakoshi is not merely the story of a karateka. It is the story of a sick child who found in karate a way to rebuild his body, challenge his fate, and leave a decisive mark on the evolution of Karate-dō.
Gigō Funakoshi: el karate como reconstrucción personal

La historia de Gigō Funakoshi: el karate como reconstrucción

By Milton Chanes • August 2, 2026
Descubre la historia de Gigō Funakoshi, hijo de Gichin Funakoshi, y cómo convirtió el karate en un camino de reconstrucción y transformación personal.