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As I stated at the beginning of this foreword, this book is an interesting publication in that it represents an authentic account of pre- to post-war Okinawan karate masters, bujin, and native sumo wrestlers, their bouts and reputations. Most of all, these chronicles are introduced by Nagamine Shoshin, a master of bunbu ryo do: someone whose physical skills are equally balanced by his intellectual dexterity.

As mentioned earlier, at first I thought Funakoshi Gisho’s foreword was exaggerated. However, after reading the manuscript, I concur. This book is a must for everyone who studies karate. Moreover, I also recommend it as a source from which the modern bujin can better understand karate and Zen, as well as knowing karate’s place in Okinawan culture.

—Kadekawa Junki

Journalist, Ryukyu Shinpo

[Note: This foreword first appeared in the Ryukyu Shinpo evening edition on July 12th, 1986.]

Translator’s Foreword

It is both an honor and a surprise that I should be associated with Grandmaster Nagamine’s book. First, it is a honor that someone as important as Nagamine Shoshin considered me worthy to undertake the translation of such important research. Second, it is ironic because the very first book on the history of karate-do I ever bought, more than twenty years ago, was Professor Shinzato Katsuhiko’s wonderful English translation of O-Sensei’s first publication, The Essence of Okinawan Karate-Do. Having made a big impression on me, I never thought that I would one day befriend such a man, much less be petitioned to translate his research, and then write a foreword for its publication. It just proves that anything is possible.