Gichin Funakoshi 1868-1957 (the founder of Japanese karate)
1868 – Born in Shuri, Okinawa
1879 – Trained under Yasutsune Azate and Anko Itosu
1901 – First recorded demonstration of karate
1903 – Introduction of karate to schools in Okinawa
1917 – First demonstration of karate on Japanese mainland
1921 – Demonstration for Crown Prince of Japan, Hirohito
1922 – Establishment of the first Japanese karate club in Tokyo
1936 – Opening of the Shotokan dojo (opened and named by his students)
1945 – Shotokan dojo destroyed in an air raid
1947 – Death of Funakoshi’s wife in Okinawa
1957 – Death of Gichin Funakoshi in Tokyo on April 26th, grave in Kamakura