Essay Questions

Why is the narrator very dedicated to his mission of founding Goju-Ryo Karate in Japan?

Since childhood, the dream of the narrator has been being a karate master and he has lived to accomplish his mission. Kenichi is first introduced to Karate by his master, Miyagi who is a well-established karate trainer. The first day Kenichi approaches his master, he is subjected to a tough trial of standing before the typhoon. When Kenichi passes this test, he is approved as a student. Under the training of his master, Kenichi becomes an expert and takes over the role of establishing Goju-Ryo Karate Japan. Kenichi’s devotion to establishing this club is to fulfill his mission and to honor Miyagi for his outstanding work in the field of Karate in Japan.

What is the significance of the title Chojun?

Towards the end of the story, the reader realizes that the main significance of the title Chojun is to honor the legacy of Miyagi. Throughout the story, the narrator has devoted much of the content to praise his master. When Miyagi dies, the narrator takes the initiative of continuing the good work of karate that was started by Miyagi. By doing so, the narrator has continued the legacy of Miyagi and this ensures that current and future generations will honor him.

What symbol does the author use to illustrate the determination of the narrator to achieve his dream of becoming a karate expert?

The determination of the narrator to become karate guru is symbolized by the typhoon. When the narrator expresses interest to join Karate, he is subjected to the harshest test ever. Miyagi tells the narrator to stand before a typhoon and ensure that he does not move until it passes. Because of his motivation and seal, the narrator passes this test and gets admitted as a student. Therefore, the typhoon is figuratively used by the author to show how determined the narrator is towards achieving his goals.