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The Creation of a Karate Style
Shotokan Karate is one of the oldest and most popular styles of Karate. It was
developed at the beginning of the last century by Master Gichin Funakoshi
(1868-1957) from the island of Okinawa.
Funakoshi trained in both of the popular styles of Okinawan Karate of the time
Shorei-ryu and Shorin-ryu Shorei was designed for well built people, placed
emphasis on developing physical strength and was impressive in its shear power,
it utilized the heavy strikes of Okinawa-Te and some of the Sumo grappling
moves. Shorin was light and quick, with fast strikes and counterattacks,
designed for people who were small in size and very agile. Shorin was utilized
Dim-Mak and grappling moves from Jujutsu.
After years of intense study of both styles, Master Funakoshi arrived at a new
understanding of martial arts, and a simplistic style was created, that
combined the ideals of Shorei and Shorin.
As in all Karate styles it is Katas, formal sequences of basic techniques, that
form the backbone of the tradition. The traditional Japanese martial arts,
Sumo, Jujutsu and Kenjutsu were heavily centered around combat. However, Master
Funakoshi sought a path to physical health and stamina through individual
technique. Thus, Modern Karate focused on breathing, releasing energy and
outstanding mind and body control.
Entering Japan
In 1922, the first Karate Demonstration was held in Tokyo by Master Gichin
Funakoshi and had made a powerful impression on the Japanese public. At the
time the practice of martial arts was forbidden, but a man by the name of
Gigori Kano had found a way around the law and Funakoshi was quick to follow
his path. Kano had spent years training in Jujutsu the traditional unarmed
combat tequniques of the samurai.
Kano new if he modified Jujutsu (the gentle art) into Judo (the gentle way) he
could accomplish his goal and legalize it. What Kano did was to have his
students wear a uniform called a "gi" which is tied closed with different
colored belts representing training accomplishments. He then demonstrated the
sports aspect of Judo to the Japanese government. The Japanese government
immediately embraced the new "way" and judo became an overnight success.
During Funakoshi's demonstration, he had all his students dress in the same gi
as the Judo students, then he put the belts on them and had them demonstrate
impressive feats and kata. He then renamed the art from TO-TE Jutsu (the art of
the Chinese hand) to Karate-Do (the way of the Empty Hand). Again, the Japanese
government became impressed with the new way and Karate-do became legal.
After that, Karate became very popular and spread very fast in Japan. From the
beginning, Master Funakoshi insisted on teaching Karate to college students.
The first Karate-do Club was in Keio University. Today, Karate-do is spread
into many countries around the world. In May 1948, the Japan Karate Association
(JKA) was founded by the students of Master Gichin Funakoshi, and the standards
of training (Kihon, Kata, Kumite) and competition were established.
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