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ABOUT SHOTO RYU (SHOTOKAN)
Gichin Funakoshi, Founder of Shotokan
"True Karate is this:
that in daily life one's mind and body
be trained and developed in a spirit of humility,
and that in critical times, one be devoted
utterly to the cause of justice."
Gichin Funakoshi, Founder of Shotokan
Karate can be described as a martial art, or fighting
method, involving a variety of techniques, including blocks, strikes,
evasions, throws, and joint manipulations. Karate practice is divided
into three aspects: kihon (basics), kata (forms), and kumite (sparring).
The word karate is a combination of two Japanese
characters: kara, meaning empty, and te, meaning hand; thus, karate
means "empty hand." Adding the suffix "do" (pronounced "doe"),
meaning "way," i.e., karate-do, implies karate as a total way of
life that goes well beyond the self-defense applications. In traditional
karate-do, we always keep in mind that the true opponent is oneself.
Present day Karate is
categorized into four different parts, 1) physical conditioning,
2) self defense, 3) mental conditioning, and 4) sport karate. Although
its origin is very obscure, a popular story prevails that credits
the Indian Priest Daruma or Bodhidharma (525 A.D.) with its birth. However,
other great men such as Hua T'o (190-265 A.D.), a brilliant doctor,
and Yuen Fei, a popular general of the Sung Dynasty, (960-1275
A.D.) are also considered forefathers of Karate.
Karate was originally known as "Kenpo", meaning "First Law". From
China it crossed over to Okinawa, where known as "Te", it consisted
mostly of hand movements. In 1923 the Okinawans changed the Chinese character
to a Japanese character. Thus, the meaning changed from "hands of China" to "empty
hand". This transition assuredly brought about a deeper meaning to
the art in which the spiritual overcame the physical.
Two experts form Okinawa, Kenwa
Mabuni and Gigen
Funakoshi introduced their techniques to Japan in 1916. Their
aim was to promote Karate as a sport throughout Japan.
Before its introduction to Okinawa, many styles of the art existed throughout
China. Each style or system was generally noted for a distinct feat -
developing the tiger claw, butterfly kick, panther punch, etc. In addition,
the various systems jealously guarded their techniques and trained in secret. Among
the systems of Southern China stemming from the Shaolin or Shorinji temple,
were Hung, Liu, Ts'ai or Choy, Li and Mo. Other Cantonese as well
as northern systems have found their way to the United States.
In the last seven decades, the techniques have been modified into distinct
Japanese styles - Shotokan, Shudokan, Waddoryu,
Chitsoeryu and others. Many of these styles are currently taught in the
United States and are often modified into styles more suitable to American
methods of self defense. Thus the art of karate is constantly undergoing
improvement and revision.
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