Karate History (A Brief Introduction to Shotokan Karate)

Karate is the "empty hand" martial art from Okinawa, based primary on Chinese Martial arts with indigenous Okinawan teaching and grapping methods. It is an art which relies primarily upon strikes such as kicks and punches with some grappling and throwing. Originally there existed two major type of karate to which most styles of the time conformed. These were Shorin Ryu (Shaolin Style) and Shorei Ryu (Enlightened Spirit Style), each of which had a number of particular kata and techniques that characterized their style.

Karate was brought to mainland Japan in 1922, where it underwent some alteration and modification, resulting in the creation of four main Japanese styles: Shotokan Ryu, Goju Ryu, Shito Ryu, and Wado Ryu. In the late 1960's, karate underwent another split with the emergence of full contact karate (hitting with full strength without protective gear) such as kyokushinkai karate.

Today, there are numerous different styles of karate, encompassing a wide variety of philosophies, including Traditional and Full Contact, as well as a number which have integrated kickboxing like "Glove Karate" into their training regimens.

Master Gichin Funakoshi was born in Shuri Okinawa in 1868. As a boy, he was weak and sickly. In an effort to improve his physical condition, he began training under two famous master of that time: Anko Azato of Naha and Anko Itosu of Shuri. It would be the methods of these two Masters plus the teachings of Master Gichin Funakoshi and his son Master Giko Funakoshi that would one day become Shotokan karate-do.

Master Gichin Funakoshi is the man primarily responsible for the introduction of Karate to mainland Japan. He is also one of the first individuals to use the term "karate" to mean 'empty hand' as opposed to the old meaning of "China hand". The name 'Shotokan' is the name of his school, and is based upon his pen name "Shoto" (Pine Wave) and the word "Kan" (building).

Master Tomosaburo Okano, a top student of Master Gichin Funakoshi and Master Giko Funakoshi was a member of the Shotokan Dojo. He opened a dojo of Shotokan in Hachioji-shi Tokyo Japan with the blessings and attendance of Master Gichin Funakoshi and his first and second son. His dojo is called Kenkojuku. Master Toyotaro Miyazaki, a top student of Okano Sensei came to America in 1967 and later became the head of Japan karate-do USA Shotokai Kyokai and now heads the International Shotokai Karate-do federation.