Where Does our Karate come from?

Shotokan Karate is a Japanese hard style of karate that was imported to Japan from Okinawa by Gichin Funakoshi.  Born in 1868, Funakoshi studied Okinawan karate from childhood and was a schoolteacher by profession. Funakoshi along with other karate men demonstrated karate in Tokyo in 1922. The  Japanese were so impressed with Karate that Funakoshi was asked to stay on and teach.  The karate that Funakoshi taught was basically no different than Okinawan Shorin ryu.  However, being an open minded individual, Funakoshi thought it only natural that the techniques and kata of karate should be revised and refined to become a truly Japanese martial art. Indeed, Shotokan saw much development during the 30's, 40's an 50's until today  it is distinctly different from its Okinawan predecessor.  During this time Funakoshi also changed the characters for karate which changed the meaning from "Chinese Hand" to "Empty Hand".   It is important to note that Funakoshi never referred to his karate as Shotokan.  Shotokan was the name of the first training hall which Funakoshi's students named after him. "Shoto" was Funakoshi's pen name meaning "pine waves" and "kan" means building or hall.  So literally speaking Shotokan means "pine waves hall". This name stuck as the style name describing the karate of Funakoshi and his students.
     Today there are at least three distinctive styles using the name Shotokan with direct lineage to Funakoshi's karate.  The most popular and widespread version of Shotokan is that taught by the JKA (Japan Karate Association ) - which is the style we practice.  The JKA was formed in 1948 with Funakoshi as the headmaster and Masatoshi Nakayama as the Chief Instructor.  Master Nakayama served as the Chief instructor until his passing in 1987.  The current chief instructor of the JKA is Motokuni Sigiura.  Our karate resembles the karate portrayed in master Nakayama's book: Dynamic Karate.   Our chief instructor is Teruyuki Okazaki who came to the US in 1961 and formed the ISKF (International Shotokan Karate Federation) - a direct affiliate of the JKA.  Master Nakayama described Okazaki as his right hand man during the formative years of the JKA.

       Another closely related Shotokan style  is that of the SKA (Shotokan Karate of America) lead by T. Oshima who is based in California.  Oshima's Karate is the slightly older "University" style that was practiced prior to some of the changes made by the JKA.  The Shotokan of the SKA closely resembles the karate portrayed in the Karate-Do Kyohan : The Master Text (in fact Oshima was the translator and the demonstrator for the kata section of that book).
      Another style of karate that uses the name Shotokan is the Shotokai that was founded by Shigeru Egami, another disciple of Funakoshi.  Egami's karate is much different from ours.   Shotokai Shotokan resembles the karate that is portrayed in the Karate-Do Nyumon and the The Heart of Karate-Do

references:

Funakoshi, Gichin; Karate-Do Kyohan : The Master Text

Okazaki, Teruyuki; The Textbook of Modern Karate

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Copyright ©2001 Paul Willoughby. All Rights Reserved.