Karate means “way of the empty hand” and contrary to its image is a non aggressive pastime which can be enjoyed by anyone. Although a fighting system it is the blocks you will learn first, closely followed by punching and kicking techniques. Karate is not only a physical pastime but also promotes discipline and control, resulting in peace of mind and self confidence.
Shotokan Karate is one of the most popular karate systems in the world; founded by Gichin Funakoshi and influenced directly by the Okinawa style of shuri-te it is characterised by powerful linear movements and deep, strong stances .
In a nutshell, that’s what Shotokan karate looks like in battle.
Early History of Shotokan:
Gichin Funakoshi was born around 1868 in Shuri, Okinawa. While in elementary school, he became friends with Anko Asato’s son and eventually began to train under Asato in Okinawan karate. Later, Funakoshi would also train under Shorin-ryu master Anko Itosu. Interestingly, Funakoshi never actually named the fighting style that he refined from Itosu and Asato’s teachings, just preferring to call it karate. But when he started his own dojo in 1936, his pen name of shoto (meaning pine waves) was used along with the term kan (house) by his students to erect a sign above the entrance to the establishemnt that said “Shotokan”.
The Legacy of Gichin Funakoshi and Yoshitaka Funakoshi :
Beyond building the foundation of Shotokan, Gichin served as an ambassador of karate, eventually helping to popularize it through public demonstrations and by working to bring it to karate clubs and universities. However, his development of the philosophical points or foundations tied to the style called the Twenty Precepts of Karate or Niju kun is perhaps what he’s best known for. Gishin’s third son Yoshitaka later refined the art tremendously. By changing several aspects (such as lowering stances and adding more high kicks) Yoshitaka helped to separate Shotokan from the other Okinawan styles. Making it the distinctive style we all know today.
Goals of Shotokan Karate:
In essence, many of the goals of Shotokan can be found in the Twenty Precepts of Karate. That said, one of these (#12) seems to say a lot: “Do not think of winning. Think, rather, of not losing.” In “Karate-do: My Way of Life”, Gichin Funakoshi also noted that, “The ultimate aim of Karate lies not in victory or defeat, but in the perfection of the character of the participant.”In combat, Shotokan is a
striking style that emphasizes stopping an opponent with powerful kicks and/or punches quickly and effectively.
Characteristics of Shotokan:
As was previously mentioned, Shotokan is a striking style of martial arts that teaches practitioners through a series of kihon (basics), kata (forms) and kumite (sparring) how to defend oneself. Shotokan is a hard martial arts style that emphasizes powerful strikes, long stances, and a lot of in and out techniques in sparring designed to avoid damage and end a fight quickly. Higher belts also learn some grappling and jiu-jitsu style techniques.
