Karate

History

History

In 1820, Sokon Matsumura blended the three styles of te into "Shaolin" (Chinese å°‘æž—) or "Shorin-Ryu" (in Japanese) or "Forest Style" (English). However Matsumura's own students broke the style back down again into more branches and their students continued this break down adding or subtracting whatever suited them. Gichin Funakoshi, a student of one of Matsumura's students Anko Itosu, was the person who introduced and popularised karate on the main islands.

Funakoshi's karate came from Itosu's version of Matsumura Shorin-ryu which is commonly called Shorei-ryu. Funakoshi's style of karate was later named Shotokan by others. He was responsible for changing the way of writing the name of the art; he did this to get karate accepted by the budo organisation Dai Nippon Butokukai. In a time of rising Japanese nationalism, it was important not to make karate look foreign as the old way of writing it implied.

Karate was popularized in Japan and introduced into high schools before World War II.

Like most martial arts active in Japan, karate made its transition to karate-do at the beginning of the 20th century. The "do" in "karate-do" means "way," which is analogous to the familiar Chinese concept of tao. As it was adopted into modern Japanese culture, karate was imbued with some elements of zen buddhism, and the practice of karate is sometimes called a form of "moving zen." Classes often begin and end with brief periods of meditation. Also, the repetition of movements, as in kata, is consistent with zen meditation in that it is intended to maximize a student's composure, awareness, and physical presence (speed and power), even while under stress. Karate teachers differ greatly in the way they acknowledge - if at all - the zen influence in karate-do.

The modernization (and systemization) of karate in Japan also included the adoption of the ubiquitous white uniform (dogi or keikogi) and colored belt ranks, both of which were originated and popularized by Jigoro Kano, the founder of judo. Photos of early Okinawan practitioners show the masters in the street clothes of the day, or sometimes in briefs.

Styles

Karate-do does not, contrary to its Chinese relatives, include the use of weapons. Any weapons used are strictly within the Okinawan tradition, kobudo (the use of modified farming tools and common implements as weapons), since 'normal' weapons were banned in Okinawa. Within karate there are a multitude of different styles or schools. The most renowned are Shaolin (Shorin-Ryu, "Forest style"), Shobayashi ("small forest style"), Kobayashi-ryu ("young forest style"), Matsubayashi-ryu, ("pine forest style"), Matsumura Seito ("Orthodox Style") and Matsumura Motobu ("Street Style"). From these came the more popular styles we have today such as Shorinji-ryu (Kempo) and Shorei-ryu as well as Shotokan ("pine wave") and Goju-Ryu ("hard-soft way") also Kyokushin ("ultimate truth"). Other mainstream styles are Seido, Wado Ryu ("way of peace"), Uechi Ryu, and Shito ryu as well as Isshin-ryu. Some styles of karate have teachers that have created hybrids of karate styles such as JIKC style which uses a combination of karate styles.

Styles

Karate-do does not, contrary to its Chinese relatives, include the use of weapons. Any weapons used are strictly within the Okinawan tradition, kobudo (the use of modified farming tools and common implements as weapons), since 'normal' weapons were banned in Okinawa. Within karate there are a multitude of different styles or schools. The most renowned are Shaolin (Shorin-Ryu, "Forest style"), Shobayashi ("small forest style"), Kobayashi-ryu ("young forest style"), Matsubayashi-ryu, ("pine forest style"), Matsumura Seito ("Orthodox Style") and Matsumura Motobu ("Street Style"). From these came the more popular styles we have today such as Shorinji-ryu (Kempo) and Shorei-ryu as well as Shotokan ("pine wave") and Goju-Ryu ("hard-soft way") also Kyokushin ("ultimate truth"). Other mainstream styles are Seido, Wado Ryu ("way of peace"), Uechi Ryu, and Shito ryu as well as Isshin-ryu. Some styles of karate have teachers that have created hybrids of karate styles such as JIKC style which uses a combination of karate styles.

The Shotokan style of karate is characterised by deep, long stances said to provide stability and powerful movements. At the other end of the spectrum, Wado Ryu ("way of peace") prefers quick and subtle body movements (known as 'tai sabaki') to evade attacks and swift counter attacks. The Wado Ryu style was introduced to the West by Tatsuo Suzuki.

In Japan nowadays,Karate has two types of styles. Some of styles are called traditional karate like Shoto-kan, Goju-ryu,Wado-ryu or Shito-ryu because they ware found at very old time,and the others are called full contact karate like Kyokushin-kaikan which was found by Masutatsu Oyama and the others which has come from Kyokushin because they hit directly their bodies in their matches. Most full contact karate styles or organizations has developed from Kyokushin karate.

Karate in the West

Karate, like jujutsu and judo, most likely came to America and then to the rest of the world through two primary paths: Japanese immigrants to Hawaii and the mainland, where it stayed largely inside the Japanese American community, although to a lesser degree in Hawaii, and by specialized study by members of the police and the military. It would be accurate to say that the biggest boost to the popularization of karate in America came with the American military occupation of Japan after World War II; once American soldiers had assimilated the discipline, they returned with it to the States and began to disseminate it. Many masters went to the United States to popularize their art. One of them is Gichin Funakoshi. At first, he demonstrated his art of empty hands with kata, but the public wasn't very impressed. Thus, he decided to face some of their fighters, engaging many professional wrestlers and boxers and defeating all of them. The name karate has become synonymous with Asian martial arts in general for many Westerners.

Karate in the West

Karate, like jujutsu and judo, most likely came to America and then to the rest of the world through two primary paths: Japanese immigrants to Hawaii and the mainland, where it stayed largely inside the Japanese American community, although to a lesser degree in Hawaii, and by specialized study by members of the police and the military. It would be accurate to say that the biggest boost to the popularization of karate in America came with the American military occupation of Japan after World War II; once American soldiers had assimilated the discipline, they returned with it to the States and began to disseminate it. Many masters went to the United States to popularize their art. One of them is Gichin Funakoshi. At first, he demonstrated his art of empty hands with kata, but the public wasn't very impressed. Thus, he decided to face some of their fighters, engaging many professional wrestlers and boxers and defeating all of them. The name karate has become synonymous with Asian martial arts in general for many Westerners.

Karate as a sport

Karate may also be practiced as a competitive sport -- and is an olympic sport from this year, together with taekwondo and judo. Competition can be in either kumite or kata; competitors may enter either as individuals or as part of a team.

Karate as a sport

Karate may also be practiced as a competitive sport -- and is an olympic sport from this year, together with taekwondo and judo. Competition can be in either kumite or kata; competitors may enter either as individuals or as part of a team.

In kata, points are awarded by five seated judges, similar to either gymnastics or ice skating tournaments depending on the quality of the performance. A good kata performance should perform all the movements correctly but also show a personal interpretation of the movements through one's variation in speed. When kata is performed as a team (usually of three), it is also important to match the timing of techniques as closely as possible.

In kumite there are two fighters paired in a timed fight, usually ranging from two to five minutes. Score is awarded either by technique or location.

In the United States, karate tournaments are a popular part of the sport, ranging in size from small local gatherings to national events. They are typically divided into classes by skill, age and event type (kata, kumite and weapons-kata), and have rules depending on location and the chief style(s) involved.

External links

• www.Karateonline.org - An online resource site for karate students, Kata videos, competition footage and training guides
• FBSKUI (Federation British Shotokan International)
• Kanku Karate Club
• WKF (World Karate Federation)
• THE KARATE WORLD
• JKA (Japan Karate Association)
• IKO (International Karate Organization)
• International Traditional Karate Federation

External links

• www.Karateonline.org - An online resource site for karate students, Kata videos, competition footage and training guides
• FBSKUI (Federation British Shotokan International)
• Kanku Karate Club
• WKF (World Karate Federation)
• THE KARATE WORLD
• JKA (Japan Karate Association)
• IKO (International Karate Organization)
• International Traditional Karate Federation

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