History of Karate
Master Gichin Funakoshi
• Introduction
• Okinawan origins
• The birth of karate
• The founding of Shotokan
Introduction
The origin of karate dates back more than a thousand years. It is believed that karate evolved from a system of physical training exercises taught to monks at the Shaolin Monastery in northern China many centuries ago by Daruma (Bodhidharma), a Buddhist monk from India. These methods built up endurance and physical strength required by the monks to carry out the rigid discipline that was part of their religion. Daruma reasoned, so the legend goes, that to protect oneself against the local bandits various parts of the body, principally the arms (hand and elbow) and legs (knee and foot), could be fashioned into offensive weapons. In this way the fist becomes a hammer, the open hand can slash as a sword, thrust as a dagger, or rip like a tiger's claw. These techniques were reinforced by various exercises designed to harden the striking surfaces. Consequently a blow delivered by anyone having a pronounced buildup of the striking surface produced a most devastating effect.
Okinawan origins
After Daruma introduced this system, it spread throughout China, and with modifications became known as kung-fu and also as kempo. Following upon the heels of commerce, these methods made their way to the island of Okinawa, where they attained a high degree of perfection during many decades of Japanese occupation when weapons were forbidden there. The Chinese methods undoubtedly underwent a metamorphosis upon continued contact with the native Okinawan fighting form known as Okinawa-te.
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The birth of karate
Master Gichin Funakoshi, the man most responsible for karate as we know it today, was born in Shuri, Okinawa, in 1868. As a boy of eleven he began a study of the precursors of karate, mastering both of the major existing styles in Okinawa. These schools were known as Shorei and Shorin.
The Shorei approach is characterized by heavy, powerful movements and, the Shorin method utilizes lighter, quicker techniques. From these schools Master Funakoshi created his karate style.
Master Funakoshi was invited by the Japanese Ministry of Education in 1922 to give a series of lectures and demonstrations in Japan. As a result of many requests he stayed in Japan to teach karate at various universities and the Kodokan, the mecca of Judo. In the years that followed, Master Funakoshi's karate evolved with interaction among native and imported systems. With the transfer of this teaching to Japan came the eventual substitution of the word kara for the "Okinawa" in "Okinawa-te," thus forming the word kara-te, literally meaning empty hand.
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The founding of Shotokan
A major landmark in Japanese karate history was the founding of the Shotokan in 1936. Shoto was the pen name of Master Funakoshi, who was also well known as an author. Hence, the word Shotokan simply translates to the school of Shoto. Shotokan became known as the style of karate taught to his students in major universities in Japan and latterly, taught to people all over the world.
See also From Japan to the World