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History Of Shotokan Karate
Karate is made up of the two Chinese characters Kara and Te (empty - hand). Historians believe that early forms of Karate which differ greatly to what we practise today were first practised in China. An Indian Buddhist monk named Bodhidharama is believed to have travelled from Asia to China in the 6th Century where he established the Zen school of Buddhism.
Forms of Karate were practised in secret on the Ryukyu islands (Okinawa). An island mostly full of farmers. When the Japanese's invaded Okinawa and outlawed the use of weapons in 1942 the people of Okinawa resorted to an ancient form of Karate they called Okinawa-te to protect themselves and their property from the invaders.
Along with the use of Karate the Okinawans used the Kobu-do (Karate weapons) such as the Nunchaku (flail), Bo (staff), Kai (paddle) and Hanbo or Jo (short staff about 4'). Most of the Kobu-do were farming implements that could be used as weapons i.e. the Nunchaku was used as a flail or horse bridle. The Bo was used to carry buckets of water on each end over the shoulder. The weapons could be practised in secret and did not arouse suspicion. These weapons are still practised in conjunction with Karate today.
Gichin Funakoshi practicing with the makiwara
Master Gichin Funakoshi (1868-1957)
The style of Karate that we practise at the Zen-Shin martial arts academy is Shotokan Karate. Shotokan is a style of Karate that was developed by the great master and visionary Gichin Funakoshi (1868-1957), known today as the farther of modern day Karate.
Apart from Karate, Master Funakoshi was involved in calligraphy and poetry. He would sign his work using his pen name "Shoto" which means "waving pines" which grew near his home and inspired his writings. The word Kan meaning house or school. This was eventually shortened to Shotokan.
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History Of Shotokan Karate
