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Shotokan

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Shotokan (松涛館 Shōtōkan), literally, the house of pine waves, is a school of karate, reflecting the style of the initial students (including his son, Yoshitaka) of master Gichin Funakoshi (1868-1957). Gichin Funakoshi was the man who 'officially' brought karate from Okinawa to mainland Japan, although Kenwa Mabuni, Motobu Choki and other Okinawans were actively teaching karate in Japan prior to this point. "Shoto" was the pen name Gichin Funakoshi used in his poetry, which means "pine waves" (Funakoshi, Gichin (1981). "Karate-do: My Way of Life". Kodansha International Ltd, Tokyo. ISBN 0-87011-463-8., pg. 85), while "kan" means house. Hence "shotokan" was the name of the hall where he trained his students.

Kumite (sparring). The right-hand karateka is executing a jodan ushiro mawashi geri (a hook kick to the head), an excellent kick for surprising an opponent and evading blocks.
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Kumite (sparring). The right-hand karateka is executing a jodan ushiro mawashi geri (a hook kick to the head), an excellent kick for surprising an opponent and evading blocks.

Contents

Origins

Funakoshi had trained in both of the popular styles of Okinawan karate of the time: Shorei-ryu and Shorin-ryu. After years of intense study of both styles, Master Funakoshi arrived at a new understanding of martial arts, and a simpler style was created, that combined the ideals of Shorei and Shorin. He combined and modified the styles, and made his own, though he never named it, always referring to it simply as "karate". The karate that he transmitted to his students reflects the changes made in the art by Anko Itosu, including the Heian/Pinan kata series. Funakoshi himself changed the names of the kata included in his curriculum, in an effort to make the "foreign" Okinawan names more palatable to the then nationalistic Japanese mainland. In several cases, Shotokan kata have been modified, in some places favoring athleticism over practicality. An example of a modified kata is found in nijushiho where side thrust kicks were added.

Common Terms

Term Kanji Meaning
Karate 空手 Japanese Martial Arts(lit. Empty hand)
Dojo 道場 Training hall (lit. Place of the way)
Shihan 師範 Senior instructor
Sensei 先生 Teacher
Sempai 先輩 Senior student
Gi 衣 or 着 Uniform
Kyu 級 Levels below Black belt, counting down to 1st-kyu usually from 10th-kyu
Dan 段 Steps showing mastery of the art, starting from 1-dan
Rei 礼 Courtesy/Bow
Osu 押忍 Acknowledgement
Yoi 用意 Ready
Hajime 始め Begin
Yame 止め Stop
Mawatte 回って Turn
Narande 並んで Line up
Kihon 基本 Basic
Kata 型or形 Form
Kumite 組手 Sparring
zanshin 残心 Remaining mind

Characteristics

Training is usually divided into three sections: kihon or "basics", kumite or "sparring", and kata (forms or patterns of moves). Shotokan techniques in kihon and kata are characterised by deep, long stances which provide stability, powerful movements and also helps strengthen the legs. Strength and power are often demonstrated instead of slower, more flowing motions. The kumite techniques mirror these stances and movements at a basic level, but progress to being more "free" and flexible at a higher level. Funakoshi is said to have found the traditional martial arts (such as sumo, jujutsu and kenjutsu) to be too focused on combat, and he put more emphasis on health, breathing, releasing energy and outstanding mind and body control. Shotokan can be regarded as a 'hard' and 'external' martial art.

Before he established the JKA, Master Funakoshi Gichin laid out the Twenty Precepts of Karate, which form the foundations of the art. Within these twenty principles, based heavily on Bushido and Zen, lies the philosophy of Shotokan.

Shotokan Today

Today, Shotokan remains a very popular style worldwide:

Master Funakoshi gave direct permission to Mr. Tsutomu Ohshima, to start a Shotokan organization in the United States of America. Shotokan Karate of America is a nonprofit organization that has been teaching traditional karate-do in the United States since 1955. SKA is still led by Tsutomu Ohshima to this day. Mr. Ohshima is also recognized as the chief instructor of many other SKA-affiliated national Shotokan organizations worldwide. SKA maintains its national headquarters in Los Angeles.

[Hirokazu Kanazawa] (1931-present) was the first to found his own school, called Shotokan Karate International. He studied under Masatoshi Nakayama (1913-1987) and [Hidetaka Nishiyama] (1928-present), both disciples of Gichin Funakoshi. His group introduced elements of Tai Chi Chuan, particularly in the matter of flow and balance, and more traditional karate.

[Taiji Kase] (1929-2004) also founded his own group, called the World Shotokan Karate Academy[link], since re-born as the Shotokan-Ryu-Kase-Ha Instructor Academy. He studied martial arts under his father (a Judo instructor), as well as both Gichin Funakoshi and his son Yoshitaka Funakoshi. He left Japan in 1964 to teach karate internationally, but started teaching his own style of Shotokan to avoid the power struggles in the art. The SRKHIA is an organisation for 3rd Dans and above as individual members; it does not register national associations and as such its mission is for the technical development of its members to continue.

Keigo Abe (1938-present) born in the town of Iyoshi in Ehime prefecture on the island of Shikoken, Japan, he is one of the most senior Shotokan instructors in the world today. As a student directly under Masatoshi Nakayama (1913-1987) he was a former instructor at the JKA Honbu having graduated from the JKA instructors class and as a senior member, held the office of JKA Director of Quaifications. In 1990 he became the Technical Director of the JKA (Matsuno Section)during some of the JKA's most turbulent years. However, in his youth with the JKA he was deemed a very competent tournament fighter and took 3rd place in the first JKA National Championships; was the captain of the Japanese team at the second World Championships in Paris, France; won 1st place at the JKA international Friendship Tournament in 1973, and took 1st place in the second and third JKF National Championships as a representative of Tokyo. He retired from the JKA in 1999 to form his own international organisation, the Japan Shotokan Karate Association (JSKA) which has a large following worldwide. It has regional groups in each country an example would be the JSKA-Great Britain[link]]

[Tetsuhiko Asai] (1935-present) born in Ehime, Japan in 1935, as a young boy he often practiced Sumo, Judo, Kendo, and the Spear from his father. He studied at the Takushoku University in Tokyo where he studied Shotokan karate. He joined the instructors programme and became an instructor with the JKA. In later years he instructed in China, Hong Kong, America, Europe and Hawaii where he led the Hawaiian Karate Association. Mr Asai was made Chief Instructor of the JKA after Masatoshi Nakayama death in 1987, however, he along with a number of senior JKA instructors, opposed the appointment of Nakahara as Chairman and they formed a separate JKA (Matsuno Section). Following a lengthy legal battle, the Nakahara group won the rights to the JKA title and Asai's own group adopted the name of the Japan Karate Shotorenmei (JKS) which has a large following both internationally and in Japan itself.

Enoeda Keinosuke was the JKA representative in the United Kingdom for many years, with his organisation, the KUGB acting as the largest British arm of the JKA. The Karate Union of Scotland both North and South represented the JKA in Scotland, and also came under the direct leadership of Mr Enoeda. Since his death in 2003, the KUGB has continued as an independent organisation under the leadership of Andy Sherry while the KUS has splintered and affiliated directly with Japan through JKA (Scotland) and JKA World Federation (Scotland). The JKA continues to be represented in England by JKA England headed by Yoshinobu Ohta. 

Hidetaka Nishiyama still practices and teaches in Los Angeles, California, as part of the JKI, (Japan Karate Institute).


John Fonseca is the current most decorated Shotokan Karate kumite champion in the U.S.A.


[Teruyuki Okazaki] (1931-present) is the head of the International Shotokan Karate Federation, which is part of the JKA.  He studied under both Master Funakoshi, and Master Nakayama.


Note. Although this is a list of some of the most senior shotokan instructors, it is not complete.  


Partially due to the great politicalization of karate, many organizations exist, many with excellent senseis, and some with senseis who claim to be excellent.



Shotokan Kata



 Name
 Kanji
 Meaning


Taikyoku shodan (aka Kihon)
太極初段
Great Ultimate beginning step (basic)


Heian shodan
 平安初段
 Peaceful Mind beginning step


Heian nidan
  平安二段
Peaceful Mind 2nd step


Heian sandan
平安三段
Peaceful Mind 3rd step


Heian yondan
平安四段
Peaceful Mind 4th step


Heian godan
平安五段
Peaceful Mind 5th step


Tekki shodan
鉄騎初段
Horse riding beginning step


Bassai dai
披塞大
To Penetrate a Fortress (Major)


Jion
慈恩
Kind and Graciousness


Enpi/Empei
燕飛
Flight of the swallow


Kanku dai
観空大
To Look At the Sky (Major)


Hangetsu
半月
Half-moon


Jitte
十手
Ten hands


Gankaku
岩鶴
Crane on a rock


Tekki nidan
鉄騎二段
Horse Riding 2nd step


Tekki sandan
鉄騎三段
Horse Riding 3rd step


Nijushiho
二十四步
Twenty-four Steps


Chinte
珍手
Rare Hand


Sochin
壯鎭
Tranquil Force


Meikyo
明鏡
Bright Mirror


Unsu
雲手
Hands in a Cloud


Bassai sho
披塞小
To Penetrate a Fortress (Minor)


Kanku sho
観空小
To Look at the Sky (Minor)


Wankan
王冠
King's crown


Gojushiho sho
五十四歩小
Fifty-four Steps (Minor)


Gojushiho dai
五十四歩大
Fifty-four Steps (Major)


Ji'in
慈陰
Kind Shade



see reference Sugiyama, Shojiro (1984). "25 Shoto-Kan Kata". Shojiro Sugiyama, Chicago. ISBN 0-9669048-0-X. ,Funakoshi, Gichin (1973). "Karate-do Kyohan", Kodansha International Ltd, Tokyo. ISBN 0-87011-190-6.



Kumite


Beginners are usually introduced to kumite training with 'gohon kumite' (five-step sparring). In many dojos, students are instead started with 'sanbon kumite' (three-step sparring). Two karateka are required for the exercise. Once they pair up and bow, the attacking karateka steps back into a zenkutsu dachi (front stance) and announces in a clear, audible fashion the attack. The first type is designated 'jodan' (high level), where they will subsequently execute a high oi-zuki. Their partner must then react by stepping back and executing an age-uke to block the attack. This is repeated until the fifth oi-zuki, when the defender executes a minor counter in the form of a gyaku zuki.  The defender is expected to kiai with their counter attack. 


That completes one sequence. The next step is for the karateka to return to yoi position (in some associations the counter-attacker moves forward to the yoi position, in some backwards) and the one that was defending takes a turn at attacking, repeating the sequence above. 


The other type of gohon kumite is designated 'chudan' (mid level). The differences are that chudan level oi-zuki are used by the attacker and soto-uke blocks are used by the defender. 


The next stage of kumite training is the 'sanbon kumite' (three-step sparring). As its name suggest it involves three steps. It is homologous to gohon kumite but instead of five steps, has three. 


At intermediate level (usually above 5th kyu), karateka are expected to learn 'ippon kumite' (one step sparring). Though it is only one step, it is more advanced because it involves a greater variety of attacks and blocks. It also requires the defender to execute a minor counter in a timely fashion. Minor counters can be almost anything, including strikes, grapples and take-downs. 


The next level of kumite is the 'jiyu ippon kumite' (freestyle one step sparring)(Tsutomu Ohshima actually says in his book "Notes on Training" that jiyu ippon kumite is the most realistic practice in Shotokan Karate, and that it is more realistic than jiyu kumite). This is almost the same as ippon kumite but requires the karateka to be in motion. Practice in this is beneficial in improving jiyu kumite (freestyle sparring) skills.



Dojo


The Dojo (道場) is a sacred space used in the practice of karate.  Dojo is composed of two characters and means literally, place of the way.  A proper Japanese-style martial arts dojo is considered special and is well cared for by its users. In many styles it is traditional to conduct a ritual cleaning of the dojo at the end of each training session (called sojii). 
Many traditional dojo follow a prescribed pattern with shomen and various entrances that are used based on student and instructor rank laid out precisely.  It is not uncommon to find the name of the dojo and the dojo kun (dojo rules) displayed prominently at shomen as well.


The dojo kun used by the International Shotokan Karate Federation, Japan Shotokan Karate Association and the JKA is as follows:



At the end of a training session, mokuso (meditation) may occur. It is a short, tranquil period where the karateka can reflect on the session just finished.



Rank System


Around the 1920's, Funakoshi adopted the Kyu/Dan system, along with the Judoka's uniform, the Gi that had been developed by Kano Jigoro.  This system used colored belts as an indication of rank.
Originally, Karate had only 3 obi (belt) colours.  White, Brown and Black, with several ranks of each. Here is the original belt system, still used by Shotokan Karate of America [link]:



The first "shodan" (初段) ranks given by Funakoshi in karate were to Tokuda, Otsuka, Akiba, Shimizu, Hirose, Gima, and Kasuya on April 10, 1924.


Most schools use the kyu/dan system but have added other colors, a common system is listed below.





This colour system is the most common and is used by the JKA and most large Shotokan associations in the UK and Europe such as: JSKA (Abe), JKS (Asai), KWF (Yahara), WSKF (Kasuya), SKIF (Kanazawa), IJKA (Asai/Kato), ISKDA (Sumi), WKA (Kase), KUGB (Sherry), WTKO(Mullin/Amos), WJKA (Knobel), ISKF(Okazaki) to name but a few.



Trivia



See also



External links



Further reading



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