Karate,
|
|
Origin of Karate It is generally believed that the art of Karate-Do can be traced
back to sixth century China when a sect of Buddhism composed a sutra or collection
of precepts to promote the physical development of the monks and missionaries and
to help protect them from bandits and criminals.
In the ancient times there was no law prohibiting people from arming themselves.
Weapons were standard in fighting, and most cultures have their own sword fighting
system. Japan is renowned for its Samurai culture that was developed in the 18th
century. In the later part of the 14th century under the ruler King Hassi of Chuzan
of Okinawa, a policy was enacted prohibiting the people of Okinawa from arming themselves.
In the 16th century, Japan's most southern clan, the powerful Satsuma clan, invaded
Okinawa. They colonized Okinawa for use as a trading post with China. They also
levied taxes on their goods forcing the people of Okinawa to secretly develop the
so-called " Te" (weaponless fighting) to defend themselves. The Okinawans also used
their available farm tools for defense and developing fighting systems. These systems
were referred to as "Te", meaning hands, techniques, and methods.
|
|
|
|
|
Karate Schools
In 1868, the Meiji restoration ended the Japanese Samurai feudal system and established
a centralized governing system. Japan opened free trade with western countries and
western culture and educational system flourished in Japan in the late 1800's and
early 1900's. At this time, there were no specific styles, names, ranks or belts
that are known today. The three prominent centers of Karate in Okinawa were Shuri,
Naha, and Tomari. You must understand that the teaching methods at the time were
not like today's systematic rational methods. There were only a few Katas in each
location, which were taught and developed and only a small number of people took
the private lessons. Later, Karate came to Tokyo, the capital of Japan, which recorded
an exhibition in 1922 of Gichin Funakoshi. Funakoshi's Karate-Do later became the
modern Shotokan system.
In the 1920’s many prominent Karate masters came to Japan. The most prominent Karate
Masters were Kenwa Mabuni, founder of Shito Ryu, and Chojun Miyagi, founder of Goju
Ryu. It was not until the 1930's that a label was claimed and developed as a style,
forced by the other established Japanese martial arts societies. Chojun Miyagi,
a senior disciple of Kanryo Higaonna, first claimed a label to his style as Goju-Ryu
(Hard Soft Style). Kenwa Mabuni named his style as Shito-Ryu. These two were very
close friends and developed most of the technical bases of today's Karate.
Gichin Funakoshi aimed to teach only university students who were candidates for
the governing leadership group. Funakoshi did not like his students to participate
in tournaments. That young Japanese group developed today's sparring methods and
later developed the basis of today's tournament systems, not those of Okinawan residents'
Karate instructors. Okinawan masters never even dreamed of competing with each other
under established rules. They thought Karate techniques were so deadly that it would
be impossible to hold any tournament. All Japan Collegiate Karate tournaments in
the 1950’s were the first tournaments ever held in Japan including Okinawa. It went
on to develop Karate-Do worldwide.
|
|
