Karate

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Karate
Image:Karate-kumite.jpg
Japanese Name
Japanese 空手
Kana spelling からて
Rōmaji (Hepburn) Karate
Kunrei-shiki Karate
Nihon-shiki Karate

Karate or karate-dō is a martial art of Okinawan origin. Karate is a synthesis of indigenous Okinawan fighting methods and southern Chinese martial arts, possibly a version of Shaolinquan. Karate means empty hand in Japanese. It is primarily a striking art, featuring punching, kicking, knee/elbow strikes and open hand techniques; however, grappling, joint manipulations, locks, restraints, throws, and vital point striking are inherent in the finer points of the art. Karate is characterized by the use of the hips and stances to generate striking power, by the distinctive use of breathing (sharp, explosive exhalations) to focus power, and by the practice of prearranged forms (called kata). One who practices karate is sometimes referred to as a karate-ka (Japanese, "karate practitioner").

In general, karate training is divided into three major areas: basics (“kihon” in Japanese), forms ("kata" 型 in Japanese), and sparring ("kumite" 組手 in Japanese). Basic motion (Kihon) (基本) is the study of the fundamental techniques of the art. Kata means 'form' or 'pattern'. They are patterns of movements and techniques linked together by the physical/combatative principles that the kata expresses. Kata may be thought of as a collection of fixed sequences of moves in response to various types of attack. The moves themselves may have multiple interpretations as self-defense techniques. For example, the same passage may be interpreted as block/punch/block, or joint strike/lock/throw. Sparring may be constrained by many rules or it may be free sparring, and in modernity is practiced both as sport and for self-defense training.

Many styles of karate also include specialized conditioning equipment, known in Japanese collectively as 'hojo undo.' Some of the more common devices are the makiwara, the chi-ishi (a kind of off center free weight), and nigiri game (large jars used for grip strength). Some styles also include instruction in kobudo, or traditional Okinawan weaponry. The two arts are not strictly linked, but they have followed a synergistic course of development.


Contents

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Meaning of the word karate

The word "karate" initially comes from the Okinawan pronunciation of the Chinese characters "kara", referring to China itself from the Chinese Tang dynasty, and "te" meaning hand:

  • 唐手 "karate"

The meaning, then, was "Chinese hand" or "Tang hand" or “Chinese fist” or "Chinese techniques": "Tang hand" in the sense of "Tang boxing" from the Chinese Tang dynasty or by extension, "Chinese hand" reflecting the Chinese influence on the style. In 1933, following Japan's invasion of eastern China in the period 1931-3, Gichin Funakoshi in Japan (known as the father of modern karate) changed the "kara" character in "karate" to a homonym denoting "emptiness".

  • 空手 "karate"

By 1936 Funakoshi's second book had appeared, using the kara-as-emptiness character, and at a meeting of Okinawan masters the same meaning was adopted. Since then, the word "karate" (same pronunciation, different characters) has meant "empty hand". The term "empty hand" carries with it Japanese Zen connotations: not just that the karate practitioner is carrying no weapon, but also the Zen process of perfecting oneself and one's art, by emptying the heart and mind of earthly desire and vanity. The "emptiness" suggested by the new ideogram refers to rendering oneself empty or egoless, to further development of spiritual insight. Funakoshi stated that the actual meaning of his writings are as follows: "As a mirror's polished surface reflects whatever stands before it and a quiet valley carries even small sounds, so must the student of Karate-Dō render of their mind empty of selfishness and wickedness in an effort to react appropriately toward anything they might encounter. This is the meaning of the kara or 'empty' of Karate-Dō."

  • 空手道 "karate-dō"

The "do" suffix is used for various arts and implies that they are not just techniques but have spiritual elements. In this circumstance it is usually translated as "the way of" (cf. Aikido, Judo and Kendo). Thus, "karate-do" is "the way of the empty hand".

Funakoshi's philosophy has been inspirational to many generations of karate students; yet historically it's worth noting that in the climate of Japan in the 1930s, removing an explicit reference to China in the art's name may well have been a politically expedient move.

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Etymology

As the above history discussion should make clear, this is can be a difficult and sometimes inflammatory question, complicated by attitudes toward philosophy and competition, by questions of lineage and primacy, and perhaps above all by questions of nationalism and identity. The term Karate has become somewhat generic in the West, where one even sees signs for "Filipino Karate" and the like because of the name recognition of "Karate". There are at least three ways to look at the question:

  • Etymologically, Karate is currently written as 空手, "empty hand".
  • Etymologically, Karate was originally written as 唐手, "Chinese hand" or "Tang fist", and is thus any art which can trace its descent from the Okinawan Karate styles.
  • In his book "This is Karate," Masutatsu Oyama, founder of Kyokushin Karate in Japan, mentions that the etymology of Kara may have been derived from the country of Kaya at the southern tip of the Korean peninsula.
  • Karate is any striking art which calls itself Karate.
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History

Karate is a multi-cultural development, absorbing the contributions of many gifted practitioners over time and crossing many borders. Compiling a reasonably accurate history of Karate is challenging.

The development of Karate occurred chiefly in Okinawa and China in the 19th century, and Japan in the early 20th century. This was an especially turbulent period in history for that area of the world, including Japan's official annexation of the Okinawan island group in 1874, the First Sino-Japanese War (1894-1895), the Russo-Japanese War (1904-1905), and the rise of Japanese expansionism (1905-1945). The wars caused disruptions and upheaval, and incentives for concealment. The Karate styles within Japan have fairly clean lineages; but any assessment of how Karate crossed borders in this period is complicated by issues of nationalism, the historic Japanese racism faced by non-Japanese Asians, and the typical resentment of occupied peoples toward a conqueror. Many recognizeable offshoots of Karate, particularly in Korea, deny the name because of nationalistic ideals and the word's association with Japan; likewise, some obvious offshoots of Karate are disowned by Japanese practitioners, perhaps because of a Japanese preoccupation with primacy or purity.

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Karate's Origins in Okinawa

Japan annexed the nominally independent Ryukyu island group in 1874 after centuries of strong Japanese influence over the kingdom's affairs. One might suggest that something of "Okinawan" origin (such as Karate) could be equally described as being of "Japanese" origin. The relationship between Okinawa and Japan is complicated. For purposes of discussing Karate, it is convenient to speak of Okinawa and Japan as separate entities. The question of whether Karate is Japanese or Okinawan is somewhat akin to asking whether the luau or the hula dance are American traditions or Hawaiian ones. They developed in Hawaii prior to when Hawaii became one of the United States, and so are usually described as Hawaiian, not American. Similarly for Karate, which is of Okinawan origin.

Karate is a mixture of indigenous Okinawan fighting arts and empty-handed Chinese fighting arts, the latter having been brought to Okinawa by political envoys, merchants, and sailors to and from Fujian Province. Estimates of the amount of Chinese influence vs. Okinawan influence in modern Karate vary considerably, from 40% Chinese/40% Okinawan/20% other to 80% Chinese/20% Okinawan. Some believe that there is also a Japanese jujutsu influence stemming from the long Japanese presence on Okinawa.

In 1722, "Tode" Sakugawa, who had studied pugilism and staff (bo) fighting in China, started teaching a fighting art in the city of Shuri that he called "Karate-no-sakugawa." This was the first known recorded reference to the art of Karate (唐手) in a modern form. The word "Kara" (唐) referred to China itself, and "Te" (手) meant hand, in the sense of a style of fighting; so Karate meant "the Chinese techniques" or "Tang Hand".

To this day Karate still bears a striking resemblance to Fujian martial arts such as Fujian White Crane, Five Ancestors, and Goroquan (Hard Soft Fist, pronounced "Gōjūken" in Japanese). For the most part there were no particular styles of "te", but rather a network of practitioners with their own individual methods and eclectic traditions. Early styles of karate can be generalized as Shuri-te, Naha-te and Tomari-te, named after the three cities in which they emerged. Each city (and the teachers who lived there) had particular kata, techniques, and principles that distinguished its local version of te from the others.

Around the 1820's, Sokon Matsumura taught a synthesis of te (Shuri-te and Tomari-te) and Shaolin (Chinese 少林) styles. It would become the style Shorin-Ryu ("Little Forest"). Matsumura taught his karate to Anko Itosu, among others.

Itosu adapted two forms he learned from Matsumara, namely kusanku and chiang nan, to create the Pinan forms ("Heian" in Japanese) as simplified kata for beginning students. In 1901 he was instrumental in getting karate introduced into Okinawa's public schools. These forms were taught to children at the elementary-school level. Itosu is also credited with taking the large Naihanchi form ("Tekki" in Japan) and breaking it into the three well-known modern forms Naihanchi Shodan, Naihanchi Nidan and Naihanchi Sandan.

Itosu's influence in Karate is very broad. The forms he created for beginners are common across nearly all forms of Karate. His students included some of the most well-known Karate practitioners, including Gichin Funakoshi, Kenwa Mabuni, and Motobu Choki. He is sometimes known as the "Grandfather of Modern Karate."

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Characteristics

Okinawan Karate shows the distinctive emphasis on forms training that characterizes Karate as a whole; also the method of twisting the hips to generate power and tensing the body at the moment of impact to focus power called kime. The more experienced the Karateka, the shorter the kime, and the kime is done as much with ki (chi) as very short physical contraction of the muscles when done properly. The stances in Okinawan styles are often higher than seen in Japanese styles of Karate, and somewhat looser. The Okinawan practitioner will sometimes rise while stepping, and then settle into stance; the knees retain some flex or bounce when in stance.

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The History of Karate in Japan

Gichin Funakoshi was a student of Anko Itosu and Yasutsune Azato. Funakoshi is generally credited with having introduced and popularized karate on the main islands of Japan. He brought Itosu's Pinan kata to Japan (as did other of Itosu's students, such as Mabuni Kenwa, founder of shito-ryu karate). Funakoshi worked specifically to introduce modernizations into karate and to spread it to Japan. However, there were many other Okinawan karate men living and teaching in Japan during this time period. Funakoshi's peers included such notable figures as Kenwa Mabuni, Miyagi Chojun, Choshin Chibana, Motobu Choki, Kyan Chotoku, Kentsu Yabu, Hironori Ohtsuka and several others.

Funakoshi was responsible for changing the kanji used for writing the name of the art around 1933, following Japan's annexation of much of China in the period 1931-3.

  • from: 唐手, pronounced "karate", "Chinese hand" or "Tang fist"
  • to: 空手, also pronounced "karate", "Empty hand"

He did this to get karate accepted by the Japanese budo organisation Dai Nippon Butokukai. Like most martial arts practiced in Japan, karate made its transition from -jutsu to -do around the beginning of the 20th century. The "do" in "karate-do" sets it apart from karate "jutsu", much as aikido is distinguished from aikijutsu, judo from jujutsu and so on. The name change also served to familiarize a foreign tradition during a time of fervent Japanese nationalism. Japan was occupying China at the time, and Funakoshi knew that the art of Tang/China hand would not be accepted; thus the change to 'way of the empty hand.' The "do" suffix implies that karatedo is a path to self knowledge, not just a study of the technical aspects of fighting. The significance of "emptiness" within the "kara" portion of the name is also a probable reference to the concept of void, as it is found in Taoism and Zen practices. For example, mushin (literally, "no mind") is a concept referenced by many karate exponents of this time period. There is a very famous piece of philosophy that was devised by Funakoshi: "Hatsuun Jindo" meaning "parting the clouds as I seek the way". This decision was confirmed at the so-called "Meeting of the Masters" in October of 1936, which included Chojun Miyagi, Chomo Hanashiro, Kentsu Yabu, Chotoku Kyan, Genwa Nakasone, Choshin Chibana, Choryo Maeshiro and Shinpan Shiroma. After this 1933-1936 period, the word pronounced "karate" is almost universally translated as "empty hand" rather than "Chinese hand".

In addition to changing the way the name of the art was written, Funakoshi also changed the names of many of the forms (kata). The 5 Itosu Pinan forms became known as Heian; the 3 Naihanchi forms became known as Tekki; Seisan as Hangetsu; Chinto as Gankaku; Wanshu as Empi; etc. These were mostly just name changes, rather than changes to the content of the forms (though content was later changed by others); the changes may have been designed to make the art sound more Japanese (less "foreign"). Funakoshi had trained in both of the popular styles of Okinawan karate of the time, Shorin-ryu and Shorei-ryu. In Japan he was influenced by kendo, incorporating some ideas about distancing and timing into his style. He always referred to what he taught as simply "karate"; however, in 1936 he built the Shotokan dojo in Tokyo, and the school or style he left behind is usually called Shotokan.

The modernization and systemization of karate in Japan also included the adoption of the ubiquitous white uniform which consisted of the kimono and the dogi or keikogi - mostly called just gi (pronounced 'gey' like 'key') - and colored belt ranks. Both of these innovations were originated and popularized by Jigoro Kano, the founder of Judo, one of the men Funakoshi consulted in his efforts to 'modernize' karate. Ranking systems and their values differ greatly from organization to organization, which sometimes leads to confusion when trying to determine a relative standard for karate training and credibility. Photos of early Okinawan practitioners show the masters in the street clothes of the day, or sometimes in briefs. A student trained under a teacher for years, without any sort of tangible advancement.

As it was adopted into modern Japanese culture, karate was imbued with some elements of the native gendai budo traditions. Classes often begin and end with brief periods of sitting in seiza and practising mokuso (meditation). Also, the repetition of precise, dynamic movements, coupled with synchronized breathing as in forms (kata), is considered by some to be consistent with Zen meditation in its aims to maximize a student's composure, awareness, and physical presence (speed and power), while under stress. It is often referred to as a form of "moving Zen." Karate teachers vary widely in the way they acknowledge - if at all - the Zen influence in karate-do. However, Zen does offer an avenue for self reflection, which is useful for keeping learners balanced as they learn an art which is, at its core, concerned with the study of violence.

Karate was introduced into Japanese high schools before World War II, as it had been to Okinawan schools at the beginning of the century. It was seen as an asset for building strong, able young men who would soon be serving their country. Many universities initiated karate club programs, which bred a notoriously violent and competitive setting. In such clubs, seniors brutalized the junior students, in some cases inflicted vicious beatings as a final 'rite' for those who chose to leave. Many of the distinguishing traits of "traditional" karate thought by Westerners to be "traditional" in fact originate from these clubs, and have little or no relationship to the teachings of those who initiated the martial arts. The much misused catch-phrase of "Osu!" used in many dojos came directly from the club at Takushoku University as a product of Japanese military and youth culture. The word has no meaning or significance within the Japanese language itself, but in Western dojo it has the meaning of a respectful greeting or reply.

Within karate there are presently a multitude of different styles or schools. These include: Wado-ryu ("way of harmony"),Wado-kai ("school of peace"), Shobayashi, Koei-Kan, Kobayashi-ryu, Washinkai ("Way of Harmony of heart, mind, body and truth) Matsubayashi-ryu, Matsumura Seito, Matsumura Motobu, Chito-ryu, Shindo Jinen Ryu, Shorinjiryu, Shorei-ryu, Shotokan, Shotokai, Shukokai ("Way for all"), Goju-ryu ("hard-soft way"), Kyokushin ("ultimate truth"), Ashihara, named after its founder, and Kansuiryu. Other mainstream styles include Seido, Uechi Ryu, Shito-ryu, Shudokan, Bushido Goju-Ryu, Genseiryu and Isshin-ryu. Some organizations offer hybrids of karate styles such as the JIKC.

Styles like Shotokan, Goju-ryu, Wado-ryu, Shito-ryu, Kushin-ryu, and Shindo Jinen Ryu are labelled as 'traditional' because they were founded during the early part of the 20th century. Full contact karate includes Kyokushin-kaikan, which was founded by Masutatsu Oyama, and other offshoots of Kyokushin such as Ashihara; they are considered full-contact because emphasis in matches is placed on the amount of damage done rather than the quality of technique displayed (although this is also important). Most full contact karate styles or organizations have developed from Kyokushin karate. Kansuiryu is a full contact karate style which has developed independently of Kyokushin, while having a number of similarities.

Karate Style-lines with Okinawa extraction (1372):

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The History of Karate in Korea

Japan annexed Korea in 1910, and occupied Korea until 1945. This was a brutal period and the Japanese attempted a near-complete suppression of Korean culture, including indigenous Korean martial arts like Taekyon and Soo Bahk. Some Koreans were able to travel to Japan for their education, however. The result was that Karate, along with Taekyon, became a basis for the modern Korean martial art of Tae Kwon Do and was a component of Tang Soo Do; similarly, Japanese Aikijutsu became the basis for Korean Hapkido.

Someone needs to please add the history of the "kwans" and describe the relationship between korean karate (tang soo do) and Okinawan karate-do.

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The History of Karate in the United States

Choki Motobu studied karate with Anko Itosu, the influential creator of the Karate underbelt forms. He later studied with Tomari-te's Kosaku Matsumora; also Bushi Matsumura, Tokumini Pechin, Motobu Choyu and Sakuma Usumei - a fairly stunning list of some of the foremost Okinawan Karate sensei. In 1921 at the age of 51, he moved from Okinawa to Osaka on the Japanese mainland. He stayed for 25 years: raised a family, developed his karate, published at least one book on karate, established the Daidokan dojo, and became "the most controversial karate teacher of his generation."

In 1921, at the age of five, James Masayoshi Mitose was sent from his birthplace in Hawaii to live with his family in Japan and go to school. Part of his education was in karate: Mitose's uncle was Choki Motobu. Mitose returned to Hawaii in 1937, and in 1942 he set up a martial arts school. The style he taught was called Kosho-Ryu Kempo. The word "Kempo" (or "kenpo") is a Japanese form of "Ch'uan Fa", Chinese "fist principles". That word kempo is a word that Funakoshi himself used in the title of his first book, to name his art: "Ryukyu kempo karate" (1922). Supposedly Mitose's family in Japan lived near Mt. Akenkai Kosho-Shorei temple: thus Kosho-Ryu Kempo. Every style of traditional Kempo/Kenpo that exists in North America today can trace its lineage to this one controversial figure. It is best known today through Ed Parker's American Kenpo.

Traditional Karate entered the United States principally via those members of the military who learned it in Okinawa or Japan and opened school upon their return to the United States. Robert Trias is often credited with the first Karate school in the United States. In 1946 he opened a karate school in Phoenix, Arizona, teaching Okinawan Shuri-Ryu.

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Karate Internationally

Since the 1950s, Karate has exploded in popularity worldwide. By the end of the 20th century, Karate was one of the most pervasive cultural exports from the Far East to the Western world. It is impossible to enumerate the various schools and styles worldwide, that are identifiably "karate". Nowadays one can learn Karate (or one of its offshoots) almost anywhere. It is no longer something practiced in just certain countries: Karate is universal. There were two main avenues for the propagation of Karate to the rest of the world:

  1. Allied servicemen, stationed in Japan and Okinawa and Korea after 1945, who studied Karate and returned to their home countries.
  2. The emigration of Karate masters from Japan or Okinawa or Korea to other parts of the world, where they taught their art.

Another factor in the enduring appeal of Karate is film; kung fu movies have propelled karate and other Asian martial arts into mass popularity. Some well-known stars who were students of Karate or related styles are:

An additional factor in the interest in Karate is the availability of international competitions. Tae Kwon Do is an Olympic sport (as is judo), with federations in each country to determine competition in the Olympics. This guarantees a worldwide level of interest and intensity of training. There are other bodies which sponsor competitions, including the U.S. Karate Association and Professional Karate Association.

Japanese Karate does not have Olympic status, although it received more than 50% of the votes to become an official Olympic Sport; 75% of the votes are required. The World Karate Federation (WKF) is the recognized International Sport Federation by International Olympic Committee (IOC) for Karate and represents the major uniform rules among all styles. All the countries are organized through only one national karate federation, recognized by each official national sports governing body and National Olympic Committee. Each continent had one federation for continental karate activities. WKF is for world karate activities. There are many organizations on national and international Karate organization, regarding competitive activities and styles activities but only WKF is recognized by International Olympic Committee and only one in each country is linked with that official structure and for that, official recognition of the country sports governing body is required. Each country organizes their own karate championships following WKF rules.

Japanese Karate competition can be in three disciplines: sparring (kumite), forms (kata), or kobudo (weapons) kata; competitors may enter either as individuals or as part of a team. Evaluation for kata is done by a panel of judges; sparring is judged by a head referee and two to four side referees.

Some traditionalists are concerned that the emphasis on competition is antithetical to the deeper values of the art. They feel that sport competition promotes a highly compromised interpretation of the art, including point fighting and demonstration of forms for entertainment value. Forms are often set to music, and weapons that light up or glow are sometimes used. In extreme cases, martial practicality is eschewed in favor of gymnastics. Traditionalists feel this should not be regarded as emblematic of karate; others feel the publicity is helpful.

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Karate and Character

In keeping with the -do nature of modern Karate, there is a great emphasis on improving oneself. It is said that there is no first strike in Karate, meaning, among other things, that the art is for self-defense; not injuring one's opponent is the highest expression of the art. Many people study Karate for self-improvement.

"The ultimate aim of Karate lies not in victory or defeat, but in the perfection of the character of its participants." -- Gichin Funakoshi
"The Way is not meant as a way of fighting. It is a path on which you travel to find your own inner peace and harmony. It is yours to seek and find." -- Hironori Ohtsuka
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Belt Colours

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 [1]:

  • Ungraded - white
  • 8th kyu ~ 4th kyu - white
  • 3rd kyu ~ 1st kyu - brown
  • 1st dan and above - black

As karate became more widespread, a decision was made by some karate organizations to borrow the coloured belt system from Judo, along with the Judoka's uniform, the Gi. It is not true that this system was adopted in order to give Western students a sense of progression over time.

One example is given below, but these vary among organizations.

  • Ungraded - white
  • 9th kyu - blue
  • 8th kyu - yellow
  • 7th kyu - orange
  • 6th kyu - green
  • 5th kyu - purple
  • 4th kyu - purple with white stripe
  • 3rd kyu - brown with white stripe
  • 2nd kyu - brown with double stripes
  • 1st dan ~ 8th dan - black
  • 9th dan ~ 10th dan - red
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See also

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External links


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