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" (<ref name="Funakoshi1">Funakoshi, Gichin (1981). "Karate-do: My Way of Life". Kodansha International Ltd, Tokyo. ISBN 0-87011-463-8.</ref>, pg. 85), while "kan" means house. Hence "shotokan" was the name of the hall where he trained his students.

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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. A good example can be found in the side thrust kicks added to the nijushiho kata.

As in all Karate styles it is kata (in this sense, 'kata' is pluralised; since it is Japanese, nothing needs to be done to pluralise the word), formal sequences of basic techniques, that form the backbone of the tradition. The traditional Japanese martial arts, Sumo, JuJutsu and KenJutsu were heavily centered around combat. Master Funakoshi instead, sought a path to physical health and stamina through individual technique. Thus, Modern Karate focused on breathing, releasing energy and outstanding mind and body control.

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Common Terms

Term Kanji Meaning
Karate 空手 Empty hand
Dojo 道場 Place of the way
Shihan 師範 Model Teacher
Sensei 先生 Teacher
Gi 衣 or 着 Uniform
Kyu 級 Level
Dan 段 Step
Rei 礼 Courtesy/Bow
Osu 押忍 Aknowledgement
Yoi 用意 Ready
Hajime 初め Begin
Yame 止め Stop
Mawatte 回って Turn
Narande 並んで Line up
Kihon 基本 Basic
Kata 型 Form
Kumite 組手 Sparring
zanshin 残心 Remaining mind
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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.

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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[1], 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 organsiation 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.

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.

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Shotokan Kata

Name Kanji Meaning
Taikyoku Shodan 太極初段 Great Ultimate beginning step
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/Empi 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 慈阴 Kind Shade

see reference <ref name="Sugiyama">Sugiyama, Shojiro (1984). "25 Shoto-Kan Kata". Shojiro Sugiyama, Chicago. ISBN 0-9669048-0-X.</ref> ,<ref name="Funakoshi2">Funakoshi, Gichin (1973). "Karate-do Kyohan", Kodansha International Ltd, Tokyo. ISBN 0-87011-190-6.</ref>

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Kumite

Beginners are usually introduced to kumite training with 'gohon kumite' (five-step sparring). Two karateka are required for the exercise. Once they pair up and bow, the attacking karateka steps back into a zenkutsu dachi 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 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.

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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 is as follows:

  • Seek perfection of character
  • Be faithful
  • Endeavor to excel
  • Respect others
  • Refrain from violent behavior

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.

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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 [2]:

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

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.

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Trivia

  • In the Mortal Kombat games, the character Sub-Zero uses shotokan as one of his styles.
  • Bruce Kanegai, a contestant on Survivor: Panama, is a Godan (5th degree black belt) in Shotokan Karate of America. Godan is the highest rank in Shotokan Karate of America and is very hard to achieve, so it is comparable to the highest rank of some other federations.
  • In the Street Fighter games, the character Ken Masters fancies himself as knowing shotokan like the back of his hand.
  • In Tekken 4 and 5, Jin Kazama uses Shotokan as his new style of fighting.
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See also

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External links


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References

<references/>

de:Shōtōkan es:Shotokan fr:Shotokan-ryu ja:松濤館流 pl:Shotokan pt:Shotokan ro:Shotokan sv:Shotokan

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