Shotokan karate is what it was called after Gichin Funakoshi developed it in the early 1920s. Shotokan is actually a combination of several martial arts which includes Judo. This is reported though that Funakoshi never referred to his style as Shotokan, but merely as karate.
The term Shotokan comes from Funakoshi's pen-name Shoto, meaning pine-waves. It was a name he utilized sign all his philosophical communications to his students. Kan, in Japanese means hall. It was Funakoshi's trainees themselves who placed the very first banner decorated using the name Shotokan over the entry on the hall where he trained.
Funakoshi incorporated the Kyu/Dan ranking system for his unique technique including the colored belt method. Numerous Shotokan karate schools today still use the original belt method which consists of only three colored belts; white brown and black. The ranks include:
8th-4th: White
3rd-1st: Brown
1st- highest: Black
Training in Shotokan karate is divided into three sections that are:
1. Kihon, understanding the fundamentals of the style.
2. Kata, includes the different patterns of signature moves.
3. Kumite, involves learning sparring techniques.
Both Kihon and Kata are seen as an extreme, lengthy stances that bestow stability, powerful movements and build up strength on the legs. This means that most power comes from the legs. Shotokan karate is usually known as the hard or external style due to powerful techniques and stances on the get-go.
The Kata is different in a way that it is like fighting an invincible enemy. It is implementing punches, sweeps, strikes, blocks and throws a pupil learns in Kihon training. Kata also comes with various steps, twists, turns, ground drops and jumps. It is a form of practice and rhythm. The student must master every method and do them as a potential killing blow.
Gichin Funakoshi also gave importance in training his pupils in their daily life. He created the Twenty Precepts of Karate which hold the foundations of this method. The 20 principles are heavily motivated by Bushido and Zen concepts. They include the notions of humbleness, respect, compassion, patience and inner and outer calm. Funakoshi believed that if a person master these twenty precepts within karate practice they would greatly improve themselves as far better persons with skills and with great values.
All dojo's also have policies or philosophies of learning martial arts. They are known as Dojo kun. The Dojo kun usually are placed at the doorway of the school or hall and outline anticipated and unwelcome behavior. In Shotoko karate the Dojo kun are to:
perfection of personality
be loyal
striving to excel
respect one another
avoiding violent behavior
Funakoshi was known for promoting his Shotokan karate style through public demonstrations as well as university karate clubs. After his death in 1957, Gichin's a lot of students continued to show his style in their own way making it a continued influential and widespread form of karate today.
The term Shotokan comes from Funakoshi's pen-name Shoto, meaning pine-waves. It was a name he utilized sign all his philosophical communications to his students. Kan, in Japanese means hall. It was Funakoshi's trainees themselves who placed the very first banner decorated using the name Shotokan over the entry on the hall where he trained.
Funakoshi incorporated the Kyu/Dan ranking system for his unique technique including the colored belt method. Numerous Shotokan karate schools today still use the original belt method which consists of only three colored belts; white brown and black. The ranks include:
8th-4th: White
3rd-1st: Brown
1st- highest: Black
Training in Shotokan karate is divided into three sections that are:
1. Kihon, understanding the fundamentals of the style.
2. Kata, includes the different patterns of signature moves.
3. Kumite, involves learning sparring techniques.
Both Kihon and Kata are seen as an extreme, lengthy stances that bestow stability, powerful movements and build up strength on the legs. This means that most power comes from the legs. Shotokan karate is usually known as the hard or external style due to powerful techniques and stances on the get-go.
The Kata is different in a way that it is like fighting an invincible enemy. It is implementing punches, sweeps, strikes, blocks and throws a pupil learns in Kihon training. Kata also comes with various steps, twists, turns, ground drops and jumps. It is a form of practice and rhythm. The student must master every method and do them as a potential killing blow.
Gichin Funakoshi also gave importance in training his pupils in their daily life. He created the Twenty Precepts of Karate which hold the foundations of this method. The 20 principles are heavily motivated by Bushido and Zen concepts. They include the notions of humbleness, respect, compassion, patience and inner and outer calm. Funakoshi believed that if a person master these twenty precepts within karate practice they would greatly improve themselves as far better persons with skills and with great values.
All dojo's also have policies or philosophies of learning martial arts. They are known as Dojo kun. The Dojo kun usually are placed at the doorway of the school or hall and outline anticipated and unwelcome behavior. In Shotoko karate the Dojo kun are to:
perfection of personality
be loyal
striving to excel
respect one another
avoiding violent behavior
Funakoshi was known for promoting his Shotokan karate style through public demonstrations as well as university karate clubs. After his death in 1957, Gichin's a lot of students continued to show his style in their own way making it a continued influential and widespread form of karate today.
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