Randy Lawrence World

Class Shotokan Karate

Dojo School in
Syracuse, NY
Contact us: Call (315) 446-2311 Email:
info@syracusekarateschool.com

Search
Search

Main menu
Skip to primary content
Skip to secondary content

Home

Instructors

History of Karate

Karate Belts

Karate Events

Contact Us

History of Karate
History and Style Guide of Karate
Karate was developed in the Ryukyu Kingdom prior to its 19th-century annexation by Japan.
It was brought to the Japanese mainland in the early 20th century during a time of cultural
exchanges between the Japanese and the Ryukyuans.

In 1922 the Japanese Ministry of Education

invited Gichin Funakoshi to Tokyo to give a karate demonstration. In 1924 Keio University
established the first university karate club in Japan and by 1932, major Japanese
universities had karate clubs.[4] In this era of escalating Japanese militarism,[5] the name
was changed from (Chinese hand or Tang hand verbatim, as the name of the Tang
dynasty was a synonym to China in Okinawa) to (empty hand) both of which are
pronounced karate to indicate that the Japanese wished to develop the combat form in
Japanese style
Karate Philosophy
Gichin Funakoshi interpreted the kara of Karate-d to mean to purge oneself of selfish
and evil thoughts. For only with a clear mind and conscience can the practitioner

understand the knowledge which he receives. Funakoshi believed that one should be
inwardly humble and outwardly gentle. Only by behaving humbly can one be open to
Karates many lessons. This is done by listening and being receptive to criticism. He
considered courtesy of prime importance. He said that Karate is properly applied only in
those rare situations in which one really must either down another or be downed by him.
Funakoshi did not consider it unusual for a devotee to use Karate in a real physical
confrontation no more than perhaps once in a lifetime. He stated that Karate practitioners
must never be easily drawn into a fight. It is understood that one blow from a real expert
could mean death. It is clear that those who misuse what they have learned bring dishonor
upon themselves. He promoted the character trait of personal conviction. In time of grave
public crisis, one must have the courageto face a million and one opponents. He taught
that indecisiveness is a weakness.
Visit Karate Photo and Video Gallery
United States
After World War II, members of the US military learned karate in Okinawa or Japan and
then opened schools in the USA. In 1945 Robert Trias opened the first dojo in the United
States in Phoenix, Arizona, a Shuri-ry karate dojo. In the 1950s, Edward Kaloudis, William
Dometrich (Chit-ry), Ed Parker (Kenpo), Cecil Patterson (Wad-ry), Gordon Doversola
(Okinawa-te), Louis Kowlowski, Don Nagle (Isshin-ry), George Mattson (Uechi-ry), Paul
Arel (Sankata, Kyokushin, and Kokondo) and Peter Urban (Gj-kai) all began instructing in
the US.

Tsutomu Ohshima began studying karate while

a student at Waseda University, beginning in 1948, and became captain of the universitys
karate club in 1952. He trained under Shotokans founder, Gichin Funakoshi, until 1953.
Funakoshi personally awarded Ohshima his sandan (3rd degree black belt) rank in 1952. In

1957 Ohshima received his godan (fifth degree black belt), the highest rank awarded by
Funakoshi. This remains the highest rank in SKA. In 1952, Ohshima formalized the judging
system used in modern karate tournaments. However, he cautions students that
tournaments should not be viewed as an expression of true karate itself.
Ohshima left Japan in 1955 to continue his studies at UCLA. He led his first U.S. practice in
1956 and founded the first university karate club in the United States at Caltech in 1957. In
1959 he founded the Southern California Karate Association (SCKA), as additional
Shotokan dojos opened. The organization was renamed Shotokan Karate of America in
1969.
In the 1960s, Jay Trombley (Gj-ry), Anthony Mirakian (Gj-ry), Steve Armstrong,
Bruce Terrill, Richard Kim (Shorinji-ry), Teruyuki Okazaki (Shotokan), John Pachivas, Allen
Steen, Sea Oh Choi (Hapkido), Gosei Yamaguchi (Gj-ry), Mike Foster (Chitoryu/Yoshukai) and J. Pat Burleson all began teaching martial arts around the country.
In 1961 Hidetaka Nishiyama, a co-founder of the JKA and student of Gichin Funakoshi,
began teaching in the United States, founding afterwards the International Traditional Karate
Federation (ITKF). Takayuki Mikami were sent to New Orleans by the JKA in 1963.
In 1964, Takayuki Kubota, founder of Gosoku-ry, relocated the International Karate
Association from Tokyo to California.
Seido Karate was founded by Tadashi Nakamura
In 1970 Paul Arel founded Kokondo Karate which is a sister style of Jukido Jujitsu
developed in 1959. Kokondo synthesized techniques and kata from Arels previous
experience in Isshin Ryu, Sankata & Kyokushin Karate.
Karate Substyles
Budokan
Goju-ryu
Kenpo
Kyokushin
Shito-ryu
Shorin-ryu

Shotokan
Uechi-ryu
Wado-ryu

Useful Links

International Olympic Committee

World Games Association

World Anti-Doping Agency

European Karate federation

Asian Karate Federation

Panamerican Karate Federation

Oceanian Karate Federation

R E C E N T P O STS

Karate Black Belt Test

Syracuse Karate Photo and Video Gallery

FOL LOW US ON GOO GL E+

PA N A M E R I C A N K A R AT E F E D E R AT I O N

Web Support Provided by YouNeedItAll.com