A HISTORICAL EVOLUTION:

CLASSICAL KARATE-DO TO
MODERN SPORT KARATE

Timothy Suzuki is a graduate of York University (BA). A

former provincial and national Karate team member, he has over 20
years experience coaching from the implementation of Karate Ontario
first Junior Development program with Kancho Okuyama in the early
80’s and later became the national junior coach for the National
Karate Association, has since taken an advisory role with Taekwondo
Ontario and Synchro-Olympia swimming program.
He is currently a NCCP learning facilitator for the multi-sport
modules A & B under the auspices of the Coaches Association of
Ontario – where he is responsible for facilitating and supporting
grassroots coaching across Ontario. A graduate of the National
Coaching Institute Ontario NCCP level 4/5, he continues to instruct
recreational Karate-Do through the City of Toronto.
Karate Ontario Symposium, 2008
© 2008 Timothy Suzuki

A Historical Evolution Classical Karate-Do to Modern Sport Karate

Abstract They stretch southward from the island

of Kyüshü to the island of Taiwan. (17)
The purpose of this article is to shed a
historic overview on the development
from the Classical Karate-Do to the
Modern Sport Karate.

The aim is to encourage discussion on

the future of Modern Sport Karate
competition beyond the 21st century. I
will briefly examine past history,
methodology of training, the IOC
(International Olympic Committee) and
the beginning of infrastructure that are
govern by rules of competition under the
auspices of the World Karate Federation.
(WKF)

Introduction
Google image 2008

The IOC acceptance of World Karate

Federation as a recognized sport and
member to the International Federation
for Sport in 1999 concluded a long and
painful dispute with International
Traditional Karate Federation (ITKF). A
request for inclusion to the 2012
Olympic Game in London was made.
On July 11 2005, in Singapore, by less
than two thirds of votes to exclude
Karate from the program. April 2008,
the IOC has granted Karate to be
included on the short lists of sports for
the delegate meeting in Copenhagen
2009. (22)
The indigenous Martial Art of the
Ryukyu Islands
The Ryukyu Islands are a chain of
islands in the western Pacific Ocean at
the eastern limit of the East China sea.
The islands were settled by people from
Malay, Mongol, Caucasoid Ainu,
Mongolia stock in the Neolithic period,
and later by the Chinese and Japanese
settlers. (34) The Ryukyu’s were a
melting pot of cultural elements from
one another.
Between1314 and 1368 three
independent states emerged: Nanzen,
based on Ozato Castle, which controlled
the south of Okinawa; Hokuzan, based
on Nakijin Castle on the Motobu
Peninsula, controlled the north of
Okinawa, and Chuzan, based on the
castle at Urasoe, which controlled the
central region. (17) Chuzan, Hokuzan,
and Nanzan were petty barons. Each
with his own retainers owing direct
services, as land-owners, farmers,
fisherman and retainers who bore arms.
Also controlled indirect services to the
lords who lived in castles.
The Okinawans prospered from the
relationship with China as trades
increased with Japan, Korea, Champa,
Khymer, Siam and Java. In 1429, King
Shö Hashi completed the unification of
the three kingdoms. He founded one
Ryükyü kingdom with its capital at Shuri
Castle. (17)
Near the end of the sixteenth century,
Japanese feudal leader Toyotomi
Hideyoshi ordered the Ryükyü kingdom
to support the Hideyoshi’ invasion of
Korea. At that time, the kingdom was a
tribute state of China. And was not in the
position to risk losing their Chinese
trade. Hence Japan proceeded with their
attack on the Korean peninsula without
the aid of the Ryükyü kingdom.
As trade continued to flourish with
tradesman from China, piracy by the
Bugis (Indonesians), was feared by
many. The Buginese, respect for trade
and seamanship, avidly bartered for silk,
opium, cotton, gunpowder, and firearms.
(1) They were warriors skilled in military
tactics, weapons, and a Chinese style of
boxing. (Monkey and Crane Boxing).
Which later refined its self as Tiger
Boxing, trained in Fukien Province
under Chou Tze-Ho.? After thirteen
years, he left China and began to teach a
system first known as Pan Gai Noon
“Half Hard Style”. Later his students
called Uechi Ryu. (1)
With the death of Hideyoshi the
Shimazu clan of Satsuma, the nearest
Japanese neighbors, were the victors.
They recognized the importance of trade,
to gain favor with the regime in Edo
(modern-day Tokyo). The invasion of
the Ryükyü by Satsuma took place in
1609. Three thousand men traveled by
sea from Kagoshima at the southern tip
of Kyüshu. The Ryükyüans did not put
up a fight, due to the order from the
king. Many priceless cultural treasures
were looted and taken to Kagoshima.
Since no formal agreement was
established between China and Satsuma
clan. Japan officially closed off trades
with European nations (loop-hole). (17)
Leaving Nagasaki and Ryükyü became
the only Japanese trading ports offering
connections to the outside world.
Shimazu introduced the policy of
banning sword ownership by commoners
and upper class. This led to the
development of the indigenous martial
art of Okinawan te, meaning “hand”, as
in hand-to- hand combat both unarmed
and armed combat. It developed under
the strong influence of Chinese Wu shu
martial arts, especially those of the
ch’uan-fa, or “fist-way” brought by
Chinese monks, merchants, and traders,
(1) or by the samurai referred as Aiki-
jujitsu. (34)
Since the Ryukyus were a tributary state
of China, there had been periods of
frequent contact between them and the
Fukien on the mainland. It would be
quite natural for Chinese kempo “fist
method” to be imported to the island (1)
It is well documented that no written
record or scripture depict the
transformation of early indigenous forms
of martial arts passed on by the
influences of trade and practice in
secrecy only to flourish, and manifested
into various forms of Classical
Okinawan fighting arts.

Wikipedea Image 2008
The Introduction of Martial Arts to
the Greek Culture and Olympism
It is well documented by historians that
the Greeks valued architecture,
sculpture, painting, literature, drama
philosophy and athletics as a part “a way
of life”.
The Dark ages – in 776 B.C. the Greeks
colonized and expanded throughout the
Mediterranean to the south coast of
France, the eastern coast of Spain to the
Black Sea, North Africa, and Egypt. (13)
Greek aristocrats developed the
philosophical ideal of kalokagathia (from
kalos “beautiful” and agathos “good”,
“noble”, “learned”), which aimed at the
development of a complete human being
through the balanced of the mind and
body. (13) Physical training was
considered to be an important cultivation
of kalokagathia and even when Greek
civilization wanted this idea to remain as
an ideal to be followed. The Romans
believed in the concept of “sans in corpore
sano” means (a healthy mind in a healthy
body). (15)
Although far apart from each other the
connection between the Greeks and
Japanese had similar philosophies of the
“way to live”. The “games” portray
ideal charter of Olympism. A
philosophy of life, combining a balance
of body, will and the mind. Budo –
means war or martial, and signifies “way
of life”. (6) (4). The value of education is
illustrated in such examples with respect
to these ethical principles.
In 786 the first know Olympic Games
were recorded to pay tribute to the gods.
There were many forms of athletic
competition, such as classical fighting
arts of boxing, wrestling, and archery.
One event that requires a critical look is
the “pankration competition”, entered
the program in 648 B.C. (14)
Google image 2008
Pankration – practice and competition
was a dangerous brand of wrestling.
Participants learn holds, by which one
who has fallen can still win or the
unwillingness to continue, and they must
be skillful in various way of
strangulation. They bend ankles and
fingers, twist arms, throw punches, jump
on their opponents and use knees and
kicks to the body, legs and genitals.
Various forms of defensive moves
against kicks were allowed. All such
practice was permitted in pankration
except for biting or gouging. (14)
Origin of Karate as Sport
In 1896 the Baron Pierre de Coubertin,
born in January 1, 1863 Paris, France
recognized a growing interest in the
Olympic Games and founded the
International Olympic Committee (IOC).
To model his plan, Baron de Coubertin
organized an international congress on
23 June 1894 in Sorbonne, France.
Wikipedea 2008/IOC Journal Tokyo 1940
Soon after the revival of the Modern
Olympic Games in 1896, (21) Baron
Pierre de Coubertin extended his
invitation to Japan. The Japanese
government selected Dr.Jigoro Kano,
born in October 28, 1860, Hyogo
prefecture Japan.
He founded the Japan Athletic Union,
which still governs all sports in Japan to
this day. (19). A man selflessly devoted
to the promotion of physical, moral and
spiritual development of the world. As a
young man attending Tokyo University
Political Science and Economics
Department (class 1881), he studied,
among other things utilitarian thoughts
of the west, and hence this philosophy
was to have a great influence on his
reformulation of Judo. (18) It is well
documented that Dr. Kano modified his
techniques to be safer and more effective
while maintaining the “fighting ethos”.
The modernization of Judo is also
analogous to the process by which
pankration (which used strangle holds,
joint techniques, sweeps, and strikes)
was turned into. (19)
Dr. Kano a life-long educator and
university president included Judo in its
curriculum in 1883, and the Ministry of
Education made Judo compulsory for
middle-school students in 1911. In
1909, he became the first Japanese
representative to the IOC, and
participated in the 5th Olympics held in
Stockholm, Sweden in 1912 as head of
the delegation along with two athletes.
Baron de Courbertin respect
and influence on Dr. Kano, as an
educator and passion for athletics gave
him the task to unify all of Asia to join
the Olympic movement. In 1913 the first
Far Eastern Championship Games was
hosted by Manila, (20) as interest from
other eastern countries grew beyond
1915.
In February 1932, Japan's desire to host
the XII 'th Olympic games in Tokyo,
would coincide with 2600th anniversary
of the founding of the empire of Japan.
In 1935 at the Olso sessions Japan was
granted the games to host in the year of
1940. In 1938 it was unanimous to
cancel the games in Tokyo and Sapporo
due to Japan-China incident. 14 events
plus two demonstration sports: Baseball
and original Japanese sport “Budo”: this
entailed Kyüdo (Japanese archery)
Kendo (fencing). (21) Judo became an
Olympic sport for men in the 1964
Tokyo games. Twenty-six years later.
(19)
Funakoshi Gishin, born November 10,
1868 in Shuri, Ryükyü kingdom began
training in Tode/Karate under Yasutsune
Azato and Yasutsune Itosu. (5) A
schoolteacher by profession. 1906
Funakoshi organizes the first public
demonstration of Karate on Okinawa.
1922 Funakoshi goes to Tokyo and
demonstrates Karate at the All Japan
Athletic Exhibition held in Ochanomizu.
He prepared photograph illustrating hand
and foot techniques, kata and kumite,
arranged in three scrolls. (2) The day
after Funakoshi receives a letter from an
envoy of Dr. Kano to learn Karate and
hence declines to return home, but
offered to pay a visit to the Kodakan
three days later to be face to face with a
select group of judoka.
Having stayed in Tokyo Funakoshi later
describes in Karate-Do Kyohan (2)
Tokyo Kodansha International 1973.
Moving away from Okinawan te to
Karate-Do. 1. Karate-Do places weight
upon spiritual rather than physical
matters. That in daily life, one’s mind
and body be trained and developed in a
spirit of humility; and that in critical
times, on devoted utterly to cause of
justice. 2. To stop the confusion of
Chinese boxing and practice quite
differently to its kempo origins. 3. To
retain the national identity of Japan the
word Kara meaning China is now
identified as a Japanese art. 4. The way
of Karate is to avoid self-centeredness
and greed. “To make yourself empty
within”.
Okinawa and Post World War II
In the years leading to World War II, the
Japanese government sought to reinforce
national solidarity and pride in the
interest of miniaturization. Despite the
prejudice expressed by mainland
Japanese citizens. Japanese politicians
and military units to promote the
Japanese education and ethics governed
Okinawans. With the defeat of Japan in
World War II. The United States
occupied all of Japan and influenced
their culture to an American lifestyles
and US currency. (17)
In 1948 to 1951 Karate and other martial
arts demonstrated and taught at US base
in Japan. Karate demonstrated by
Masatoshi Nakyama, who later be
appointed Chief instructor of the JKA.
(2) The interest of westerners became
fascinated with Karate, primarily
Shotokan.
Wikipedea image 2007
A brief History Karate Competition &
the introduction to rules
In 1925 pre-arranged sparring methods
developed and introduced into the
Shotokan Karate. (2) In the first Japan
Karate Association (JKA) magazine
1964 Taiji Kase pointed out “When our
father Gishin Funakoshi wrote his book
Introduction to Karate in 1943, he pointed
out that Karate at the time of his writing
is quite different from that as he learned
in Okinawa. Since that time, another
twenty years have passed and Karate has
undergone a remarkable change.
Especially, kumite or sparring is a
product of “Modern Karate”. (7)
August 1955 Nakayama published the
first rules for kumite and kata contest. (2)
After the war, Japan became pacifist,
and wholehearted attempts to copy the
US. This attempt to copy the methods
and values of the United States is an
important reason why the JKA and
others tried so hard to establish a
sporting format for karate. As the old
approach was identified with Japan’s
defeat, it felt western model of
competitive sport was a better way.
Nakayama explained that in the “pacifist
atmosphere of post-war Japan, “I saw
Kendo and Judo flourish as sports, and I was
concerned that if Karate continued its violent
course, the people would reject it” (Karate).
(2)
The future of Karate as a sport changed
when the Japan Karate Association
(JKA) sent instructors all over the world
to teach Karate as a discipline and
promote the ideology.
A Frenchmen M. Henry Pleé “pioneer of
European Karate” and founder of the
Federation Français de Karate et Box
Libre. (2) With books and film he
acquire through Donn F. Draeger
(historian on Martial arts) trained very
diligently. Pléé wanted to align himself
with the JKA. He brought Tsutomu
Ohshima to Paris in late 1950’s,
followed by Taiiji Kase in 1963.
Henri Pléé was a promoter and teacher
of Judo taught a pupil Jacques Delcourt
at le Club Français in 1961. He later
became the elected president of the
French Karate Federation, then
associated member of Judo Federation.
After a long period to unify Karate
globally Mr. Delcourt and European
Karate Union extend a partnership with
the Federation of All Japan Karate-Do
Organization (FAJKO) founded in 1964.
FAJKO’s sole purpose was to unify all
Japanese Karate. (7) Its function is to set
standards on technique, advise on
methods of teaching, decide the
qualification necessary for instructors
and set ethical behavior.
Mr. Riyoichi Sasakawa, president of the
Japanese Federation (FAJKO) traveled
to France with the support of Jacque
Delcourt to form an international body
called World Union Karate Organization
(WKO). Later the International
Traditional Karate Federation formerly
known as IAKF led by Hidetaka
Nishiama was to be the only governing
body of Karate to represent its classical
form. (22)
The first WUKO world championships
was hosted in Tokyo, Japan in 1970 and
hence the beginning of international
competitive rules for Sport Karate.
Since the adoption of world
championships, these rules have
promoted honor, dignity, and spirit of
sport Karate within a safe competitive
environment for all athletes that compete
under the auspices of the World Karate
Federation, (WKF) which uphold the
ideals and values of Olympism. (22)
 Methodology of Competitive Scoring

Since the introduction of WKO in 1970 (23), the competitive rules have gone through
many changes. This reflects the ideals of Olympism pursued by World Karate
Federation. In 2000 the rules for scoring changed from a 3-point system (Sanbon) to
an eight-point system applied for today’s standards for competition. Recent data has
shown us that a strict judging and heavy penalties for uncontrolled blows can
decrease risks of injury. (11)

I would like to bring forth some interesting competitive technical data provided by
Dr. Srecka Jovanovic from Novi Sad, Serbia, (2004) with respect to tactics for Deleted: a
competition applied since the introduction to the eight-point system. The data
accumulated was a period from 1993 to 2001 at regional, national, and international
events. Number of techniques used in a match to the head (jodan) vs. to the body
(chudan). (9)

Table 1

JODAN COMPARISON
3 points vs 8 points

40 200.00%

.4 5%
1 83 175.00%
35
150.00%

125.00%
30 .1 2%
117
100.00%
13 %
92.
25 75.00%

9% 50.00%
4 9. 1
20
25.00%

15 0% 0%0.00%
0% 0.0 0 .0
-9.2
-25.00%

10 -50.00%

-75.00%
5
0% 0% 0% -100.00%
0.0 0.0 0 .0
-1 0 -1 0 -1 0
0 -125.00%
OZ GZ KZ URU MG MVG S MVG I UR MVG US MVG USG

Jodan 3 points 0.55 36.73 13.54 1.45 0 1.11 1.45 0.89 0.33 0
Jodan 8 points 0 33.35 20.2 0 0 2.41 4.11 1.71 0 0
delta -100.00% -9.20% 49.19% -100.00% 0.00% 117.12% 183.45% 92.13% -100.00% 0.00%
 Table 2

CHUDAN COMPARISON
3 points vs 8 points
45 110.00%

40 % 85.00%
15
81.
35 60.00%
03 %
53.
30 35.00%

25 10.00%
0% 0% 0% 0%
0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
20 -15.00%
%
. 79
-2 2
15 -40.00%

10 -65.00%

5 -90.00%
% % %
0 .00 0 .00 0 .00
-1 0 -10 -10
0 -115.00%
OZ GZ KZ URU MG MVG S MVG I UR MVG US MVG USG

Chudan 3 points 0.22 41.2 0.33 0 0.44 2.44 0 0 0 0.66

Chudan 8 points 0 31.81 0 0 0 4.42 0 0 0 1.01
delta -100.00% -22.79% -100.00% 0.00% -100.00% 81.15% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 53.03%

As we review tables 1 and 2 we can remains the competitor’s favored

determine the types of punching or technique.
striking skills used in competition
conditions. The tables quickly represent In contrast, Kizami-zuki (KZ) increased by
the frequency of use of different 10.13% to the head and is the technique
techniques. By way of the floating dots, of choice on both 3 & 8 points scoring.
they also compare the frequency of use Ura-uchi (URU) is a technique that has
of these techniques, between the 3-point been abandoned by the competitors, both
and 8-point scoring system. in the 3 point and 8 point scoring
regime.
For both head and body shots, Oi-zuki
(OZ) has been neglected coming from Punching techniques (zuki) to the face
the 3 point scoring system, and totally and body was a favorable scoring
non-existent in the 8 point regime (100% technique against an opponent in the 3-
decrease in use in both tables 1 and 2). point system due to less extensive
Gyaku-zuki (GZ) shots to the head have penalty for contact to the face, which in
gone down by 9.2%, and has decreased turn a point may have been given
by 19.37% to the body, though, it (possible Mubobi). We must also factor in
that athletes and coaches trained
tactically with a higher degree of zuki as
the dominant scoring outcome.
In table 1 and 2 we can determine the
types of kicks and sweeping techniques
(non-existent in the table) used in
competitive conditions. Mae-geri is non-
existent at 0.44.
Mawashi- geri (s) front leg to the head at
2.41 and 4.42 to the body is favorable.
Mawashi-geri (i) back leg is highly
favorable at 4.11 to the head than the
body in the 8- point system. Ura-
mawashi-geri at 1.71 and Ushiro-mawashi-
geri are very low scoring opportunities.
Ushiro-geri at the 8-point system 1.01
has a low scoring threshold and is almost
non-existent as a technique.
In conclusion based upon the data
provided athletes and coaches prepare a
greater amount time and repetitions to
score a favorable scoring technique
based on percentage with the Gyaku-zuki
than Mawashi-geri (front & back leg) and
Ura-mawashi-geri and Ushiro-mawashi-geri
(front or back leg), and Ashi-bari
(sweeping) are the least favorable
techniques trained to score since the
inception of the new 8-point scoring
system. This scoring system was
designed to favor the athletes scoring
opportunity. (24) However the data
clearly indicates those athletes and their
coaches 1. Train a higher degree of
punches to the body and face 2. They are
less inclined to take “as a tactical risks”
to score with the Nihon or Sanbon
system only if, when a match can be
evenly matched or a podium
performance consequences.
Conclusion
As we move forward beyond the 21st
century Karate’s aspirations to be a sport
gives us the culture, education, values
and spirit within the Olympic
framework.
History indicates that the Classical
Karate systems brought a multi-cultural
identity and ethical values to our
discipline and changed our methodology
of practice, and the dedication for
Karate-Do. The classical Martial arts and
the Modern Sport Karate can both be
supported by sport science research for a
healthy method to practice.
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Kodasha International. Tokyo p. 3 – 6
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life, Kodasha International. Tokyo p. 11 – 14
5. Funakoshi Gichin, (1990) Karate-Do Nyumon,
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the martial arts and ways of Japan Weatherhill
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13. Miller Stephen G. (2004) Ancient Greek Athletes,
Yale university press p. 3 – 7
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Yale university press p. 57 – 59
15. Perrottet Tony, (2004) The naked Olympics,
Random House, New York, p. 27 – 31
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(1989) Modern Karate Scientific approach to
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17. Wikipedia, History of Ruykuy Islands
18. The Kano Society, Bulletin 4, April 2000.
19. The Kano Society, Bulletin 8, April 2003
20. IOC, Bulletin ? Growth of Athletic in Japan.
21. IOC, Olympic Games report 1940 Tokyo, Japan
22. WKF website, IOC notice to WKF 2008
WUKO, Kumite contest rules, 1980 Deleted: ¶
¶