What is karate?
There is a great difference between karate which is a purely physical discipline that is a Japanese martial art and karate-do which is a way of life as exemplified in the following quote.
"True karate is that in daily life one's mind and body be trained and developed in a spirit of humility, and that in critical times, one be devoted utterly to the cause of justice." Gichin Funakoshi (founder of the Shotokan karate).
Karate at its most basic is described as a martial art or fighting method involving a variety of techniques which include blocks, strikes, evasions, throws, and joint manipulations. Karate practice is divided into three aspects: kihon (basics), kata (forms), and kumite (sparring).
The word karate is a combination of two Japanese characters: kara, meaning empty, and te, meaning hand; thus, karate means "empty hand." Adding the suffix "-do" (pronounced "doe"), meaning "way," i.e., karate-do, implies karate as a total way of life that goes well beyond the self-defence applications. In traditional karate-do, we always keep in mind that the true opponent is oneself.
Shotokan karate’s founder Gichin Funakoshi said that "mind and technique become one in true karate." We strive to make our physical techniques pure expressions of our mind's intention and to improve our mind's focus by understanding the essence of the physical techniques.
There are basically four traditional karate styles which are practiced throughout the world. All four styles originated in Okinawa. The Okinawan culture and economy flourished until the end of the 16th century when their independence was terminated by the Japanese military regime which invaded the island in 1609.
This led to the prohibition of carrying weapons by the natives. In turn, this event sparked the golden age of Okinawan martial arts, as many natives practiced Okinawan-te in secret (incorporating Chinese 'Chu' and 'Fa' as well as the native 'Tode').
Master Gichin Funakoshi also studied in secret, until he disclosed his art and philosophy of karate-do in 1901 to Okinawa and in 1922 to the Japanese mainland. Division into different karate styles was never his intention but nevertheless different styles were cultivated by the appearance of three big Okinawan karate schools, Naha-te, Shuri-te and Tomari-te.
One of the world’s most widespread karate styles is Shotokan, the title derived from the pen name of Master Funakoshi (Hall of Shoto). Other well known traditional karate styles are Goju-ryu founded by Miyagi Chojun (1888 – 1953), Goju-kai founded by Gogen Yamaguchi (1909 – 1989), Wado-ryu founded by Hironori Otsuka (1892 – 1982), who was a student of Funakoshi Sensei and Shito-ryu style founded by by Kenwa Mabuni (1889 – 1952).
Funakoshi Gichin Sensei the founder of Shotokan karate was 89 years old when he died.
(November 10, 1868 – April 26, 1957)
A short summary of Sensei's life
Funakoshi Gichin Sensei was born in Shuri, Okinawa in 1868. Initially he was trained by two masters of the time who practiced different karate styles. From Master Anko Azato he was instructed in "Naha-te" and from Master Anko Itosu he was instructed "Shuri-te". He also trained with other leading karate masters. What Funakoshi Sensei developed into his karate (Shotokan) is an amalgam of his combined karate experience. The style name "Shotokan" is taken from the pen name he used "Shoto" when writing poetry. Shoto means pine waving which is a reference to the way the wind moved the pine needles in the trees on the mountain where he liked to walk and contemplate, and "kan" can mean meeting place or house. i.e. Shotokan means the place where Shoto trains or house of Shoto.
In March 1921, when Emperor Hirohito was still the Crown Prince, he visited Okinawa en-route to a visit to Europe. Gichin Funakoshi led a public performance of karate, which was performed by selected students at the Grand Hall of Shuri Castle in front of the Crown Prince. The Crown Prince gave his impressions as "karate is so miraculous".
In May 1922 at 53 years of age Funakoshi Sensei attended the First Budo and Physical Education Exhibition held in Tokyo which was sponsored by the Ministry of Education at the request of School Section of Okinawa Prefectural Government. Here he demonstrated Okinawa's art of self defense "karate". Funakoshi Sensei demonstrated karate kata and explained the meaning of the kata.
With the rise of nationalism in Japan at that time it must also be remembered that encouraging the populace to be fit and strong was essential to the foundation of a strong army and so the proliferation and encouragement of martial arts training in the education system was seen as a means to an end. The then Commissioner of Public Schools Shintaro Ogawa recommended in a report to the Ministry of Education that karate be included in school based physical education programs.
Following his karate demonstration in Tokyo Funakoshi Sensei's friends and other officials who were in attendance at the time urged him to remain in Tokyo and teach his art. This he did, and this was karate's introduction to mainland Japan. Post WWII karate spread to the rest of the world with returning servicemen who had been exposed to the art while they were stationed in Japan. And so today due to his pioneering work Funakoshi Gichin Sensei is recognized as the "father of modern karate".
For Funakoshi Sensei, the word karate eventually took on a much deeper meaning. It evolved into karate-do, literally the "way of karate," or "way of the empty hand". Training in karate-do became an education for life itself and not simply a physical pursuit. I personally understand the philosophy of karate-do as meaning "that you must try to become the very best person you can become".
Funakoshi Sensei never returned to Okinawa living the rest of his life teaching his art and practicing Karate-Do on the Japanese mainland.
For a more in depth history of the life of Funakoshi Gichin Sensei read his book “Karate-Do My Way of Life”.
