HistoryofShotokanRyu
A journey through time, exploring the roots and evolution ofone of the world's most influential martial arts.
Origin of Karate
Karate originated about a thousand years ago from an indigenous Martial Art of Southern India called "Kalaripayattu" which was carried across the Himalayas by a Buddhist monk called Bodhidharma.
He migrated to China where he taught the monks in the temples of Shaolin various exercises designed to strengthen their bodies so that they could withstand the harsh regime of monastic life. Those exercises which he devised all those years ago were very similar to the modern-day karate techniques which you can see in any karate dojo (training hall) in any part of the world.
The techniques spread slowly by word of mouth and by secret practice to the island of Okinawa (part of Ryuku Island, now owned by their northerly neighbour, Japan), where in feudal time the peasantry were not allowed to carry weapons.
松濤館 Shotokan
Shotokan-style Karate was developed by Master Gichin Funakoshi.
The Martial Art School known as Shotokan has a long and rich history dating back 18th century. Formalized as a school in 1939 by Gichin Funakoshi based on Okinawan Karate, its Shotokai and Shotokan Masters have shared this magnificent art throughout the world.
Today there are many schools = kan and variations of Master Funakoshi's Karate.
Styles of Karate
Since karate is a martial art, and many Okinawan and Japanese masters have played an important role in developing this art, and everyone has refined its techniques in their own way, different forms of this art have been developed since ancient times. Which later became popular as different styles of Karate? In the present time, many styles of karate are being conducted at the International level and trainees of all styles are practicing according to their own styles to get mastery in this art.
Shotokan Ryu
Long and low stances and powerful techniques
Shito Ryu
Noted for its powerful punches
Goju Ryu
A traditional style noted for the bodily strength of its practitioners
Wado Ryu
A fast style with upright stances
Karate as Sport
This art then spread further to Japan where it was adopted and developed in the 1930s by Master Gichin Funakoshi who founded a formal training programme for this new martial art, which he called karate – which means literally "empty hand". After a slow start in Japan this martial art became very popular in Europe and the USA after world war-II. Since the mid of 1970s karate has gained several million practitioners and has now developed into sport karate, which bans the most dangerous techniques but retains the power and speed of the original martial art.
Karate in Olympic
Karate's acceptance into the Olympic movement in 1986 has further improved its status and world-wide appeal. It is now an exciting and spectacular combat sport which requires hard practice and much self-control in training and competition. Now finally sport of karate included in the Olympic as medal event in Tokyo Olympic – 2020.