Learn the Basic of Karate

fighting

2007-08-05T17:42:00.000-07:00

Goju-Ryu Karate-Do Kyohan
Practice Fighting
by Yamaguchi Gogen "The Cat"

Editor's note: This article is the third in a three part series excerpted from Yamaguschi's classic karate text, "Goju Ryu Karate Do Kyohan: The History and Fundamentals of Goju-Ryu Karate," now in reprint. Previous articles in this series were "The History and Fundamentals of Goju-Ryu Karate."and "The Significance of Kata."

Before Starting Kumite (Practice Fighting)

In kumite, you use all the basic techniques, movements, and kata for actual attacks and defenses. There is yakusoku kumite, in which the movements are performed by the book; and jiyu-kumite, in which the movements are performed freely.

In either instance, the practice will be changed from a single practice to a practice with more than one person so that there are many things you have to pay attention to.

First of all, you have to choose the right opponent. The first condition is, you should choose someone who is the same level as you are, or preferably better than you are. You can see that when you practice the basics or movements of kata, it is helpful if you have more than one person to practice with because you can defend against many types of opponents.

The techniques and standing positions used in the practice of kumite are the same as the practice of basic techniques; however, in jiyu kumite, different techniques or standing positions can be used. Yet, the foundation has to be the extension of the basics.

Although you did very well in individual practices and you have very good basics, having an opponent in actual kumite is very difficult and you cannot perform as you want. When you practice kumite, you have to pay attention to the next points:

First, there has to be a certain distance. Even though you have a strong attacking technique, if the distance is too far, the attack can fail. Kumite is the combination of attack and defense, therefore, a one-sided performance is useless. The timing has to match the opponent's movements. When you use techniques in attacks and defenses in an actual fight, you have to have kime-waza [timing] when you attack consciously. In the game, this is the technique to gain the point. For the technique to be effective, your mind will have to be enriched and it appears outwardly in your kiai (shout).

When you proceed with your techniques, speed is needed; however, if you attack or change position continuously and recklessly, you cannot make use of timing. For that reason, after you perform kime-waza (timing) as zanshin (continuing spirit), you have to leave some place in your mind to enrich your power.

Furthermore, to catch the opponent's movement in advance and read his mind and therefore know which technique he will use, you have to gaze into his eyes, which is called "me-tsuke."

(1) Yakusoku-kumite

Yakusoku-kumite is the performing of movements against an opponent structured by the basics with an opponent by having the kind of techniques and the directions arranged in advance. It is decided by how many techniques the attacking side uses. It can be ippon-kumite [one-point kumite], nihon-kumite [two-point kumite], or more. The most basic techniques, which are standing, thrusting, and catching techniques, are used. It follows the basics, and both have the same standing position -- if the opponent has the right leg out in front, the other has the right leg out in front as well, or if the opponent thrusts with the right hand, the other catches his hand with his right hand. In yakusoku-kumite, the person who performs defense will use attacking techniques at the end. On the other hand, there is applied yakusoku kumite, in which the basic and applied techniques are structured promisingly for use in an actual fight. The number of techniques used are not limited in applied yakusoku-kumite; therefore, the number of structures are uncountable. Still, this is promised kumite and is usually performed by two people; however, there are practices in which three, four, or even more people perform what is called applied kumite. When applied kumite is practiced by many people, depending on how many are involved, the person on the opposite side will be indicated.

(2) Jiyu-Kumite

Jiyu-kumite refers to the practice of using all the techniques you have learned until now against an opponent. You cannot be off your guard even a second. This is a very serious training method. If you do it for enjoyment, you can get injured. Jiyu-kumite is not designed for deciding victory or defeat. It is the practice of offense and defense with the development of the techniques. You can not improve if you always think about victory. As a matter of fact, you should not excite (or stimulate) your opponent more than needed when you practice kumite. You have to respect any opponent you have when you practice.

In kumite, it is forbidden to attack your opponent with direct contact. As a principle, any technique you use will have to be stopped before it connects. However, when you are in defense, you have to practice as if you are actually being attacked. Any injuries in kumite are usually because of carelessness. Especially common is the injury of fingers when the fist is opened. The fist needs to be firmly closed. Practicing using an open hand should be restricted until you improve enough.

There are eight kyo (opportunities) to take advantage of when you attack:

Instantaneous kyo. Right before the opponent changes to the next movement.

Right after the opponent has made a movement that was not effective.

When the opponent lacks harmony between the techniques used and his mind, during both attack and defense.

When the opponent's mind is dispersed and is not really ready.

When the opponent loses his balance when he makes a movement.

Right before the opponent breathes in deeply.

When the opponent is confused because of your movement.

When the opponent is daunted by your tactics or ability.

The five unguarded moments you have to prevent when you are in defense:

The unguarded moment in the mind.

The unguarded moment in the spirit.

The unguarded moment in the technique.

The unguarded moment in the appearance.

The unguarded moment in the act. (The same as in normal life, if you behave badly, you have to take responsibility for your actions.) If you use techniques that do not follow the rule, that is faulty.

(3) Yakusoku-Kumite by More Than Two People

Usually, yakusoku-kumite is done by two people. One does the attack and the other the defense. Practice by repeating the attacks and defenses as the preceding stage of jiyu-kumite and shiai-kumite. I especially recommend to students who have a black belt, or who are more than third-dan, to practice yakusoku-kumite against two or three opponents, besides the one-on-one practices. Jiyu-kumite and shiai-kumite (contest fighting) are both practiced by two people. For that reason, some people interpret that the practice against three or four people is the art of self-defense, which is unreasonably emphasized in karate.

However, the purpose of practicing is to build up your strength in kumite, and when you have many opponents, extreme reflexes are needed; therefore, you will improve changing your positions and the continuous techniques of uke (block) and tsuki (punch), technically and mentally.

Practicing is not done to win against many opponents, it is to grasp the opponents' movements quickly and precisely and for yourself to gain the advantage. Moreover, even though most of these techniques are simple ones, you have to try hard to learn that these techniques can be useful and will eventually be performed unconsciously by repeating them over and over. To learn that when you have many opponents around you, that these opponents will take the most advantageous place and that you will be in the middle, a disadvantageous situation, will allow you to think and move with all your strength.

(4) Kumite of Self-Defense for Women

Editor's note: While Yamaguchi's portrayal of women in karate is not consistent with modern thinking in the west, his statements are interesting from a historical point perspective and show that he progressive in his thinking in a country once dominated by the male point of view.

Karate-do is spreading rapidly among men. As yet, there are not many women who want to learn karate-do. However, recently, some women who are interested in karate-do can be found here and there practicing in dojo. Few women are practicing karate with men, especially in foreign countries. There are classes just for women and more women are becoming interested in karate-do.

Since ancient times, the practice of karate-do was very strict and designed for fighting. For that reason, karate had unrelated techniques for women. However, as the eras went by, karate-do modernized and now, it is thought that through practicing kata many people start learning karate as a self-defense. When women want to learn karate-do, the purpose is for self-defense as explained above. The discipline acquired during the practice, character building through courtesy, and the increased body strength are all beneficial. From ancient times on, the techniques that are used for karate are adopted to the dance of the East and the dance of Okinawa. In dance, the meaning of the dance and the movements of the hands and legs of karate are taken in an aesthetic sense. Especially, the harmony of the systematic movements in a kata is worth performing without question, by both men and women. Compared to the powerful performances by men, the elegant performances by women can be equated to a dance. It is no exaggeration if I say there are elements of the stillness you can see in Noh (Japanese ancient dance) in the movements of karate, as well as the rhythm you can see in modern dance and the delicate balance of Thai dance.

How To Practice for Women

Primarily, it was said that the women were weak and the violent movements that men do was moderate among women. Now, as you can see in the Olympics, women who train well exceed the average man. For that reason, it is not unnatural for women to practice karate as men do; however, although women have become stronger, there is a limit for women who fight in karate without the benefit of any equipment.

It is important for women to get stronger mentally before they get physical strength. In modern society, it is not allowed to put up with the idea that you are a woman. In the work place, the responsibility must be the same as well. Even though women are ladylike and cheerful in the modern day, moderation, courtesy, and endurance are asked for. The training of the body and mind are not only for men. The practice of the basics of karate and the movements and discipline are needed. Still, although women do vigorous exercises, they will not develop the strength of men.

In the practice of kata, you have to realize the importance of basics and have to remember them precisely. It is important to practice self-defense techniques with the attitude of passiveness. It is not the practice to twist men around your finger. There are many ways to defend yourself. It is how you judge to defend yourself when the danger comes suddenly that is important, and you have to cope with the situation calmly without panicking.

There is a proverb that says: "Discretion is the better part of valor." Self-defense techniques for women is as the proverb says. In the explanation of the techniques, they appear from the uke (block) to the kime-waza, but if you have composure to throw down the opponent, it is better to run away rather than fight. Half-confidence is a big mistake. The important thing is not to go to a dangerous place, and avoid these troubles to begin with.

This excerpt from Yamaguchi's book, "Goju Ryu Karate Do Kyohan," was submitted by Masters Publications. This is the fourth book in the Limited Edition series translated from Japanese into English and published by Masters Publication; the first was "To-Te Jitsu" by Funakoshi Gichin, followed by "Okinawan Kempo" by Motobu Choki and "Wado Ryu Karate" by Otsuka Hiroki.

sunny ragenil karate kid balanga city

2007-08-02T20:10:00.000-07:00

mga kids kahit kayo kaya nyo kayanin ihandle ang karate..ang nasa video ay si sunny Ragenil ng Balanga City..kaya nyang sumangga, umatake sa kalaban in short kaya nya lumaban sa kalaban gamit ang suntok at sipa .kahit kayo kids kaya nyo gawin ito..need to learn karate techniques..ozz

karate kid balanga city

2007-08-02T20:04:00.000-07:00

it will be shown how much karate very important to each in everyone of us..kahit bata pa ay kaya mo na ipagtangol ang iyong sarili by means of martial arts..

2007-07-28T07:09:00.001-07:00

Knife Disarming

2007-07-28T05:46:00.000-07:00

Knife Disarming

Basic Grab and Disarm
Grab the low torso stab...

Strike inside the wrist and disarm the knife - control his arm with your right and continue with the knife in your left hand

Same disarm as above, but done with the Bandanna

Parry the low thrust with a snapping action of the bandanna...

Strike inside the wrist with the right arm and disarm the knife using the bandanna

Close up of the disarm. Note the angle the opponent's wrist is placed in

Shaolin Counter-Knife Technique

As attacker cuts, grab the wrist and strike the head...

Wind your right arm over his right arm and around, trapping his left arm and grabbing his throat...

Compress his body into a take-down and follow up as needed; your left arm is still free.

Martial Arts Techniques, Gun Disarming

2007-07-27T03:27:00.000-07:00

Martial Arts Techniques
DEADLY MISTAKES IN GUN DISARMING!

Gun disarming is one of the most important skills you want to obtain when training in a martial art that claims to be about self-defense. Now that reality based martial arts have become extremely popular, many so called reality based instructors have started to show knife/gun disarming techniques without realizing that they contain deadly mistakes that can get their students killed!

I asked my friend and teacher Avi Nardia to talk about the subject of gun disarming. Avi Nardia is a former intelligence team member and CQB instructor of the Yamam, Israel's premier counter-terror (takeover) unit, equivalent to the U.S. Delta Force and F.B.I Hostage Rescue Team (Matkal and Yamam are the only Israeli special force units; all others are assistance units). Avi Nardia’s Israeli CQB system, also known as Kapap, has been recognized by Jim Wagner, founder of Reality Based Martial Arts, as the first Israeli Reality Based system. Avi is one of the top instructors of CQB Defensive Tactics in the Israeli Army and Police, and I think the only Israeli martial arts instructor in the world who was an official instructor of the Israeli Army, Police and Special Forces.

In his 24 years of experience, he earned the rank of major in the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), and trained armed forces all over the world, including SWAT, SRT, SERT teams, special forces, corrections officers, Army and Marine units and counter terror units. To this day, he is a CQB trainer in the IDF Reserves, as well as a Reserve Police Sniper.

As we met he smiled, took off his shoes and began to tell me about Israeli CQB and martial arts. He started with his basic principles:
Any weapon – one mind
Always a student, sometimes a teacher
Better to remain a student of reality than a master of illusion
Knives never run out of ammo or jam, that’s why edged weapon are the most dangerous

The Israeli CQB Art of Kapap has been written in special ink, called blood. The knowledge came from experience, many times by making tragic mistakes, then studying the results to understand what needs to be done the next time. Unfortunately, Israel is the most experienced nation in the world when it comes to Terror, and that is why it has developed one of the most valued CQB training systems in the world.

CQB is about evaluation and evolution. A few hundred years ago, archery was a combat tool, while today it has evolved into a traditional martial art (i.e. Kyudo, Zen and the Way of Archery). An arrow is an edged weapon, which is projected to a target, using a bow, allowing the fighter to attack his enemy from a distance. A bullet, while not exactly an edged weapon, is projected to the target, by means of gunpowder, allowing the fighter to attack his enemy from a distance. Guns are the archery of modern times and we see them as an integral part of modern Israeli martial arts. And let’s not forget that when you disarm a gun you must know how to retain it and use it later.

Israeli CQB training owes its development to many names. Though most are missing from any list you will find (and never declared them self as “Masters “), all have donated to the art, and no individual can claim sole ownership. To understand more, research names such as Hanna Senesh, Solomon Aruch (as shown in the film Triumph of the Spirit), Meir Har Tzion, 11 Olympic Athletes massacred in Munich, Daniel Pearl and Ron Arad. If you don’t understand the roots and culture you won’t get it.

In Kapap we don`t bow and don`t give belts, since this is the way of Japanese martial arts and culture, not Israeli. Actually, according to Jewish (and also Muslim) culture, we are not allowed to bow unless it is to God, whereas in Japanese culture bowing

Japan Martial Arts

2007-07-26T16:53:00.000-07:00

Japanese martial arts refers to the enormous variety of martial arts native to Japan. At least three terms are often used interchangeably with the English phrase "Japanese martial arts": "budō", literally meaning "martial way", "bujutsu" (武術, "bujutsu"?), which has no perfect translation but means something like science, art, or craft of war, and "bugei" (武芸, "bugei"?), literally meaning "martial art."

2007-07-19T02:10:00.000-07:00

Kata
(型 or 形, literally: "form"?) is a Japanese word describing detailed choreographed patterns of movements practiced either solo or in pairs. Kata are used in many traditional Japanese arts such as theater forms like kabuki and schools of tea ceremony (chadō), but are most commonly known for the presence in the martial arts. Kata are used by most traditional Japanese and Okinawan martial arts, such as aikidō, iaidō, jōdō, jūdō, jūjutsu, kendō and karatedō. Other arts such as t'ai chi ch'uan and taekwondo feature the same kind of training, but use the respective Chinese and Korean words instead.

Contents [hide]
1 Explanation
2 Kata in Karate
3 Kata in Judo
4 "Kata" in the martial arts of other countries
5 External links

Explanation
In Japanese martial arts practice, kata is often seen as an essential partner to randori training with one complementing the other. However, the actual type and frequency of kata versus randori training varies from art to art. In iaidō, solo kata using the Japanese sword (katana) comprises almost all of the training. Whereas in judo, kata training is de-emphasized and usually only prepared for dan grading.

In kenjutsu, paired kata at the beginners level can appear to be stilted. At higher levels serious injury is prevented only by a high sensitivity of both participants to important concepts being taught and trained for. These include timing and distance, with the kata practiced at high speed. This adjustability of kata training is found in other Japanese arts with roles of attacker and defender often interchanging within the sequence.

Many martial arts use kata for public demonstrations and in competitions, awarding points for such aspects of technique as style, balance, timing, and verisimilitude (appearance of being real).

Kata in Karate
Main article: Karate kata

Motobu Choki NaihanchiThe most popular image associated with kata is that of a karate practitioner performing a series of punches and kicks in the air. The kata are executed as a specified series of approximately 20 to 70 moves, generally with stepping and turning, while attempting to maintain perfect form. There are perhaps 100 kata across the various forms of karate, each with many minor variations. The number of moves in a kata may be referred to in the name of the kata, e.g., Gojushiho, which means "54 steps." The number of moves may also have links with Buddhist spirituality. The number 108 is significant in Buddhism, and kata with 54, 36, or 27 moves (divisors of 108) are common. The practitioner is generally counselled to visualize the enemy attacks, and his or her responses, as actually occurring, and karateka are often told to "read" a kata, to explain the imagined events

Nakakalungkot na Araw

2007-07-19T01:48:00.000-07:00

LAHAT kaming pamilya ay nagpunta sa zambales para bisitahin ang aming pamangkin..she had a nerve canser....we didnt expect that this is the last time na masisilayan namin sya..dahil....binawaian na sya ng buhay ngayong araw...1:35pm..almost a year since she was came from the hospital at east avenue medical center..sa isang taon na yon ay puno sya ng pag asa na makamtan ang panibagong kasiglahan at kalakasan ng katawan..hanga kaming lahat sa kanya,,dahil lubos ang pananalig niya sa panginoon..ano man ang nangyari sa kanya at ano man ang nakuha nyang karamdaman ay di pa rin nabawasan ang paniniwlaa nya at pananalig sa lord..hanagang sa kahulihulihan ng kanyang hininga ay panginoon pa rin ang kanyang sandalan...habaang nakikipaglaban sya kay kamatayan ay patuloy pa rin ang pagdadasal ng buong pamilya para sa kanya..pero hangang doon na lang sigurop ang kanayang buhay...siguro ay hanaggang doon lang talaga ang ibinigay ng panginoon sa kanaya para maging masaya dito s alupa..siguro ay may obligasyon pa syang gagwin sa itaas kasama ang panginoon..sayo aking pamangkin....nasaan ka man alam ko na masaya ka na,,at alam ko na kasama ka na ni lord..we always love you...and we never ever forget you...youre so wonderful ang loving pamangkin....mahal na mahal ka namin..

Obligation

2007-07-15T20:07:00.000-07:00

GOOD DAY..yesterday we have a general meeting at our own DUJO at BRUCE KO GYM. for our plan this coming july 29 2007..we having a tournament in TANAUAN BATANGAS,,its participated of OTHER muncipalites ,, but suddenly our presindent and founder will having a PROMOTION on the same date..oohh what we do..so we ask an opinion and desition from our student,, which they like to attend? WE DECIDED to be a part of the activity of our president and founder...AS a student we have big OBLIGATION to our teacher presdident and founder which is SensiE Bong Ragenil 5th degree black belt of Shorin Ryu karate Association International...its our pleasure to conduct and be a part of the said PROMOTION,, this is the chance of the student to show what theyve learned on there training..they can perform kata..techniques, and kumite which they applied what they learned on how to protect them selves like depend, strike, counter attak..after all those challenges it is a time that theyve been waiting for.. they recieve an higher rank or higher belt,, so to those who want to learn KARATE,,, dont make 2nd thought..ozz

karate

2007-07-15T06:42:00.000-07:00

History of karate

2007-07-14T19:18:00.000-07:00

History of Karate

Okinawa Okinawan martial arts
Japan annexed the nominally independent Ryukyu island group in 1874 after centuries of strong Japanese influence over the kingdom's affairs following the invasion by the Japanese Satsuma clan in 1609. The relationship between Okinawa and Japan is complicated. For purposes of discussing karate, it is convenient to speak of Okinawa and Japan as separate entities.

The Okinawan martial art "ti" (or "te") was practiced by Okinawa royalty and their retainers for centuries before, and alongside, later Chinese influences. For the most part there were no particular styles of "ti", but rather a network of practitioners with their own individual methods and eclectic traditions. Early styles of karate are often generalized as Shuri-te, Naha-te and Tomari-te, named after the three cities in which they emerged, although these are not concrete distinctions.[18] Each area (and the teachers who lived there) had particular kata, techniques, and principles that distinguished their local version of "ti" from the others.

Members of the Okinawan upper classes were sent to China regularly to learn and study a variety of disciplines, political and practical; this exchange was not too different from the practice of exchange students today. The incorporation of empty-handed Chinese kung fu occurred partly because of these exchanges. Estimates of the Chinese influence in modern karate styles (or schools) vary considerably, and there are no clean divisions among 'styles'. To this day karate styles from some areas bear a striking resemblance to Fujian martial arts such as Fujian White Crane, Five Ancestors, and Gangrou-quan (Hard Soft Fist, pronounced "Gōjūken" in Japanese), while some karate looks distinctly Okinawan.[citation needed] Further influence came from Southeast Asia particularly Sumatra, Java and Melaka. The similarities between karate and silat are not only found in the unarmed forms but the weapons as well. Many Okinawan weapons originated in and around Southeast Asia including the sai, tonfa and nunchaku.

In 1806, Tudi Sakukawa (1782-1838), who had studied pugilism and staff (bo) fighting in China (according to one legend, under the guidance of Koshokun, originator of kusanku kata), started teaching a fighting art in the city of Shuri that he called "Tudi Sakukawa" (at that time meaning "Sakakawa of China hand"). This was the first known recorded reference to the art of Tudi (written as 唐手).[citation needed]

Around the 1820s, Sakukawa's most significant student, Sokon Matsumura (1809-1899) taught a synthesis of te (Shuri-te and Tomari-te) and Shaolin (Chinese 少林) styles. It would become the style Shorin-ryū.

Anko ItosuMatsumura taught his karate to Anko Itosu (1831-1915), among others. Itosu adapted two forms he learned from Matsumara, namely kusanku and chiang nan, to create the ping'an forms ("heian" or "pinan" in Japanese, as the symbols can be read differently) as simplified kata for beginning students. In 1901 he was instrumental in getting karate introduced into Okinawa's public schools. These forms were taught to children at the elementary-school level. Itosu is also credited with taking the large naihanchi form ("tekki" in Japan) and breaking it into the three well-known modern forms naihanchi shodan, naihanchi nidan and naihanchi sandan.[citation needed]

Itosu's influence in karate is very broad. The forms he created for beginners are common across nearly all forms of karate. His students included some of the most well-known karate practitioners, including Gichin Funakoshi, Kenwa Mabuni, and Motobu Choki. He is sometimes known as the "Grandfather of Modern Karate." [19]

In addition to the three early "ti" styles of karate, a fourth Okinawan influence is that of Kanbun Uechi (1877-1948), who, at the age of 20, went to Fuzhou in Fujian Province, China, to escape Japanese military conscription. While there, he studied under Shushiwa, the leading figure of Chinese Nanpa Shorin-ken at that time. [20] He later developed his own style of karate based on the Sanchin, Seisan and Sanseiryu kata that he studied in China.[21]

Masters of Karate in Tokyo (1930s)
(From left)Toyama Kanken, Ohtsuka Hironori, Shimoda Takeshi, Funakoshi Gichin, Motobu Choki, Mabuni Kenwa, Nakasone Genwa and Taira ShinkenGichin Funakoshi, father of Shotokan karate, is generally credited with having introduced and popularized karate on the main islands of Japan. He was a student of Anko Asato and Anko Itosu, who had worked to introduce karate to the Okinawa Prefectural School System in 1902. He brought Itosu's pinan kata to Japan (as did other of Itosu's students, such as Kenwa Mabuni, founder of Shito-ryu karate). Funakoshi worked specifically to introduce modernizations into karate and to spread it to Japan. However, there were many other Okinawan karateka living and teaching in Japan during this time period. Funakoshi's peers included such notable figures as Kenwa Mabuni, Chojun Miyagi, Motobu Choki, Toyama Kanken, Kanbun Uechi and several others.

This was an especially turbulent period in history for that area of the world, including Japan's official annexation of the Okinawan island group in 1874, the First Sino-Japanese War (1894-1895), the Russo-Japanese War (1904-1905), and the rise of Japanese expansionism (1905-1945). The karate styles within Japan have fairly clean lineages.

Japan was invading China at the time, and Funakoshi knew that the art of Tang/China hand would not be accepted; thus the change to "way of the empty hand". The "dō" suffix implies that karatedō is a path to self knowledge, not just a study of the technical aspects of fighting. Like most martial arts practiced in Japan, karate made its transition from -jutsu to -dō around the beginning of the 20th century. The "dō" in "karate-dō" sets it apart from karate "jutsu", much as aikido is distinguished from aikijutsu, judo from jujutsu, Iaidô from Iaijûtsu and so on.

Funakoshi GichinAs mentioned, Funakoshi changed the names of many kata and the meaning of the art itself (at least on mainland Japan). He most likely did this to get karate accepted by the Japanese budo organization Dai Nippon Butoku Kai. Funakoshi also gave Japanese names to many of the kata. The five Itosu pinan forms became known as heian; the three naihanchi forms became known as tekki; seisan' as hangetsu; chinto as gankaku; wanshu' as empi; etc. These were mostly just political changes, rather than changes to the content of the forms, although Funakoshi did institute changes to the content. The name changes may have been designed to make the art sound more Japanese (less "foreign"). Funakoshi had trained in two of the popular branches of Okinawan karate of the time, Shorin-ryū and Shorei-ryū. In Japan he was influenced by kendo, incorporating some ideas about distancing and timing into his style. He always referred to what he taught as simply "karate"; however, in 1936 he built the Shotokan dojo in Tokyo, and the school or style he left behind is usually called Shotokan.

The modernization and systemization of karate in Japan also included the adoption of the ubiquitous white uniform which consisted of the kimono and the dogi or keikogi - mostly called just karategi (pronounced 'gee' like 'key', and with a hard "g") - and colored belt ranks. Both of these innovations were originated and popularized by Jigoro Kano, the founder of judo, one of the men Funakoshi consulted in his efforts to 'modernize' karate.

In 1922, Ohtsuka Hironori attended the Tokyo Sports Festival, where he saw the Karate of Gichin Funakoshi. Ohtsuka was so impressed with this that he visited Funakoshi on numerous occasions during his stay. Funakoshi was, in turn, impressed by Ohtsuka's enthusiasm and determination to understand Karate and agreed to teach him all he knew about it. In the following years, Ohtsuka set up a medical practice dealing with martial arts injuries. His prowess in martial arts had led him to be the Chief Instructor of Shindo Yoshin Ryu Jujitsu at the age of only 30, and assistant instructor at Funakoshi dojo.

By 1929, Ohtsuka Hironori was registered as a member of the Japan Martial Arts Federation. Okinawan Karate at this time was only concerned with Kata, which is a set sequence of movements against an imaginary opponent (or group of opponents). Ohtsuka thought that the full spirit of Budo, which concentrates on defence and attack, was missing, and that kata techniques did not work in realistic fighting situations. He experimented with other, more combatative styles such as Judo, Kendo and Aikido. He blended the practical and useful elements of Okinawan karate with traditional Japanese martial-arts techniques from jujitsu and kendo, which lead to the birth of Kumite, or fighting, in Karate. Ohtsuka thought that there was a need for this more dynamic and fluid type of Karate to be taught, and he therefore decided to leave Funakoshi to concentrate on developing his own style of Karate - Wado.

In 1934 Wado-Ryu Karate was officially recognised as an independent style of Karate. This recognition meant a departure for Ohtsuka from his medical practice and the fulfilment of a life's ambition - to become a full-time martial artist.

Ohtsuka's personalised style of Karate was officially registered in 1938 after he was awarded the rank of "Renshi-go". He presented a demonstration of Wado Karate for the Japan Martial Arts Federation. They were so impressed with his style and commitment that they acknowledged him as a high-ranking instructor. The next year the Japan Martial Arts Federation asked all the different styles to register their names. Ohtsuka registered the name Wado-Ryu.

In 1944, Ohtsuka was appointed Japan's Chief Karate Instructor.

A new form of karate called Kyokushin was developed by Masutatsu Oyama in 1964. Kyokushin taught a curriculum that emphasized contact, physical toughness, and practical application of karate techniques to self-defense situations. Because of its emphasis on physical, full-force sparring, Kyokushin is now often called "full contact karate." Many other karate organizations based, at least in part, on the Kyokushin curriculum have "spun-off" over the years.

There are four recognized (by the Federation of All Japan Karatedo Organization), traditional styles of karate:

Shotokan
Shito-ryu
Goju-ryu
Wado-ryu Styles that do not belong to one of these schools are not automatically considered to be "illegitimate" or "bad" karate, just not one of the traditional schools. For example the styles listed by the World Union of Karate-do Organizations (WUKO) [22] are Goju-ryu, Shito-ryu, Shotokan, Wado-ryu, Shorin-ryu, Uechi-ryu, Kyokushinkai, and Budokan. Many/most schools will be affiliated with or heavily influenced by one or more of these traditional styles

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2007-07-13T20:09:00.000-07:00

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empty hand

2007-07-13T18:59:00.000-07:00

Empty Hand

Hanashiro Chomo
The original use of "Chinese hand," "Tang hand," “Chinese fist,” or "Chinese techniques" (depending on one's exact interpretation of 唐手) reflects the documented Chinese influence on karate. Chomo Hanshiro (Hanashiro Chomo, 1869–1945) began using a homophone of the logogram pronounced "kara" by replacing the character meaning "Tang Dynasty"(唐から) with the character meaning "empty"(空から) in 1905.
In 1933, the Okinawan art of karate was recognized as a Japanese martial art by the Japanese Martial Arts Committee known as the "Butoku Kai". Until 1935, "karate" was written as "唐手" (Chinese hand). But in 1935, the masters of the various styles of Okinawan karate conferred to decide a new name for their art. They decided to call their art "karate" written in Japanese characters as "空手" (empty hand).[15]

What is Karate

2007-07-11T06:55:00.001-07:00

Karate (空手^?) (listen (help·info)) or karate-dō (空手道^?) is a martial art that developed from a synthesis of indigenous Ryukyuan fighting methods and kempo.^[1] "Karate" originally meant Chinese hand, but was later changed to a homonym meaning "empty hand" in Japanese. It is known primarily as a striking art, featuring punching, kicking, knee/elbow strikes and open handed techniques. However, grappling, joint manipulations, locks, restraints/traps, throws and vital point striking also appear in karate. A practitioner of karate is called a karateka (空手家).