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Shotokan Karate at SKF
Brief History of Karate
China
Although the ancient origins of Karate are extremely vague, we do know that
about 1400 years ago, Daruma (Bodhidharma), the founder of Zen Buddhism,
used techniques basic to karate. According to legend, Daruma travelled from India
to China to teach Buddhism. His training methods were so demanding that his
disciples dropped from exhaustion. In order to build up their strength and
endurance, he developed a method of training the mind and body. His training
was tought in the monastery of the Shaolin Temple in China, where the techniques
were refined and developed into fighting forms known as Shaolin Boxing.
Okinawa
In the 16th Century, Shaolin Boxing found its way to Okinawa from China. It
combined with the native Okinawan techniques to develop into several Okinawan
styles. During the several periods of Okinawan history, the owning and carrying of
weapons was banned. Each ban resulted in great advancements in the
techniques of unarmed combat. Secret training flourished and the styles became
more efficient and deadly.
Japan
Master Gichin Funakoshi was the founder of the modern art karate. Born in 1868
(actual was 1869, but in order to enter to the medical school, he changed it to
1868), he began to study martial art at the age of 11 and was a student of the two
masters of the time ( Azato and Itosu ). He grew so proficient that he was initiated
into all the major styles of karate in Okinawa at the time.
In 1922, Master Funakoshi, president of the Okinawa association of the Spirit of
Martial Arts, was chosen to demonstrate karate at the first National Athletic
Exhibition in Tokyo. This led to the introduction of the ancient martial art to the
rest of Japan. At the urging of friends and officials, he remained in Tokyo to teach.
USA
Tsutomu Ohshima was one of Master Funakoshi’s last direct pupils (1948 ~ 1953)
studying under him while attending Waseda University inTokyo, Japan. In 1955, Mr
Ohshima came to the United States and was the first person to teach Karate in
this country. That same year he organized the southern California Karate
Association, which has grown over the years to become a nationwide organization,
Shotokan karate of America.
China
Although the ancient origins of Karate are extremely vague, we do know that
about 1400 years ago, Daruma (Bodhidharma), the founder of Zen Buddhism,
used techniques basic to karate. According to legend, Daruma travelled from India
to China to teach Buddhism. His training methods were so demanding that his
disciples dropped from exhaustion. In order to build up their strength and
endurance, he developed a method of training the mind and body. His training
was tought in the monastery of the Shaolin Temple in China, where the techniques
were refined and developed into fighting forms known as Shaolin Boxing.
Okinawa
In the 16th Century, Shaolin Boxing found its way to Okinawa from China. It
combined with the native Okinawan techniques to develop into several Okinawan
styles. During the several periods of Okinawan history, the owning and carrying of
weapons was banned. Each ban resulted in great advancements in the
techniques of unarmed combat. Secret training flourished and the styles became
more efficient and deadly.
Japan
Master Gichin Funakoshi was the founder of the modern art karate. Born in 1868
(actual was 1869, but in order to enter to the medical school, he changed it to
1868), he began to study martial art at the age of 11 and was a student of the two
masters of the time ( Azato and Itosu ). He grew so proficient that he was initiated
into all the major styles of karate in Okinawa at the time.
In 1922, Master Funakoshi, president of the Okinawa association of the Spirit of
Martial Arts, was chosen to demonstrate karate at the first National Athletic
Exhibition in Tokyo. This led to the introduction of the ancient martial art to the
rest of Japan. At the urging of friends and officials, he remained in Tokyo to teach.
USA
Tsutomu Ohshima was one of Master Funakoshi’s last direct pupils (1948 ~ 1953)
studying under him while attending Waseda University inTokyo, Japan. In 1955, Mr
Ohshima came to the United States and was the first person to teach Karate in
this country. That same year he organized the southern California Karate
Association, which has grown over the years to become a nationwide organization,
Shotokan karate of America.
Shotokan Karate of Fremont
Karate