|
Three
Japanese kanji characters form the word Shotokan. The "Sho" character
means pine tree. "To" represents the character for waves. "Kan" stands
for "Club or School". Funakoshi Gichin, the founder of this karate style,
was a poet and Shoto was his pen name, signing works of calligraphy with
it. His students would say they are going to Shoto's kan or Shoto's club.
Shotokan is known for its linear, direct punching, blocking, and kicking
from stances that are low and rooted. Correct posture, joint alignment,
and strong foundation are the basis for all techniques. The Shotokan practitioner
should train with an "Ippon Ieatsu" or "to kill with one blow" train of
thought. This is not to say these karateka wish to truly kill, but instead
to effectively execute a technique with as little effort or wasted energy
as possible while applying 100% of one's body into it, with the goal to
eliminate one's attacker, be it with a hard hitting block that makes him
think twice about continuing, or a strike that stuns him, allowing you
the chance to escape or to render them incapacitated. In a potential situation
of several attackers coming on to you, does you have the time to grapple
with only one attacker while two others are coming for you? Shotokan fighters
will stay in close even when attacked, preferring to shift to the side
to evade an assault but still be within distance to counter with a technique
of their own. Or even take full control of a situation by "luring" the
foe into throwing a punch or strike and then taking advantage of the enticed
technique they made come forth.
Shotokan is
often considered the original form of Karate and has greatly influenced
the development of other Japanese and Korean striking arts. Its history
is, to a certain extent, the history of modern martial arts. The history
of Shotokan Karate was made and shaped by the philosophies and actions
of these great Masters.
MASTER
GICHIN FUNAKOSHI
(1868-1957)
Founder
of the first Shotokan Karate school
The Master
who could be considered to have the greatest influence for the propagation
of traditional and shotokan karate throughout the U.S. and the world would
assuredly be Master Hidetaka Nishiyama.
MASTER
HIDETAKA NISHIYAMA
(1928-2008)
While Funakoshi
was the founder of Shotokan, there are several Masters who were a direct
influence on how it was developed, Master Funakoshi's own teachers: Master
Matsumura, Master Yasutsune Azato, and Master Yasutsune Itosu. The art
then was known as To-te. It was Funakoshi who adapted the term "kara-te"
meaning "empty hand."
Sokon "Bushi" Matsumura
(1797-1889)
Yasutsune Azato
(1828-1906)
Yasutsune Itosu
(1830-1915)
|
|
|
