Shotokan

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Welcome!

We hope you will enjoy this page full of information on the origins of Karate,

Karate terminology, the significance of Kata, and instructional videos.

OKINAWA

	is the name of the 47^th Prefecture of Japan (Okinawa Ken), made up of 161 islands in the Ryuku archipelago
	is also the name of the island of Okinawa (Okinawa Shima), with Naha as the capital city
	used to be an independent and prosperous kingdom, interacting with its neighbours, resulting in the development of a unique history and culture
	nurtured the people's fierce warrior spirit which paved the way for the evolution a unique martial art

TE

means "hand" and the word used to name the indigenous Okinawan fighting system of unarmed combat, perfected through time as a result of bans on weapons throughout Okinawa's history

took on different nuances as it gradually developed in the Okinawan cities that were centres for the three sects of Okinawan society: Shuri (Shuri-te) for the nobility; Naha (Naha-te) for merchants and business people; Tomari (Tomari-te) for farmers and fishermen. These were collectively known as...

OKINAWA-TE

was already in existence prior to 1372 when Okinawa became a protectorate of the Ming Dynasty

incorporated the Chinese martial arts to become...

TO-DE

means "Chinese hand" and the written Chinese characters could be pronounced as "kara"

was eventually renamed Kara-te

divided into two Ryus (schools): Shorin-ryu, combining Shuri-te and Tomari-te, emphasising natural breathing, direct movements, narrow and high stances; and Shorei-ryu from Naha-te, concentrating on deep-rooted stances, synchronising breathing with movement

GICHIN FUNAKOSHI

	was born on 10th November 1868 in Shuri, Okinawa
	began learning Shuri-te from Yasutsune Azato, and later became a student of Azato's friend, Yasutsune Itoso, who taught Naha-te. These two masters were instrumental in Funakoshi's development of Shotokan
	was also known by his literary name, Shoto, meaning "pine waves", referring to the sound of the wind blowing through the pine trees - "like waves breaking on the shore" - in his native land
	demonstrated Okinawa-te in front of the Crown Prince Hirohito during his visit to Okinawa in March 1921
	was invited to Tokyo by the Ministry of Education to present his Shotokan at the First National Athletic Exhibition 1922
	remained in Japan to teach his martial art where it grew in popularity and clubs were established at educational institutions
	changed the written characters of karate to those of a more significant meaning for the Japanese:

the original Chinese Hand to	唐手
Empty Hand	空手
then added the word do (way or path) making Karate-do more than just a martial art - it became a way of life	空手道

	died on 10th April 1957 at the age of 89
	is immortalised as a Supreme Master in the world of Japanese martial arts with a memorial monument at Enkakuji Temple in Kamakura (near Tokyo) where an annual Shoto Festival is held on 29th April

Gichin Funakoshi giving

Karate demonstrations

in the 1950's

The following are the Japanese terms most often used in karate training.

GENERAL TERMS

karate do - empty-handed way	sempai - senior student
dojo - training hall	kohai - junior student
sensei - teacher

kiai - spirit cry

Kiai is best described as a vocal release of concentrated energy that is both focused and explosive. It also serves the purpose of psyching yourself up, unsettling your opponent, providing a means to exhale, keeping the body balanced and, through the contraction of the core muscles, protecting the internal organs from a strike to the abdomen.

Simon Staples and Mike Lynch

at the Shobu Ippon Shotokan Open 2006

chudan - middle	obi - belt
dachi - stance	seiza - kneel
gedan - lower	rei - bow
geri - kick	tai sabaki - body shifting
hajime - begin	uchi - strike
hidari - left	uke - block
jodan - upper	yame - stop
migi - right	yoi - ready
mokuso - meditate	yori ashi - foot shifting
naore - relax	zuki - punch

DACHI: Stances

tachikata - position	kiba dachi - horseback riding stance
shizentai - natural position	kokustu dachi - back stance
fudo dachi - immoveable stance	kosa dachi - cross-legged stance
hachi ji dachi - like 八 (kanji for number 8) stance	musubi dachi - informal attention stance
hangestu dachi - half-moon stance	neko ashi dachi - cat-foot stance
heiko dachi - parallel stance	sanchin dachi - hourglass stance
heisoku dachi - feet together stance	shiko dachi - square stance
kata ashi dachi - one-leg stance	sochin dachi - rooted stance
kata hiza dachi - one knee stance	zenkutsu dachi - forward stance

TSUKI WAZA: Punching Techniques

age zuki - rising punch	morote zuki - double-fisted punch
cholu zuki - straight punch	oi zuki - lunge punch
gyaku zuki - reverse punch	otoshi zuki - dropping punch
hasami zuki - scissors punch	ren zuki - alternate punch
heiko zuki - parallel punch	tate zuki - vertical fist punch
kagi zuki - hook punch	teisho zuki - lower palm punch
kizami zuki - jab	ura zuki - reverse-side punch
mawashi zuki - roundhouse punch

KERI WAZA: Kicking Techniques

ashi barai - foot sweep	mikazuki geri - half-moon kick
fumikomi - stamping kick	ren geri - alternate kicking
fumikiri - cutting kick	tsumasaki geri - tip-of-the-toes kick
hiza geri - knee kick	ura mawashi geri - reverse side roundhouse kick
kakato geri - heel kick	ushiro geri - back kick
kanibasami - scissors legs	ushiro mawashi geri - backward roundhouse kick
kin geri - kick between the legs	yoko geri - side kick
mae geri - front kick	yoko geri keage - side snap kick
mawashi geri - roundhouse kick	yoko geri kikomi - side thrust kick

UCHI WAZA: Striking Techniques

empi ushi - elbow strike	otoshi uchi - dropping strike
haishu uchi - backhand strike	shuto uchi - sword hand strike
haito uchi - knife hand strike	tetsui uchi - iron hammer strike
hasami uchi - scissors strike	teisho uchi - palm heel strike
kansetsu uchi - joint strike	uraken uchi - backfist strike
mawashi uchi - roundhouse strike

UKE WAZA: Blocking Techniques

age uke - rising block	kakiwake uke - push aside block
ashi uke - leg block	morote uke - augmented block
gedan barai - downward block	nagashi uke - sweeping block
haishu-uke - backhand block	otoshi uke - dropping block
haito uke - sword ridge block	shuto uke - knife hand block
hasami uke - scissors block	soto uke - outside block
hiza uke - knee block	tsukami uke - grasping block
juji uke - x block	tsuki uke -punch block
kake uke - hooking block	uchi uke - inside block

SHOTOKAN KATA

Historically the two traditional schools of Karate in Okinawa developed separately in secret due to the oppressive rule of the occupying Japanese. This ensured two different methods of fighting and training evolved. The Kata of the Shorin School emphasised light, flexible movements while those of the Shorei School used strong, powerful movements.

Kata were assigned names, often that of the originator. More commonly, the name indicated something about the Kata and the style of fighting it affected.

Karate, on introduction into Japan in modern times, underwent a number of changes in practice and philosophy. It was thought the original Kata names might prove confusing so they were changed to reflect Japanese terminology. These changes have proven difficult to practitioners of other Karate styles who may refer to them by other names. Detailed below are many of the Kata and their name changes together with some facts about their origin and practice.

PLEASE NOTE THAT THE KATA VIDEOS WERE FILMED FOR STUDENTS. THE KATAS ARE PERFORMED SLOWLY AND DELIBERATELY IN ORDER TO HELP THE STUDENTS FAMILIARISE THEMSELVES WITH THE MOVEMENTS OF THE KATA. THEY ARE NOT INTENDED TO REPLACE THE EXPERTISE OF THE INSTRUCTOR.

KATA	SIGNIFICANCE	VIDEO

Kihon 太極初段 (10th Kyu)	First Cause 20 moves Also known as Taikyoku Shodan, meaning "First Cause", one of three basic Kata created in the 1920s by Gichin Funakoshi.

Heian	Peaceful Mind Heian is a contraction of the heiwa and antei (peace and stability). There are five Heian forms, based on the Shorin style, containing a great variety of techniques and almost all of the basic stances. Having mastered the five forms, one can be confident that one is able to defend oneself competently in most situations. Also known as Pinan, the following were created from Kanku Dai by Itosu Yatsune, one of Gichin Funakoshi's esteemed teachers.

Heian Shodan 平安初段 (9th Kyu)	Peaceful Mind 1 21 moves

Heian Nidan 平安二段 (8th Kyu)	Peaceful Mind 2 26 moves

Heian Sandan 平安三段 (7th Kyu)	Peaceful Mind 3 20 moves

Heian Yondan 平安四段 (6th Kyu)	Peaceful Mind 4 27 moves

Heian Godan 平安五段 (5th Kyu)	Peaceful Mind 5 23 moves

Tekki Shodan 鉄騎初段 (4th Kyu)	Iron Horse 29 moves One of three Shuri-te Kata, based on the Shorei style and believed to originate from Northern China. At one time these Kata were done on horseback, hence the stance of Kiba-dachi. In this the legs are set in a strong, straddling position and tension is applied on the outside edges of the soles of the feet with the feeling of gathering strength in towards the centre.

(3rd to 1st Kyu)

Bassai Dai 披塞大	Penetrating the Fortress (The Greater) 42 moves One of the oldest Katas from the Shorin style, this is also known as Passai. This form contains repeated switching of the blocking arms, motions that represent the feeling of shifting from a disadvantageous position to an advantageous one, a feeling implying a will similar to that needed to break through an enemy's fortress.

Empi 燕飛	Flying Swallow 37 moves This is an ancient Tomari-te Kata, based on the Shorin style, which originates from the 18th century Wanshu Kata adapted by Itosu. The distinctive motion of this kata is an upper level attack following which one grasps the opponent and draws him inward, simultaneously jumping in and attacking again. The movement resembles the up and down and flipping away flight of a swallow.