STUDENT HANDOUT By R. Westbrook Short History of Shotokan Karate Karate had been practiced for ages in the orient before Master Funakoshi formally introduced it. Gichen Funakoshi (1868-1957), the founder of modern Karate, was a scholar as well as a genius in the martial arts. He was an elementary school teacher by occupation. In 1922, as a professor at the Okinawan Teacher’s College as well as the president of the Okinawan Association of Martial Arts, Funakoshi was invited to lecture and demonstrate the new art of karate, which he had learned in Okinawa, at the First National Athletic Exhibition in Tokyo, Japan. The demonstration was very successful and he was flooded with requests to demonstrate his art. He formed the style Shotokan. In Master Funakoshi’s practice of calligraphy he signed his work with his pen name “Shoto” which means pine waves. The style he formed was a combination of the powerful techniques of the Shorei School and the lighter, more flexible techniques of the Shorin school. To learn more about the history behind karate and Master Funakoshi, My Way of Life by Gichen Funakoshi is a good place to start. Japan Karate Association In 1949, the Japan Karate Association was established, with Master Funakoshi as the chief instructor. The Japan Karate Association organized a very thorough instructor’s course, which included a variety of subjects. This course develops trainees into highly qualified instructors. In 1957, the Japanese Ministry of Education officially recognized the Japan Karate Association as a learning institution. Soon after, many of the first JKA instructors were sent abroad under the guidance of Master Masatoshi Nakayama. A handful of instructors came to the United States, the first of which was Sensei Teruyuki Okazaki who settled in Philadelphia. Karate quickly gained in popularity throughout the United States. 1 International Shotokan Karate Federation In 1977, the International Shotokan Karate Federation was founded as an affiliate of the Japan Karate Association. The ISKF is a non-profit organization and the largest Shotokan organization in the Western Hemisphere whose Chairman and chief instructor is Sensei T. Okazaki. ISKF member clubs number 200-plus and are divided into 13 geographic regions throughout the United States, with directors in nearly every country in North and South America. The organization regularly conducts clinics, standardized ranking examinations and special training camps for its members. The Traditional Shotokan Ranking System (kyu means "level”) White belt: 9th kyu. Yellow belt: 8th kyu. Orange belt: 7th kyu. Green belt: 6th kyu. Purple belt: 5th kyu. Purple belt: 4th kyu. Brown belt: 3rd kyu. Brown belt: 2nd kyu. Brown belt: 1st kyu. Shodan: first degree black belt. Nidan: second degree black belt. Sandan: third degree black belt. General Terms Dojo doh-joe training hall Karateka kah-rah-tea-kah one who practices karate Sensei sehn-say teacher seiza say-zah kneel rei ray bow mokuso moh-koo-soh meditate Shomen ni rei sho-mehn nee ray bow to the front Sensei ni rei sehn-say nee ray bow to the teacher Otogai ni rei oh-toh-gahee nee ray bow to each other kata kah-tah forms, a set of movements kumite koo-mee-tay sparring kiai kee-ah-ee a shout for focus 2 yoi yoh-ee ready hajime hah-jee-meh begin yame yah-meh stop uke oo-kay a block zuki zoo-kee a punch geri gay-ree a kick jodan oh-dan the face area chudan choo-dan the stomach area gedan gay-dan the groin area Counting 1 ichi ee-chee 2 ni nee 3 san sahn 4 shi shee 5 go goh 6 roku roh-koo 7 shichi shee-chee 8 hachi hah-chee 9 ku koo 10 ju joo Dojo Kun SEEK PERFECTION OF CHARACTER. HITOTSU. JINKAKU KANSEI NI TSUTOMURU KOTO. BE FAITHFUL. HITOTSU. MAKOTO NO MICHI O MAMORU KOTO. ENDEAVOUR TO EXCEL. HITOTSU. DORYOKU NO SEICHIN O YASHINAU KOTO. RESPECT OTHERS. HITOTSU. REIGI O OMONZURU KOTO. REFRAIN FROM VIOLENT BEHAVIOUR. HITOTSU. KEKKI NO YU O IMASHIMURU KOTO. 3 Kata Names Heian Shodan Peaceful Mind First Level 8th Kyu Grading Heian Nidan Peaceful Mind Second Level 7th Kyu Grading Heian Sandan Peaceful Mind Third Level 6th Kyu Grading Heian Yondan Peaceful Mind Fourth Level 5th Kyu Grading Heian Godan Peaceful Mind Fifth Level 4th Kyu Grading Tekki Shodan Iron Knight 3rd Kyu Grading Bassai Dai To Penetrate a Fortress 2nd Kyu Grading Bassai Dai To Penetrate a Fortress 1st Kyu Grading Books My Way of Life by Gichen Funakoshi. The history of Shotokan Karate and its founder. Best Karate 5 by Master Nakayama. An in-depth look at the Heian Katas. Textbook of Modern Karate by Master T. Okazaki 4 .