The History of Shotokan Karate
Introduction My family and I have studied Shotokan Karate for the last several years. Even though I am an advanced student with a green belt, I realized that I do not know very much about the history of this amazing martial art. In this project, I hope to share with you what I learned in my research. Specifically, you will learn about who created Shotokan Karate, where it began, how it came to the United States and what makes it different from other martial arts.
The History of Shotokan Karate Gichin Funakoshi was born in 1868 in Okinawa, an island off of Japan. At the age of 11, Gichin Funakoshi became friends with the son of Yasutsune Azato who was a great karate master. Gichin was a weak and unhealthy boy, but he became stronger the more he learned about karate. Funakoshi also trained with another karate master, Yasutsune Itosu. Each teacher taught him a different Okinawan martial art. When he became an adult, he combined the best of both martial arts to make and teach Shotokan Karate. Shotokan is the most popular martial art in Japan. Funakoshi’s nickname was ‘Shoto’ and so his style was named Shotokan. Kan means training house, so Shotokan is the “house of Shoto.” By the late 1910s, Funakoshi had many students. They began to show their karate in public. In 1921, the Crown Prince of Japan visited Okinawa. Funakoshi put on a demonstration for him and the Crown Prince was so impressed that he invited Funakoshi to bring karate to Japan. Gichin Funakoshi officially introduced karate to the Japanese people on April 1, 1922 at the Women 's Higher Normal School in Tokyo. The demonstration was
very successful and Funakoshi decided to stay in Japan to teach karate and start a school. Eventually, the Japan Karate Association (JKA) was created in 1955 and Funakoshi as the Supreme Master. He wrote several books on karate including a set of 20 rules for all karate students to become better human beings. He died on April 26, 1957 at the age of 88. Gichin Funakoshi’s
The History of Shotokan Karate Gichin Funakoshi was born in 1868 in Okinawa, an island off of Japan. At the age of 11, Gichin Funakoshi became friends with the son of Yasutsune Azato who was a great karate master. Gichin was a weak and unhealthy boy, but he became stronger the more he learned about karate. Funakoshi also trained with another karate master, Yasutsune Itosu. Each teacher taught him a different Okinawan martial art. When he became an adult, he combined the best of both martial arts to make and teach Shotokan Karate. Shotokan is the most popular martial art in Japan. Funakoshi’s nickname was ‘Shoto’ and so his style was named Shotokan. Kan means training house, so Shotokan is the “house of Shoto.” By the late 1910s, Funakoshi had many students. They began to show their karate in public. In 1921, the Crown Prince of Japan visited Okinawa. Funakoshi put on a demonstration for him and the Crown Prince was so impressed that he invited Funakoshi to bring karate to Japan. Gichin Funakoshi officially introduced karate to the Japanese people on April 1, 1922 at the Women 's Higher Normal School in Tokyo. The demonstration was
very successful and Funakoshi decided to stay in Japan to teach karate and start a school. Eventually, the Japan Karate Association (JKA) was created in 1955 and Funakoshi as the Supreme Master. He wrote several books on karate including a set of 20 rules for all karate students to become better human beings. He died on April 26, 1957 at the age of 88. Gichin Funakoshi’s
Bibliography: “Ginchin Funakoshi.” http://www.gichinfunakoshi.com/index.html. 18 April 2012. “Ginchin Funakoshi.” Wikipedia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gichin_Funakoshi. 20 April 2012. “Karate Terminology.” The Dojo: Tucson Genbu-kai www.thedojollc.com. October 2009. “Shotokan.” Wikipedia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shotokan. 16 April 2012. “Unarmed Fighting.” The New Book of Knowledge Encyclopedia. 2001.