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{{infobox martial art| logo = Karatedo.svg| logocaption =| logosize = 60px| image = Hanashiro Chomo.jpg| imagecaption = Hanashiro Chomo| imagesize =| name = Karate
(空手)| aka =
Karate-dō (空手道)| style = Primarily
Strike (attack)| country = | creator =
Kanga Sakukawa;
Sokon Matsumura;
Anko Itosu;
Gichin Funakoshi, indigenous martial arts of [Ryukyu Islands (
Naha-te, Shuri-te,
Tomari-te)] developed from indigenous fighting methods from the
Ryukyu Islands,
Chinese martial arts kempo, and classical Japanese martial arts. It is known primarily as a striking art, featuring punching, kicking, knee/elbow strikes, and open-handed techniques, but grappling, joint manipulations, locks, restraints/traps, throws, and vital point striking also appear. A karate practitioner is called a
karateka (空手家).
Practice
Modern karate training is commonly divided into
kihon (basics or fundamentals),
Kata (martial arts) (forms), and
kumite (sparring). Another popular division is between art, sport, and self-defense training. Weapons (
kobudō) comprise another important training area, as well as the psychological elements incorporated into a proper
kokoro (attitude) such as perseverance, fearlessness, virtue, and leadership skills. Karateka are encouraged to issue a loud
kiai or "spirit shout" when executing techniques.
See also: Okinawan kobudo
See also: Japanese martial arts#Philosophical and strategic concepts
Kihon (Basics)
in Naihanchi-dachi, one of the basic karate stances
Karate styles place varying importance on kihon, which typically involve the same technique (or combination of techniques) being repeated by an entire group of karateka. Kihon may also involve prearranged drills between smaller groups, such as pairs, of karateka.
Kata (Forms)
Kata (型:かた) means "form" or "pattern," and is a set sequence of techniques. Characteristics of these include deep stances to develop leg strength and large body motions to develop cardio-vascular and upper-body fitness and power. Some kata are lengthy and complex, and thus function as training in memory skills and thoughtfulness in the midst of kinetic activity.
Kata are also patterns of techniques that demonstrate physical combat principles—they may be thought of as a sequence of specific karate movements that address various types of attack and defense under ideal circumstances. Kata were developed before literacy was commonplace in
Okinawa or China, so physical routines were a logical way to preserve this type of information. The moves themselves may have multiple interpretations as self-defense techniques—there is no 'right or wrong' way to interpret them, but interpretations may have more or less utility for actual fighting. Kata by the same name are often performed with variations between styles, within schools of the same style, or even under the same instructor over time.
There are many types of kata. Depending on the current grade of the karateka, a specific kata must be practiced and ready to perform at a grading for one to grade to the next
Kyū or
Dan rank level.
Kumite (Sparring)
Kumite (組手:くみて) literally means "meeting of hands," and has many incarnations. Sparring may be constrained by many rules or it may be free sparring, and today is practiced both as sport and for self-defense training. Sport sparring tends to be one-hit 'tag'-type competition for points. Depending on style or teacher, takedowns and grappling may be involved alongside the punching and kicking. Levels of physical contact during sparring vary considerably, from strict 'non-contact' to full-contact (usually with sparring Armour).
Dojo Kun
In the bushidō tradition, a
dojo kun is a set of guidelines for kareteka to follow—both in the
dojo (training hall) and out of the dojo (in everyday life).
Conditioning
Okinawan karate uses traditional conditioning equipment known as
hojo undo. These are simple devices, made from wood and stone, such as the
makiwara (striking post) or the
Hojo undo#Nigiri game (large jars used for developing grip strength). These supplementary exercises are designed to increase Physical strength, Endurance, speed, and
Motor coordination. Sport karate emphasises aerobic exercise,
anaerobic exercise,
Power (physics),
Sport agility, Flexibility (anatomy), and
stress management.
Sport
Gichin Funakoshi (船越 義珍) said, "There are no contests in karate." In pre-World War II Okinawa, kumite was not part of karate training.
Shigeru Egami relates that, in 1940, some karateka were ousted from their dojo because they adopted sparring after having learned it in Tokyo.
Karate competition has three disciplines: sparring (
kumite), empty-handed forms (
Karate kata), and weapons forms (
kobudō kata). Competitors may enter either as individuals or as part of a team. Evaluation for kata and kobudo is performed by a panel of judges, whereas sparring is judged by a head referee, usually with assistant referees at the side of the sparring area. Sparring matches are typically divided by weight, age, gender, and experience.
International competition is well organized. The
World Karate Federation (WKF) is recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) as being responsible for karate competition in the Olympic games. The WKF has developed common rules governing all styles. The national WKF organisations coordinate with their respective
National Olympic Committees.
Karate does not have 2012 Olympic Games status. In the 117th IOC Session (July 2005), karate received more than half of the votes, but not the two-thirds majority needed to become an official Olympic sport.
There are other regional, national, and international organizations that hold competitions. The WKF accepts only one organization per country. The World Union of Karate-do Organizations (WUKO)[http://www.wuko-karate.org/ offers different styles and federations a world body they may join, without having to compromise their style or size. The WUKO accepts more than one federation or association per country.
Rank
In 1924, Gichin Funakoshi adopted the
Dan rank system from judo founder Jigoro Kano using a
Judo#Rank and grading with a limited set of belt colors.
In a Kyū/
dan rank system, the beginner grade is a higher-numbered kyū (
e.g., 9th Kyū) and progress is toward a lower-numbered Kyū. The Dan progression continues from 1st Dan (Shodan, or 'beginning dan') to the higher dan grades. Kyū-grade karateka are referred to as "color belt" or mudansha ("ones without dan"); Dan-grade karateka are referred to as
yudansha (holders of dan rank). Yudansha typically wear a Black belt (martial arts).
Requirements of rank differ among styles, organizations, and schools. Kyū ranks stress Karate stances,
Equilibrioception, and
coordination. Speed and Force are added at higher grades. Minimum age and time in rank are factors affecting promotion. Testing consists of demonstration of technique before a panel of examiners. Black belt testing is commonly done in a manner known as
shinsa, which includes a written examination as well as demonstration of kihon, kumite, kata, and bunkai (applications of technique).
Philosophy
The "kara" of Karate-do was also interpreted by
Gichin Funakoshi to mean "to purge of selfish and evil thoughts, for only with a clear mind and conscience can practitioner understand that which he receives." Funakoshi also believed that one should be "inwardly humble and outwardly gentle." Only through humility could one be open to Karate's many lessons, by listening and being receptive to criticism. He considered courtesy of prime importance. He believed that "Karate is properly applied only in those rare situations in which one really must either down another or be downed by him." To Funakoshi, it was not unusual for a practitioner to use Karate for real perhaps once in a lifetime, as Karate practitioners should "never be easily drawn into a fight." To him, one strike by an expert could mean either life or death. He who misuses the techniques brings dishonor upon himself. He also believed in conviction, that in "time of grave public crisis, one must have the courage...to face a million and one opponents." He believed that indecisiveness was a shameful trait.Funakoshi, Gichin. "Karate-Do Kyohan - The Master Text" Tokyo. Kodansha International; 1973.
Etymology
Some people claim that, due to the generic meaning of "karate" (
i.e., "empty hand"), any unarmed combat system or sport could accurately be called karate. This is a controversial argument, complicated by attitudes toward philosophy and competition, questions of lineage and primacy, and questions of
nationalism and identity.
Chinese Hand
Karate was originally written as
Chinese hand in kanji, but was later changed to a homonym meaning
empty hand. The word "karate" was used for some time verbally before it was written. The first use of the word karate in print is attributed to
Anko Itosu, who wrote it with the
kanji (Chinese characters) 唐手:からて (
Tang Dynasty hand) rather than the present usage of 空手:からて (
empty hand). The Tang Dynasty of
China ended in AD 907 (centuries before Funakoshi), but the kanji representing it remained in use in Okinawa as a way to refer to China generally. Names of China Thus, the writing of "karate" was originally a way of expressing "
Chinese hand," or "
martial art from China."
Funakoshi claimed in
Karate-do Nyumon:Since there are no written records, it is not known for sure whether the
kara in karate was originally written with the character 唐 meaning "China" or the character 空 meaning "empty". During the time when admiration for China and things Chinese was at its height in the Ryukus, it was the custom to use the former character when referring to things of fine quality...
Actually, no evidence exists linking the use of the character with the origins of karate. In the past, people did not necessarily have specific Chinese characters in mind when they spoke of karate.
Empty Hand
The original use of "Chinese hand," "
Tang Dynasty hand," “Chinese fist,” or "Chinese techniques" (depending on interpretation of 唐手) reflects the documented Chinese martial arts on karate. In 1905, Hanashiro Chomo (1869–1945) began using a
homophone of the
logogram pronounced "kara" by replacing the
Chinese character meaning "Tang Dynasty" (唐 から) with the character meaning "empty" (空 から).
In 1933, the Okinawan art of karate was recognized as a Japanese martial art by the Japanese Martial Arts Committee known as the "Butoku Kai". Until 1935, "karate" was written as "唐手" (Chinese hand). But in 1935, the masters of the various styles of Okinawan karate conferred to decide a new name for their art. They decided to call their art "karate" written in Japanese characters as "空手" (empty hand).
The Way and the Hand
Another nominal development is the addition of
dō (道:どう) to the end of the word karate.
Dō is a suffix having numerous meanings, including "road," "path," "route," and in this case, "way." It is used in many martial arts that survived Japan's transition from feudal culture to modern times, and implies that these arts are not just fighting techniques but have spiritual elements when pursued as disciplines. In this context, dō is usually translated as "the way of," as in
aikido (合気道:あいきどう), judo (柔道:じゅうどう), and
kendo (剣道:けんどう). Thus, "karatedō" is more than just "empty hand"; it is "the way of the empty hand".
History
Okinawa
The relationship between Okinawa and
Japan is complex and, in the context of karate, it is appropriate to consider them as separate entities. Japan annexed the nominally-independent Ryūkyū Islands in 1874, after centuries of strong Japanese influence over the kingdom following the invasion by the Japanese Satsuma clan in 1609.
The Okinawan martial art "
Okinawan martial arts" (or "
te") was practiced by Okinawan royalty and their retainers for centuries before, and alongside, later Chinese influences. There were few formal styles of ti, but rather many practitioners with their own methods. Early styles of karate are often generalized as Shuri-te,
Naha-te, and Tomari-te, named after the three cities from which they emerged. Each area and its teachers had particular kata, techniques, and principles that distinguished their local version of ti from the others.
Members of the Okinawan upper classes were sent to China regularly to study various disciplines, both political and practical. The incorporation of empty-handed Chinese martial arts kung fu into Okinawan martial arts occurred partly because of these exchanges. To this day, karate styles from some areas bear a striking resemblance to Fujian martial arts such as Fujian White Crane,
Five Ancestors, and Gangrou-quan (
Hard and soft (martial arts) Fist; pronounced "Gōjūken" in Japanese), while some karate looks distinctly Okinawan. Further influence came from Southeast Asia— particularly Sumatra, Java, and
Melaka. The similarities between karate and
silat may be found not only in the unarmed forms, but the weapon forms as well. Many Okinawan weapons originated in and around
Southeast Asia including the sai (weapon), tonfa, and nunchaku.
Kanga Sakukawa (1782–1838) had studied pugilism and
Gun (staff) (
bo) fighting in China (according to one legend, under the guidance of Koshokun, originator of
kusanku kata). In 1806, he started teaching a fighting art in the city of Shuri that he called "Tudi Sakukawa" (at that time meaning "Sakukawa of China hand"). This was the first known recorded reference to the art of Tudi (written as 唐手). Around the
1820s, Sakukawa's most significant student, Sokon Matsumura (1809–1899) taught a synthesis of te (Shuri-te and Tomari-te) and
Shaolin kung fu (Chinese 少林) styles. Matsumura's style would later become the
Shorin-ryu style.
Matsumura taught his art to
Ankō Itosu (1831–1915), amongst others. Itosu adapted two forms he had learned from Matsumara (
viz.,
kusanku and
chiang nan) to create the
ping'an forms ("
heian" or "
pinan" in Japanese) as simplified kata for beginning students. In 1901, Itosu was instrumental in getting karate introduced into Okinawa's public schools. These forms were taught to children at the elementary school level. Itosu's influence in karate is broad. The forms he created are common across nearly all styles of karate, and his students included some of the most well-known karate masters, including Gichin Funakoshi, Kenwa Mabuni, and Motobu Choki. Itosu is sometimes known as the "Grandfather of Modern Karate."
http://www.koryu-uchinadi.com/thinking_outside_the_box.htm Patrick McCarthy, footnote #4
In addition to the three early ti styles of karate, a fourth Okinawan influence is that of [Kanbun Uechi (1877–1948), who at the age of 20 went to
Fuzhou in Fujian Province, China, to escape Japanese military conscription. While there, he studied under Shushiwa, the leading figure of Chinese Nanpa Shorin-ken at that time. Kanbun Uechi history He later developed his own style of
Uechi-ryu karate based on the Sanchin, Seisan, and Sanseiryu kata that he had studied in China.
Japan
Gichin Funakoshi, founder of Shōtōkan-ryū karate, is generally credited with having introduced and popularized karate on the main islands of Japan. He was a student of both Ankō Asato and Ankō Itosu (who had worked to introduce karate to the Okinawa Prefectural School System in 1902). Funakoshi brought Itosu's
pinan kata to Japan, and worked to modernize karate and to spread it across Japan. There were many other Okinawan karateka living and teaching in Japan during this time period who also influenced the spread of karate in Japan, including Kenwa Mabuni, Chojun Miyagi, Choki Motobu, Kanken Tōyama, and Kanbun Uechi. This was a turbulent period in history in the region, including Japan's annexation of the Ryūkyū Islands in 1874, the
First Sino-Japanese War (1894–1895), the
Russo-Japanese War (1904–1905), the annexation of Korea, and the rise of
Japanese expansionism (1905–1945).
Japan was Second Sino-Japanese War#Invasion of China at the time, and Funakoshi knew that the art of
Tang Dynasty/China hand would not be accepted; thus the change of the art's name to "way of the empty hand." The
dō suffix implies that
karatedō is a path to self knowledge, not just a study of the technical aspects of fighting. Like most martial arts practiced in Japan, karate made its transition from -
jutsu to -
dō around the beginning of the 20th century. The "
dō" in "karate-dō" sets it apart from karate "
jutsu", as
aikido is distinguished from
aikijutsu,
judo from jujutsu, iaido from
iaijutsu and Taido from Taijutsu.
Funakoshi changed the names of many kata and the name of the art itself (at least on mainland Japan), doing so to get karate accepted by the Japanese budo organization
Dai Nippon Butoku Kai. Funakoshi also gave Japanese names to many of the kata. The five
pinan forms became known as
heian, the three
naihanchi forms became known as
tekki,
seisan as
hangetsu,
chinto as
gankaku,
wanshu as
empi, and so on. These were mostly political changes, rather than changes to the content of the forms, although Funakoshi did introduce some such changes. Funakoshi had trained in two of the popular branches of Okinawan karate of the time,
Shorin-ryu and
Shorei-ryu. In Japan he was influenced by kendo, incorporating some ideas about distancing and timing into his style. He always referred to what he taught as simply karate, but in 1936 he built the Shotokan dojo in Tokyo and the style he left behind is usually called Shotokan.
The modernization and systemization of karate in Japan also included the adoption of the white uniform that consisted of the
kimono and the
dogi or
keikogi—mostly called just
karategi—and colored belt ranks. Both of these innovations were originated and popularized by Jigoro Kano, the founder of judo and one of the men Funakoshi consulted in his efforts to modernize karate.
In 1922, Hironori Ohtsuka attended the Tokyo Sports Festival, where he saw the Funakoshi's karate. Ohtsuka was so impressed with this that he visited Funakoshi many times during his stay. Funakoshi was, in turn, impressed by Ohtsuka's enthusiasm and determination to understand karate, and agreed to teach him. In the following years, Ohtsuka set up a medical practice dealing with martial arts injuries. His prowess in martial arts led him to become the Chief Instructor of Shindō Yōshin-ryū jujitsu at the age of 30, and an assistant instructor in Funakoshi's dojo.
By 1929, Ohtsuka was registered as a member of the Japan Martial Arts Federation. Okinawan karate at this time was only concerned with kata. Ohtsuka thought that the full spirit of
budō, which concentrates on defence and attack, was missing, and that kata techniques did not work in realistic fighting situations. He experimented with other, more combative styles such as judo, kendo, and aikido. He blended the practical and useful elements of Okinawan karate with traditional Japanese martial arts techniques from jujitsu and kendo, which led to the birth of kumite, or free fighting, in karate. Ohtsuka thought that there was a need for this more dynamic type of karate to be taught, and he decided to leave Funakoshi to concentrate on developing his own style of karate—
Wadō-ryū. In 1934, Wadō-ryū karate was officially recognized as an independent style of karate. This recognition meant a departure for Ohtsuka from his medical practice and the fulfilment of a life's ambition—to become a full-time martial artist.
Ohtsuka's personalized style of Karate was officially registered in 1938 after he was awarded the rank of
Renshi-go. He presented a demonstration of Wado-ryu karate for the Japan Martial Arts Federation. They were so impressed with his style and commitment that they acknowledged him as a high-ranking instructor. The next year the Japan Martial Arts Federation asked all the different styles to register their names; Ohtsuka registered the name Wado-Ryu. In 1944, Ohtsuka was appointed Japan's Chief Karate Instructor.
Isshin-Ryu is a style of Okinawan karate founded by Shimabuku Tatsuo and named by him on 15 January 1956. Isshin-Ryū karate is largely a synthesis of Shorin-ryū karate, Gojū-ryū karate, and Kobudo. The name means, literally, "one heart method." The style, while not very popular in Okinawa, spread to the United States via the Marines stationed on the island when they returned home, and has also spread to other countries. After the passing of Shimabuku, many variations of the system formed and exist to this day.
A new form of karate called Kyokushin was developed in 1964 by Masutatsu Oyama (who was born a Korean, Choi Yeong-Eui). Kyokushin taught a curriculum that emphasized contact, physical toughness, and practical application of karate techniques to self-defense situations. Because of its emphasis on physical, full-force
sparring, Kyokushin is now often called "
full contact karate." Many other karate organizations based are descended from the Kyokushin curriculum.
The Federation of All Japan Karatedo Organization recognizes four traditional styles of karate:
- Shōtōkan-ryū
- Shitō-ryū
- Gōjū-ryū
- Wadō-ryū
Styles that do not belong to one of these schools are not necessarily considered to be 'illegitimate' or 'bad' karate, but simply not one of the traditional schools. For example, the styles listed by the World Union of Karate-do Organizations (WUKO) WUKO World Union of Karate-do Organizations are Gōjū-ryū, Shitō-ryū, Shōtōkan-ryū,
Wadō-ryū, Shōrin-ryū, Uechi-ryū, Kyokushinkai, and Budokan Karate-do. Many schools would be affiliated with, or heavily influenced by, one or more of these traditional styles.
Karate outside Japan
Korea
Due to past conflict between Korea and Japan, most notably during the Japanese Korea under Japanese rule in the 20th century, the influence of karate on Korean martial arts is a contentious issue. During the occupation, many Koreans went to Japan and were exposed to Japanese martial arts. After regaining independence from Japan, many Korean martial arts schools were founded by masters with training in Chinese, Japanese, and Korean martial arts.
Soviet Union
Karate appeared in the
Soviet Union in the mid-1960s, during Khruschev's policy of improved international relations, and the first Shotokan clubs were opened in Moscow's universities. In 1973, however, the government banned karate—together with all other foreign martial arts—endorsing only the Soviet martial art of
Sambo (martial art). Karate schools went underground and lost all international contacts, evolving and mutating wildly. Failing to suppress these uncontrolled groups, the USSR's Sport Committee formed the Karate Federation of USSR in December 1978. This was an exclusive, state-controlled organization with rules and methods intentionally incompatible with all foreign karate federations. On 17 May 1984, the Soviet Karate Federation was disbanded and all karate became illegal again. In 1988, karate practice became legal again, but under strict government regulations. Only after the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1992 did independent karate schools resume functioning, and so federations were formed and national tournaments in authentic styles began.
United States
Karate entered the United States mainly through members of the
US military, who had learned it in Okinawa or Japan and then opened schools upon their return to the United States. The United States now has hundreds of karate centers in each state.
United Kingdom
In the 1950s and 1960s, several Japanese karate masters began to teach the art in the United Kingdom. In 1956, Tatsuo Suzuki began teaching
Wadō-ryū in London. In 1965,
Keinosuke Enoeda of the JKA travelled to Liverpool, where in 1966 he established the
Karate Union of Great Britain (KUGB) which at the time was affiliated to the JKA. After Enoeda’s death in 2003, the KUGB elected Andy Sherry as Chief Instructor. Shortly after this, the JKA severed links with the KUGB and set up a new association, the
JKAE.
Karate in film and popular culture
Karate spread rapidly in the West through popular culture. In 1950s popular fiction, karate was at times described to readers in near-mythical terms, and it was credible to show Western experts of unarmed combat as unaware of Eastern martial arts of this kind.For example, Ian Fleming's book
Goldfinger (novel) (1959, p.91-95) describes the protagonist
James Bond, an expert in unarmed combat, as utterly ignorant of Karate and its demonstrations, and describes the
Korean 'Oddjob' in these terms:
Goldfinger said, "Have you ever heard of Karate? No? Well that man is one of the three in the world who have achieved the Black belt (martial arts) in Karate. Karate is a branch of judo, but it is to judo what a spandau is to a catapult...". Such a description in a popular novel assumed and relied upon Karate being almost unknown in the West. By the
1970s,
martial arts films had formed a mainstream genre that propelled karate and other Asian martial arts into mass popularity.
The Karate Kid (1984) is a film relating the fictional story of an American adolescent's introduction into karate.
Some well-known stars who have related styles are:
Potential negative issues
Due to the popularity of martial arts, both in mass media and real life, a large number of disreputable, fraudulent, or misguided teachers and schools have arisen over the last 40 years or so. Commonly referred to as a "
McDojo" or a "Black Belt Mill," these schools are frequently headed by martial artists of either dubious skill, business ethics, or both.
See also
References
External links
- Okinawan Language - English Dictionary
- Karate, Okinawan Kobudo and Kendo Kata videos.
- Karate Records - WKF results and charts
{{infobox martial art| logo = Karatedo.svg| logocaption =| logosize = 60px| image = Hanashiro Chomo.jpg| imagecaption = Hanashiro Chomo| imagesize =| name = Karate
(空手)| aka =
Karate-dō (空手道)| style = Primarily
Strike (attack)| country = | creator = Kanga Sakukawa;
Sokon Matsumura;
Anko Itosu;
Gichin Funakoshi, indigenous martial arts of [Ryukyu Islands (
Naha-te, Shuri-te, Tomari-te)] developed from indigenous fighting methods from the Ryukyu Islands, Chinese martial arts kempo, and classical
Japanese martial arts. It is known primarily as a striking art, featuring punching, kicking, knee/elbow strikes, and open-handed techniques, but grappling, joint manipulations, locks, restraints/traps, throws, and vital point striking also appear. A karate practitioner is called a
karateka (空手家).
Practice
Modern karate training is commonly divided into
kihon (basics or fundamentals),
Kata (martial arts) (forms), and
kumite (sparring). Another popular division is between art, sport, and self-defense training. Weapons (
kobudō) comprise another important training area, as well as the psychological elements incorporated into a proper
kokoro (attitude) such as perseverance, fearlessness, virtue, and leadership skills. Karateka are encouraged to issue a loud
kiai or "spirit shout" when executing techniques.
See also: Okinawan kobudo
See also: Japanese martial arts#Philosophical and strategic concepts
Kihon (Basics)
in Naihanchi-dachi, one of the basic karate stances
Karate styles place varying importance on kihon, which typically involve the same technique (or combination of techniques) being repeated by an entire group of karateka. Kihon may also involve prearranged drills between smaller groups, such as pairs, of karateka.
Kata (Forms)
Kata (型:かた) means "form" or "pattern," and is a set sequence of techniques. Characteristics of these include deep stances to develop leg strength and large body motions to develop cardio-vascular and upper-body fitness and power. Some kata are lengthy and complex, and thus function as training in memory skills and thoughtfulness in the midst of kinetic activity.
Kata are also patterns of techniques that demonstrate physical combat principles—they may be thought of as a sequence of specific karate movements that address various types of attack and defense under ideal circumstances. Kata were developed before literacy was commonplace in
Okinawa or China, so physical routines were a logical way to preserve this type of information. The moves themselves may have multiple interpretations as self-defense techniques—there is no 'right or wrong' way to interpret them, but interpretations may have more or less utility for actual fighting. Kata by the same name are often performed with variations between styles, within schools of the same style, or even under the same instructor over time.
There are many types of kata. Depending on the current grade of the karateka, a specific kata must be practiced and ready to perform at a grading for one to grade to the next
Kyū or
Dan rank level.
Kumite (Sparring)
Kumite (組手:くみて) literally means "meeting of hands," and has many incarnations. Sparring may be constrained by many rules or it may be free sparring, and today is practiced both as sport and for self-defense training. Sport sparring tends to be one-hit 'tag'-type competition for points. Depending on style or teacher, takedowns and grappling may be involved alongside the punching and kicking. Levels of physical contact during sparring vary considerably, from strict 'non-contact' to full-contact (usually with sparring
Armour).
Dojo Kun
In the
bushidō tradition, a
dojo kun is a set of guidelines for kareteka to follow—both in the
dojo (training hall) and out of the dojo (in everyday life).
Conditioning
Okinawan karate uses traditional conditioning equipment known as
hojo undo. These are simple devices, made from wood and stone, such as the
makiwara (striking post) or the
Hojo undo#Nigiri game (large jars used for developing grip strength). These supplementary exercises are designed to increase Physical strength,
Endurance, speed, and
Motor coordination. Sport karate emphasises
aerobic exercise, anaerobic exercise, Power (physics),
Sport agility,
Flexibility (anatomy), and
stress management.
Sport
Gichin Funakoshi (船越 義珍) said, "There are no contests in karate." In pre-World War II Okinawa, kumite was not part of karate training. Shigeru Egami relates that, in 1940, some karateka were ousted from their dojo because they adopted sparring after having learned it in Tokyo.
Karate competition has three disciplines: sparring (
kumite), empty-handed forms (
Karate kata), and weapons forms (
kobudō kata). Competitors may enter either as individuals or as part of a team. Evaluation for kata and kobudo is performed by a panel of judges, whereas sparring is judged by a head referee, usually with assistant referees at the side of the sparring area. Sparring matches are typically divided by weight, age, gender, and experience.
International competition is well organized. The
World Karate Federation (WKF) is recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) as being responsible for karate competition in the Olympic games. The WKF has developed common rules governing all styles. The national WKF organisations coordinate with their respective
National Olympic Committees.
Karate does not have 2012 Olympic Games status. In the 117th IOC Session (July 2005), karate received more than half of the votes, but not the two-thirds majority needed to become an official
Olympic sport.
There are other regional, national, and international organizations that hold competitions. The WKF accepts only one organization per country. The World Union of Karate-do Organizations (WUKO)[http://www.wuko-karate.org/ offers different styles and federations a world body they may join, without having to compromise their style or size. The WUKO accepts more than one federation or association per country.
Rank
In 1924,
Gichin Funakoshi adopted the
Dan rank system from
judo founder
Jigoro Kano using a Judo#Rank and grading with a limited set of belt colors.
In a Kyū/dan rank system, the beginner grade is a higher-numbered kyū (
e.g., 9th Kyū) and progress is toward a lower-numbered Kyū. The Dan progression continues from 1st Dan (Shodan, or 'beginning dan') to the higher dan grades. Kyū-grade karateka are referred to as "color belt" or mudansha ("ones without dan"); Dan-grade karateka are referred to as
yudansha (holders of dan rank). Yudansha typically wear a
Black belt (martial arts).
Requirements of rank differ among styles, organizations, and schools. Kyū ranks stress Karate stances,
Equilibrioception, and
coordination. Speed and
Force are added at higher grades. Minimum age and time in rank are factors affecting promotion. Testing consists of demonstration of technique before a panel of examiners. Black belt testing is commonly done in a manner known as
shinsa, which includes a written examination as well as demonstration of kihon, kumite, kata, and bunkai (applications of technique).
Philosophy
The "kara" of Karate-do was also interpreted by Gichin Funakoshi to mean "to purge of selfish and evil thoughts, for only with a clear mind and conscience can practitioner understand that which he receives." Funakoshi also believed that one should be "inwardly humble and outwardly gentle." Only through humility could one be open to Karate's many lessons, by listening and being receptive to criticism. He considered courtesy of prime importance. He believed that "Karate is properly applied only in those rare situations in which one really must either down another or be downed by him." To Funakoshi, it was not unusual for a practitioner to use Karate for real perhaps once in a lifetime, as Karate practitioners should "never be easily drawn into a fight." To him, one strike by an expert could mean either life or death. He who misuses the techniques brings dishonor upon himself. He also believed in conviction, that in "time of grave public crisis, one must have the courage...to face a million and one opponents." He believed that indecisiveness was a shameful trait.Funakoshi, Gichin. "Karate-Do Kyohan - The Master Text" Tokyo. Kodansha International; 1973.
Etymology
Some people claim that, due to the generic meaning of "karate" (
i.e., "empty hand"), any unarmed combat system or sport could accurately be called karate. This is a controversial argument, complicated by attitudes toward philosophy and competition, questions of lineage and primacy, and questions of nationalism and identity.
Chinese Hand
Karate was originally written as
Chinese hand in
kanji, but was later changed to a
homonym meaning
empty hand. The word "karate" was used for some time verbally before it was written. The first use of the word karate in print is attributed to
Anko Itosu, who wrote it with the
kanji (Chinese characters) 唐手:からて (
Tang Dynasty hand) rather than the present usage of 空手:からて (
empty hand). The
Tang Dynasty of China ended in AD 907 (centuries before Funakoshi), but the kanji representing it remained in use in Okinawa as a way to refer to China generally. Names of China Thus, the writing of "karate" was originally a way of expressing "
Chinese hand," or "
martial art from China."
Funakoshi claimed in
Karate-do Nyumon:Since there are no written records, it is not known for sure whether the
kara in karate was originally written with the character 唐 meaning "China" or the character 空 meaning "empty". During the time when admiration for China and things Chinese was at its height in the Ryukus, it was the custom to use the former character when referring to things of fine quality...
Actually, no evidence exists linking the use of the character with the origins of karate. In the past, people did not necessarily have specific Chinese characters in mind when they spoke of karate.
Empty Hand
The original use of "Chinese hand," "Tang Dynasty hand," “Chinese fist,” or "Chinese techniques" (depending on interpretation of 唐手) reflects the documented
Chinese martial arts on karate. In 1905, Hanashiro Chomo (1869–1945) began using a
homophone of the
logogram pronounced "kara" by replacing the Chinese character meaning "Tang Dynasty" (唐 から) with the character meaning "empty" (空 から).
In 1933, the Okinawan art of karate was recognized as a Japanese martial art by the Japanese Martial Arts Committee known as the "Butoku Kai". Until 1935, "karate" was written as "唐手" (Chinese hand). But in 1935, the masters of the various styles of Okinawan karate conferred to decide a new name for their art. They decided to call their art "karate" written in Japanese characters as "空手" (empty hand).
The Way and the Hand
Another nominal development is the addition of
dō (道:どう) to the end of the word karate.
Dō is a suffix having numerous meanings, including "road," "path," "route," and in this case, "way." It is used in many martial arts that survived Japan's transition from feudal culture to modern times, and implies that these arts are not just fighting techniques but have spiritual elements when pursued as disciplines. In this context, dō is usually translated as "the way of," as in
aikido (合気道:あいきどう), judo (柔道:じゅうどう), and
kendo (剣道:けんどう). Thus, "karatedō" is more than just "empty hand"; it is "the way of the empty hand".
History
Okinawa
The relationship between
Okinawa and
Japan is complex and, in the context of karate, it is appropriate to consider them as separate entities. Japan annexed the nominally-independent
Ryūkyū Islands in 1874, after centuries of strong Japanese influence over the kingdom following the invasion by the Japanese Satsuma clan in 1609.
The Okinawan martial art "
Okinawan martial arts" (or "
te") was practiced by Okinawan royalty and their retainers for centuries before, and alongside, later Chinese influences. There were few formal styles of ti, but rather many practitioners with their own methods. Early styles of karate are often generalized as Shuri-te,
Naha-te, and Tomari-te, named after the three cities from which they emerged. Each area and its teachers had particular kata, techniques, and principles that distinguished their local version of ti from the others.
Members of the Okinawan upper classes were sent to
China regularly to study various disciplines, both political and practical. The incorporation of empty-handed Chinese martial arts
kung fu into Okinawan martial arts occurred partly because of these exchanges. To this day, karate styles from some areas bear a striking resemblance to Fujian martial arts such as
Fujian White Crane, Five Ancestors, and Gangrou-quan (
Hard and soft (martial arts) Fist; pronounced "Gōjūken" in Japanese), while some karate looks distinctly Okinawan. Further influence came from Southeast Asia— particularly Sumatra,
Java, and
Melaka. The similarities between karate and silat may be found not only in the unarmed forms, but the weapon forms as well. Many Okinawan weapons originated in and around Southeast Asia including the sai (weapon), tonfa, and nunchaku.
Kanga Sakukawa (1782–1838) had studied pugilism and
Gun (staff) (
bo) fighting in China (according to one legend, under the guidance of Koshokun, originator of
kusanku kata). In 1806, he started teaching a fighting art in the city of Shuri that he called "Tudi Sakukawa" (at that time meaning "Sakukawa of China hand"). This was the first known recorded reference to the art of Tudi (written as 唐手). Around the 1820s, Sakukawa's most significant student, Sokon Matsumura (1809–1899) taught a synthesis of te (Shuri-te and Tomari-te) and Shaolin kung fu (Chinese 少林) styles. Matsumura's style would later become the Shorin-ryu style.
Matsumura taught his art to Ankō Itosu (1831–1915), amongst others. Itosu adapted two forms he had learned from Matsumara (
viz.,
kusanku and
chiang nan) to create the
ping'an forms ("
heian" or "
pinan" in Japanese) as simplified kata for beginning students. In 1901, Itosu was instrumental in getting karate introduced into Okinawa's public schools. These forms were taught to children at the elementary school level. Itosu's influence in karate is broad. The forms he created are common across nearly all styles of karate, and his students included some of the most well-known karate masters, including
Gichin Funakoshi, Kenwa Mabuni, and Motobu Choki. Itosu is sometimes known as the "Grandfather of Modern Karate."http://www.koryu-uchinadi.com/thinking_outside_the_box.htm Patrick McCarthy, footnote #4
In addition to the three early ti styles of karate, a fourth Okinawan influence is that of [Kanbun Uechi (1877–1948), who at the age of 20 went to
Fuzhou in Fujian Province, China, to escape Japanese military conscription. While there, he studied under Shushiwa, the leading figure of Chinese Nanpa Shorin-ken at that time. Kanbun Uechi history He later developed his own style of Uechi-ryu karate based on the Sanchin, Seisan, and Sanseiryu kata that he had studied in China.
Japan
Gichin Funakoshi, founder of Shōtōkan-ryū karate, is generally credited with having introduced and popularized karate on the main islands of Japan. He was a student of both
Ankō Asato and
Ankō Itosu (who had worked to introduce karate to the Okinawa Prefectural School System in 1902). Funakoshi brought Itosu's
pinan kata to Japan, and worked to modernize karate and to spread it across Japan. There were many other Okinawan karateka living and teaching in Japan during this time period who also influenced the spread of karate in Japan, including Kenwa Mabuni,
Chojun Miyagi,
Choki Motobu,
Kanken Tōyama, and Kanbun Uechi. This was a turbulent period in history in the region, including Japan's annexation of the Ryūkyū Islands in 1874, the
First Sino-Japanese War (1894–1895), the Russo-Japanese War (1904–1905), the annexation of Korea, and the rise of Japanese expansionism (1905–1945).
Japan was Second Sino-Japanese War#Invasion of China at the time, and Funakoshi knew that the art of
Tang Dynasty/China hand would not be accepted; thus the change of the art's name to "way of the empty hand." The
dō suffix implies that
karatedō is a path to self knowledge, not just a study of the technical aspects of fighting. Like most martial arts practiced in Japan, karate made its transition from -
jutsu to -
dō around the beginning of the 20th century. The "
dō" in "karate-dō" sets it apart from karate "
jutsu", as aikido is distinguished from
aikijutsu,
judo from
jujutsu, iaido from
iaijutsu and
Taido from
Taijutsu.
Funakoshi changed the names of many kata and the name of the art itself (at least on mainland Japan), doing so to get karate accepted by the Japanese
budo organization Dai Nippon Butoku Kai. Funakoshi also gave Japanese names to many of the kata. The five
pinan forms became known as
heian, the three
naihanchi forms became known as
tekki,
seisan as
hangetsu,
chinto as
gankaku,
wanshu as
empi, and so on. These were mostly political changes, rather than changes to the content of the forms, although Funakoshi did introduce some such changes. Funakoshi had trained in two of the popular branches of Okinawan karate of the time, Shorin-ryu and
Shorei-ryu. In Japan he was influenced by kendo, incorporating some ideas about distancing and timing into his style. He always referred to what he taught as simply karate, but in 1936 he built the Shotokan dojo in Tokyo and the style he left behind is usually called Shotokan.
The modernization and systemization of karate in Japan also included the adoption of the white uniform that consisted of the kimono and the
dogi or
keikogi—mostly called just karategi—and colored belt ranks. Both of these innovations were originated and popularized by
Jigoro Kano, the founder of
judo and one of the men Funakoshi consulted in his efforts to modernize karate.
In 1922, Hironori Ohtsuka attended the Tokyo Sports Festival, where he saw the Funakoshi's karate. Ohtsuka was so impressed with this that he visited Funakoshi many times during his stay. Funakoshi was, in turn, impressed by Ohtsuka's enthusiasm and determination to understand karate, and agreed to teach him. In the following years, Ohtsuka set up a medical practice dealing with martial arts injuries. His prowess in martial arts led him to become the Chief Instructor of
Shindō Yōshin-ryū jujitsu at the age of 30, and an assistant instructor in Funakoshi's dojo.
By 1929, Ohtsuka was registered as a member of the Japan Martial Arts Federation. Okinawan karate at this time was only concerned with kata. Ohtsuka thought that the full spirit of
budō, which concentrates on defence and attack, was missing, and that kata techniques did not work in realistic fighting situations. He experimented with other, more combative styles such as judo, kendo, and aikido. He blended the practical and useful elements of Okinawan karate with traditional Japanese martial arts techniques from jujitsu and kendo, which led to the birth of kumite, or free fighting, in karate. Ohtsuka thought that there was a need for this more dynamic type of karate to be taught, and he decided to leave Funakoshi to concentrate on developing his own style of karate—
Wadō-ryū. In 1934, Wadō-ryū karate was officially recognized as an independent style of karate. This recognition meant a departure for Ohtsuka from his medical practice and the fulfilment of a life's ambition—to become a full-time martial artist.
Ohtsuka's personalized style of Karate was officially registered in 1938 after he was awarded the rank of
Renshi-go. He presented a demonstration of Wado-ryu karate for the Japan Martial Arts Federation. They were so impressed with his style and commitment that they acknowledged him as a high-ranking instructor. The next year the Japan Martial Arts Federation asked all the different styles to register their names; Ohtsuka registered the name Wado-Ryu. In 1944, Ohtsuka was appointed Japan's Chief Karate Instructor.
Isshin-Ryu is a style of Okinawan karate founded by Shimabuku Tatsuo and named by him on 15 January 1956. Isshin-Ryū karate is largely a synthesis of Shorin-ryū karate, Gojū-ryū karate, and Kobudo. The name means, literally, "one heart method." The style, while not very popular in Okinawa, spread to the United States via the Marines stationed on the island when they returned home, and has also spread to other countries. After the passing of Shimabuku, many variations of the system formed and exist to this day.
A new form of karate called
Kyokushin was developed in 1964 by
Masutatsu Oyama (who was born a Korean, Choi Yeong-Eui). Kyokushin taught a curriculum that emphasized contact, physical toughness, and practical application of karate techniques to self-defense situations. Because of its emphasis on physical, full-force sparring, Kyokushin is now often called "full contact karate." Many other karate organizations based are descended from the Kyokushin curriculum.
The Federation of All Japan Karatedo Organization recognizes four traditional styles of karate:
Styles that do not belong to one of these schools are not necessarily considered to be 'illegitimate' or 'bad' karate, but simply not one of the traditional schools. For example, the styles listed by the World Union of Karate-do Organizations (WUKO) WUKO World Union of Karate-do Organizations are Gōjū-ryū,
Shitō-ryū,
Shōtōkan-ryū, Wadō-ryū,
Shōrin-ryū,
Uechi-ryū, Kyokushinkai, and
Budokan Karate-do. Many schools would be affiliated with, or heavily influenced by, one or more of these traditional styles.
Karate outside Japan
Korea
Due to past conflict between Korea and Japan, most notably during the Japanese Korea under Japanese rule in the 20th century, the influence of karate on Korean martial arts is a contentious issue. During the occupation, many Koreans went to Japan and were exposed to Japanese martial arts. After regaining independence from Japan, many Korean martial arts schools were founded by masters with training in Chinese, Japanese, and Korean martial arts.
Soviet Union
Karate appeared in the
Soviet Union in the mid-1960s, during Khruschev's policy of improved international relations, and the first
Shotokan clubs were opened in Moscow's universities. In 1973, however, the government banned karate—together with all other foreign martial arts—endorsing only the Soviet martial art of
Sambo (martial art). Karate schools went underground and lost all international contacts, evolving and mutating wildly. Failing to suppress these uncontrolled groups, the USSR's Sport Committee formed the Karate Federation of USSR in December 1978. This was an exclusive, state-controlled organization with rules and methods intentionally incompatible with all foreign karate federations. On 17 May 1984, the Soviet Karate Federation was disbanded and all karate became illegal again. In 1988, karate practice became legal again, but under strict government regulations. Only after the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1992 did independent karate schools resume functioning, and so federations were formed and national tournaments in authentic styles began.
United States
Karate entered the
United States mainly through members of the US military, who had learned it in Okinawa or Japan and then opened schools upon their return to the United States. The United States now has hundreds of karate centers in each state.
United Kingdom
In the 1950s and 1960s, several Japanese karate masters began to teach the art in the United Kingdom. In 1956, Tatsuo Suzuki began teaching
Wadō-ryū in London. In 1965, Keinosuke Enoeda of the
JKA travelled to Liverpool, where in 1966 he established the Karate Union of Great Britain (KUGB) which at the time was affiliated to the JKA. After Enoeda’s death in 2003, the KUGB elected Andy Sherry as Chief Instructor. Shortly after this, the JKA severed links with the KUGB and set up a new association, the
JKAE.
Karate in film and popular culture
Karate spread rapidly in the West through popular culture. In
1950s popular fiction, karate was at times described to readers in near-mythical terms, and it was credible to show Western experts of unarmed combat as unaware of Eastern martial arts of this kind.For example, Ian Fleming's book
Goldfinger (novel) (1959, p.91-95) describes the protagonist James Bond, an expert in unarmed combat, as utterly ignorant of Karate and its demonstrations, and describes the Korean 'Oddjob' in these terms:
Goldfinger said, "Have you ever heard of Karate? No? Well that man is one of the three in the world who have achieved the Black belt (martial arts) in Karate. Karate is a branch of judo, but it is to judo what a spandau is to a catapult...". Such a description in a popular novel assumed and relied upon Karate being almost unknown in the West. By the
1970s,
martial arts films had formed a mainstream genre that propelled karate and other Asian martial arts into mass popularity.
The Karate Kid (1984) is a film relating the fictional story of an American adolescent's introduction into karate.
Some well-known stars who have related styles are:
Potential negative issues
Due to the popularity of martial arts, both in mass media and real life, a large number of disreputable, fraudulent, or misguided teachers and schools have arisen over the last 40 years or so. Commonly referred to as a "
McDojo" or a "Black Belt Mill," these schools are frequently headed by martial artists of either dubious skill, business ethics, or both.
See also
References
External links
- Okinawan Language - English Dictionary
- Karate, Okinawan Kobudo and Kendo Kata videos.
- Karate Records - WKF results and charts
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