Karate Shotokan

Learn how to practice Karate Shotokan and be an expert

Listing and demonstrating Karatedo martial art system: punches, kicks, blocks, forms (kata), sparring (kumite), competition, ...

The history of Okinawan Karate can be traced back to the late 17th century when a ban on weapons was imposed by the samurai rulers of Japan. 

The exact evolution of karate history is lost due to the lack of information being written down which is unsurprising when taking into account the strict rules against subjects of the island learning martial arts.

Karate (空 手 道) is a martial art originating from Japan. This martial art is slightly influenced by the kenpō Chinese martial art. Karate was brought into Japan via Okinawa and began to flourish in the Ryukyu Islands. This martial art was first called "Tote" meaning "Chinese hand." When karate entered Japan, Japanese nationalism was at its height, so Sensei Gichin Funakoshi changed the kanji of Okinawa (Tote: Chinese Hand) in Japanese kanji to 'karate' (Hand Empty) to make it more acceptable to Japanese society.Karate consists of two kanji.The first is 'Kara' 空 and means 'empty' And second, 'te' 手, means 'hand'. The two kanji together mean "empty hands" 空手 (pinyin: kongshou).

The karate technique is divided into three main parts: Kihon (basic technique), Kata (jurus) and Kumite (fight). Advanced students are also taught to use weapons such as stick (bo) and stagger (nunchaku).

Kihon

Kihon (基本: き ほ ん, Kihon?) Literally means the foundation or foundation. Karate practitioners have to master Kihon well before learning Kata and Kumite.

The Kihon training starts from learning to punch and kick (white belt) and dings (brown belt). At the stage and / or Black Belt, students are considered to have mastered the whole kihon well.

Word

The word (型: か た) literally means form or pattern. The word in karate is not just a normal physical or aerobic exercise. But it also contains a lesson about fighting principles. Word movements also contain many philosophies of life. Each Word has a different rhythm of movement and breathing.

In Kata there is called Bunkai. Bunkai is a usable application of Word's basic movements.

Each stream has different motions and names for each Word. For example Kata Tekki in the Shotokan stream is known by the name Naihanchi in the flow of Shito Ryu. As a result Bunkai (word application) of each stream is also different.