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 Teachers 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 Funakoshis 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 instructors 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.

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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
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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.

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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