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ARE SPORTS KARATE AND KARATE-DO THE SAME THING?
by Slavko Bubalo
Please note that English is not my native language. If there are any grammatical mistakes, please do not mind.
The development of karate in Japan, independent of its birthplace Okinawa, began in 1922 with the arrival of Gichin Funakoshi in Tokyo. He went there at the invitation of the Ministry of Education and Judo founder Jigoro Kano. After demonstrating karate at the Nippon Butokukai, or Kodokan dojo, Funakoshi permanently settled in Tokyo.
During the first two decades, Funakoshi dealt with the transformation and adaptation of Karate to traditional Japanese Budo. The Japanese are proverbially averse to anything foreign, including foreign martial arts, and the changes that Funakoshi introduced to Karate served for its better acceptance. That is why the Okinawan name of karate, Tode (Chinese hand), he changed to a more accessible Japanese name, that is Karate-Do (Way of Empty hand).
It is essential to say that Karate-Do reached the peak of its development between 1939 and 1945, when the responsibility for its development, after the death of Takeshi Shimoda, Funakoshi's right-hand man, was taken over by his third son, Yoshitaka Funakoshi. It was the time of the search for the absolute efficiency of karate techniques. Japan was at war, and in war, everything had its place.
In 1930, Gichin Funakoshi founded the Dai Nippon Karate-Do Kenkyukai (Great Japanese Karate Study Group) to improve communication and exchange of information among people who practice Karate-Do. In 1936, the association changed its name to Dai Nippon Karate-do Shotokai. "Shoto" was the pen name that Funakoshi used when signing his calligraphies. Based on his nickname, the dojo where they practiced, Funakoshi's students named the Shotokan. Later, the dojo and their Karate style took the same name.
The first Shotokan dojo was built in 1939 in Tokyo's Zoshigaya district, and that marked the true beginning of the development of Karate-Do as a martial art and a philosophical path based on the tradition of Japanese Budo. It was not just a cosmetic change, as karate in Japan had moved significantly away from its Okinawan source. The katas and techniques also changed.
As a modern martial art (Gendai-Budo) Karate-Do has long sought its place among recognized Japanese arts such as Ken-Jutsu, Ju-Jutsu, or Kyu-Jutsu.
Judo, Aikido, Kendo, Kyudo, and Iaido were also Gendai-Budo, but they originated in Japan and had a tradition of ancient (Koryu) arts.
Gendai-budo (modern martial arts) includes all martial arts created after the period of the Meiji Restoration (1866-1869). Koryu martial arts are created before that period. As Karate-Do was originally from Okinawa, the Japanese considered it a "peasant" fighting skill, without a spiritual foundation.
Shotokan dojo was a training center where Funakoshi's most advanced students practiced, led by his son Yoshitaka the reformer and creator of three Taikyoku kata (Shodan, Nidan, and Sandan), Ten-no kumite kata and bo kata Matsukaze no Kon. All these changes, as well as the kata, were blessed by old Funakoshi and certified with his signature, and he published most of them in his masterpiece "Karate-Do Kyohan". Instead of low leg techniques, Yoshitaka introduced techniques that are performed high, in the body or head of the opponent. He introduced much deeper stances and changing techniques in many katas.
THE BIRTH OF SPORTS KARATE
During the Second World War, in Shotokan dojo developed practical karate exercises through various forms of arranged sparring; Gohon Kumite, Sanbon Kumite, Kihon Ippon Kumite, Jiyu Ippon Kumite, and finally Jiyu Kumite as a form of free sparring.
3 минуты
28 октября 2024