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The History of Shotokan
Shotokan is traced back to Gichin Funakoshi. Funakoshi was born in Shuri, Okinawa in
1868. Funakoshi was trained at a young age by two of Okinawa's leading Karate-ka,
Yatsune Azato and Yatsune Itosu. Azato taught Funakoshi Shuri-te and Itosu taught
Naha-te. These two styles are the basis of Shotokan.
Known as "The Father of Modern Karate", Funakoshi is credited with the spreading of
Karate from Okinawa to Japan. He put on numerous demonstrations of his art in Japan,
mainly for the educational system. After a few visits to Japan, Funakoshi decided to stay
and promote his art. He taught it in schools as a physical education class; this is where he
changed the Pinan Katas to the Heian Katas and where the low stances associated with
Shotokan began to emerge. Originally, the Katas were changed to make them easier for
young children to learn. From then on the Katas in Shotokan have stayed the same. As for
the stances, they were originally lowered to build leg strength in training, and not so much
for combat reasons.
During WWII Americans learned Karate while in Japan from Funakoshi, and his students
inevitably brought it back home to the US.
In Funakoshi's later years the name Shotokan was developed. Shoto was Funakoshi's pen
(nick) name and kan means hall. So literally Shotokan means Shoto's hall, take that as you
will. Funakoshi passed away in 1957, but not before paving the way of one of the most
popular Martial Arts in the world.
The Shotokan Tiger
When Funakoshi wrote the Tora No Maki (official document of a style) of Shotokan Karate,
his friend and famous artist of the time, Hoan Kosugi offered his skills and created the now
famous Shotokan Tiger for the cover. Since "Tora" also means Tiger in Japanese Kosugi
thought this to be a fitting symbol. The design of the tiger is a Chinese design which
implies the tiger never sleeps and symbolizes the constant awareness of Karate and the
peaceful mind which Funakoshi experienced in his everyday life.
Shotokan is traced back to Gichin Funakoshi. Funakoshi was born in Shuri, Okinawa in
1868. Funakoshi was trained at a young age by two of Okinawa's leading Karate-ka,
Yatsune Azato and Yatsune Itosu. Azato taught Funakoshi Shuri-te and Itosu taught
Naha-te. These two styles are the basis of Shotokan.
Known as "The Father of Modern Karate", Funakoshi is credited with the spreading of
Karate from Okinawa to Japan. He put on numerous demonstrations of his art in Japan,
mainly for the educational system. After a few visits to Japan, Funakoshi decided to stay
and promote his art. He taught it in schools as a physical education class; this is where he
changed the Pinan Katas to the Heian Katas and where the low stances associated with
Shotokan began to emerge. Originally, the Katas were changed to make them easier for
young children to learn. From then on the Katas in Shotokan have stayed the same. As for
the stances, they were originally lowered to build leg strength in training, and not so much
for combat reasons.
During WWII Americans learned Karate while in Japan from Funakoshi, and his students
inevitably brought it back home to the US.
In Funakoshi's later years the name Shotokan was developed. Shoto was Funakoshi's pen
(nick) name and kan means hall. So literally Shotokan means Shoto's hall, take that as you
will. Funakoshi passed away in 1957, but not before paving the way of one of the most
popular Martial Arts in the world.
The Shotokan Tiger
When Funakoshi wrote the Tora No Maki (official document of a style) of Shotokan Karate,
his friend and famous artist of the time, Hoan Kosugi offered his skills and created the now
famous Shotokan Tiger for the cover. Since "Tora" also means Tiger in Japanese Kosugi
thought this to be a fitting symbol. The design of the tiger is a Chinese design which
implies the tiger never sleeps and symbolizes the constant awareness of Karate and the
peaceful mind which Funakoshi experienced in his everyday life.
Suggested Reading:
- "Karate-Do Kyohan: The Master Text" by Gichin Funakoshi
- "Karate-Do Nyumon: The Master Introductory Text" By Gichin
Funakoshi - "Karate-Do, My Way of Life" By Gichin Funakoshi
- "Karate Jutsu: The Original Teachings of Gichin Funakoshi" by
Gichin Funakoshi - "Living the Martial Way" by Forrest Morgan
- "Moving Toward Stillness" by Dave Lowry
- "Traditions" by Dave Lowry
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| Koketsu Dojo of Shotokan Karate |