Shotokan Karate
Shotokan Karate is characterized by powerful linear techniques
and low, deep, strong stances. The emphasis in Shotokan is on
maintaining correct body posture and in perfecting the basic
techniques. Techniques should be sharp, strong, and without
error. Part of the discipline of Shotokan Karate is maintained
thrugh it's mastery of basic techniques.
Gichin
Funakoshi was born in 1868 and began the study of karate when
he was 11 years old. His primary teachers were Yasutsune Azato
and Itosu. Gichin Funakoshi is considered by Shotokan stylists
to be the 'father' of modern karate due to his efforts to
introduce Karate to Japan. Gichin Funakoshi was the first
karate-do practitioner to bring karate to mainland Japan.
He
gave a demonstration in 1916 to the Butokuden in Kyoto Japan,
then the center of all martialm arts in Japan. In 1921 Gichin
Funakoshi gave a demonstration of karate to the future Emperor
of Japan, and in 1922 travelled to Tokyo to present karate
to the Ministry of education. His style was so popular that
he remained in Japan to teach his style, and never returned
to Okinawa.
Funakoshi
taught martial arts as a life style - a way of living which
required discipline and dedication to the precepts of martial
arts. His style synthesized Okinawan martial arts into a strong
system of martial arts.
This
method became known as Shotokan, literally the house of Shoto,
which was the Funakoshi's pen name for his poetry. Shotokan
also refers to the sound of wind blowing through pine trees.
At the age of 70, Funakoshi opened his own dojo, which was
called Shotokan.
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