History of Karate-Do
HISTORY OF KARATE IN OKINAWA
Introduction
Karate-do (way of the empty hand) or, simply, Karate is a form of budo (martial way). Japanese martial art originated in Okinawa, was introduced in the main islands of the Japanese archipelago in 1922. Karate emphasizes percussion techniques Atemi waza (ie defenses, punches and kicks) instead of fixed techniques and projections. The Karate training can be divided into three main sections: Kihon, Kata and Kumite.
Kihon (basics) is the study of basic movements.
Kata (form, pattern) is a kind of struggle against an imaginary enemy expressed in fixed sequences of movements.
Kumite (meeting of hands) is the struggle itself. In its most basic form is combined (with pre-determined movements) between the fighters to subsequently achieve Jyu kumite (free sparring or without rules).
Karate sports, or fighting with rules, is known as Shiai-kumite.
2. Geography
Okinawa Prefecture
(Okinawa-ken)
Capital Naha
Kyushu Region
Okinawa Island
271.30 km ² Area 2 (44. º) -% water 0.5%
Population (1 October 2000) - Total 1,318,218 (32. º)
Population density 580 inhabitants / km ² Districts 5 Municipalities 53 ISO 3166-2 JP-47
Due to its strategic position - between Indonesia, Polynesia, China, Korea and Japan, became a commercial hub. Reports suggest former traders and representatives Okinawans in imperial courts of China and Japan Historically, Okinawa has received more cultural influence on China than Japan
Previously divided into fiefs, was unified by Sho Hashi, who became king designating the Shuri Castle as the administrative center.
Invaded by the feudal clan of Satsuma (now Kyushu) in the century. XVI, lost its independence and possession of weapons was forbidden among its citizens. Historical reports cite that karate like martial art, was born at this time.
After the Second World War and the Battle of Okinawa in 1945, Okinawa remained under U.S. administration for 27 years. During this period, the United States established military bases there.
On May 15, 1972, Okinawa was returned to Japan
3. History of the Origin of Karate in Okinawa:
Originally the word''karate''was written with the kanji (Tang hand) referring to the Chinese Tang dynasty or, by extension, the Chinese hand, reflecting the Chinese influence in this style of fighting.
Karate is probably a mixture of a Chinese fighting art brought to Okinawa by merchants and sailors of Fujian province with a very art of Okinawa. The Okinawans call this style of''you''(hand). The styles of Okinawan karate is the oldest''''Shuri-te, Naha-te''and''''Tomari-te'', so named according to the names of three cities in which they were created.
In 1820 Sokon Matsumura blended the three styles and gave the name of''Shaolin''(in Chinese)''or''Shorin (Japanese), which are different pronunciations of the kanji (small forest). However the students themselves created new styles of Matsumura adding or subtracting to the original style. Gichin Funakoshi, a student of one of the disciples of Matsumura, Anko Itosu, was the person who introduced and popularized karate on the main islands of the Japanese archipelago.
Funakoshi Karate originated in the Itosu version of''style''of Shorin-ryu Matsumura what is commonly called''Shorei-ryu.'' Later the style of Funakoshi was called by others''''shotokan. Karate was popularized in Japan and introduced in secondary schools before the Second World War.
Like most martial arts practiced in Japan, karate made its transition to the''Karate-do''at the beginning of the twentieth century. The''A''in''''karate-do means "way," which is analogous to the familiar concept of''so''. As has been adapted into modern Japanese culture, karate was imbued with some elements of Zen Buddhism, and the practice of karate is sometimes called "moving zen". Classes often begin and end with brief periods of meditation. Also, the repetition of movements, as implemented in''''kata, is consistent with zen meditation intended to maximize self-control, attention, strength and speed, even under adverse conditions. The influence of Zen in this martial art depends largely on the interpretation of each instructor.
The modernization and systemization of karate in Japan also included the adoption of the white uniform (gi''''or''karategi'') and colored bands indicating the stage reached by the student, both created and popularized by Jigoro Kano, founder of judo . Photos of former practitioners of Okinawa karate masters show the clothes in the day-to-day.
Originally the word karate was written as ideograms (Tang hand) referring to the Chinese Tang dynasty or, by extension, Chinese hand reflecting the Chinese influence on the style. Currently the most common meaning of these ideograms is the empty hand. Karate-do means so way of the empty hand. Karate is probably a mixture of a Chinese fighting art brought to Okinawa by merchants and sailors of Fujian province with a very art of Okinawa. The Okinawans call this style of you hand. The styles of Okinawan karate is the oldest Shuri-te, Naha-te and Tomari-te, named according to the names of three cities in which they were created.
In 1820 Sokon Matsumura blended the three styles and gave the name of Shaolin (Chinese) or Shorin (Japanese), which are different pronunciations of the kanji (small forest). However the students themselves created new styles of Matsumura adding or subtracting to the original style. Gichin Funakoshi, a student of one of the disciples of Matsumura, Anko Itosu, was the person who introduced and popularized karate on the main islands of the Japanese archipelago.
Funakoshi's karate originated from the version of Itosu's style of Matsumura Shorin-ryu which is commonly called Shorei-ryu. Later the style was called by Funakoshi of shotokan others. Funakoshi was responsible for the change in the way of writing the name of this martial art. This being the way he found that karate was accepted by the Dai Nippon Budo organization Butokukai, as a time of rising Japanese nationalism, it was important not to make karate look like an art of foreign origin, like the old way of writing implied.
Karate was popularized in Japan and introduced in secondary schools before the Second World War.
Like most martial arts practiced in Japan, karate made its transition to karate-do in the early twentieth century. What's in karate-do means "way," which is analogous to the familiar concept of tao. As has been adapted into modern Japanese culture, karate was imbued with some elements of Zen Buddhism, and the practice of karate is sometimes called "moving zen". Classes often begin and end with brief periods of meditation. Also, the repetition of movements, as in kata, is consistent with zen meditation intended to maximize self-control, attention, strength and speed, even under adverse conditions.
The modernization and systemization of karate in Japan also included the adoption of the white uniform (gi or keikogi) and colored bands indicating the degree achieved by the student, both created and popularized by Jigoro Kano, the founder of judo. Photos of former practitioners of Okinawan karate masters show the clothes in the day-to-day.
A small reflection about the origin of Karate
Bodhiarma
After several years of investigation, research and practice of always new and fascinating world of martial arts in general and karate in particular, decided to write this text, with which I intend to elucidate those just arrived or thinks that now come to begin this exciting journey (Via / Do) in search of Truth.
Throughout the text will make some reflections on the history of karate that I leave to your consideration on this matter since there are no absolute truths and many of the most important writings and documents that are produced have been lost throughout history. Its origin is traced to legends passed down orally from generation to generation, a legendary running very strong, and the Japanese themselves consider Bodhiharma (28th patriarch of Zen Buddhism, who lived in the Chinese Shaolin temple, around 525 of our era ) as the "'legendary Father of Karate", having perfected the techniques of ancient martial arts of China and the Indian Vajramusthi.
The History of Martial Arts is lost in time, this reflection can start the rediscovery of karate from Okinawa Island, which lies at the heart of an archipelago known as the Ryukyu by Chinese, which extends from the southern tip of Japan to the island of Taiwan. Okinawa with its 1,500 km2 alone occupies more than half the surface of Ryukyu.
Island of Okinawa / Japan
"Oki" means in Japanese ocean or large, and "nawa" is reflected in the chain, chain or rope, this island has a hundred miles in length to a width of 30 to 40 km and its appearance is really of a knotted rope and floating.
Life in Okinawa has always been harsh and rude, to adapt to the hostile environment course (the island was constantly battered by destructive typhoons), which the inhabitants of Okinawa had to forge the will, ingenuity and tenacity, qualities that would need to take twice in the face of successive invaders who sought to subdue it at all costs. The survival instinct would raise resources of resistance, the techniques of fighting bare hands (ancestor of Karate) or weapons (kobudo ancestors).
Okinawa had a privileged position, was among Japan, China and Southeast Asia (Vietnam, Thailand, etc. ..) with a port that has become especially active. At the time of the fourteenth century, the island was divided into three kingdoms, was the biggest one Chuzan and understood the middle of the island with Hokuzan north and the south Nazan It is known that in 1372 the king gave a vote of Okinawan Satto obedience to the Empire Chinese Ming (1368-1644) which began to pay tribute, and in 1349 the king Chuzan forms an alliance with China leading to an exchange between the two kingdoms (Chinese and Okinawan). The villages of Naha and Shuri became prosperous commercial cities, warehouses all products in Southeast Asia and where he "nudged" Japanese, Chinese, Indian, Malaysian, Thai, Arabic, etc ... During this same period that China's Ming Dynasty sent to the island an important group of artisans and artists - mentioned in ancient documents as "The 36 Families." Among these Chinese were individuals who had knowledge of Chinese boxing, there were the first traces of Shaolin Kempo or Zu Chuan-fa, but nothing indicates that this art has been officially introduced the "true masters".
In 1429, King Sho Hashi unified Okinawa, but the fall of this empire was determined by Sho Shi, fearing that the repetition of conflicts and revolutions that spread across the Southeast Asia launches an edict forbidding the manufacture and handling of weapons by the population. This facilitated the invasion of Okinawa by the Satsuma Clan of Japan that after a warm resistance in 1609 took the Shuri Castle.
Even after the invasion and trade exchanges with China remained unchanged and later a representative of Chinese military landed in Okinawa. His name was Kung Shang-Kong, he was known on the island as Kushaku, and was an expert in the Shaolin system.
In his six years in Okinawa Kushaku taught the system (To-te) the two okinowenses Masters Sakugawa and Kitan Yari. To-te karate began to be called in the first half of the twentieth century, and although its introduction has been a continuous evolution, much of karate that is taught today, contrary to popular belief, is based on Chinese boxing (especially Fuchi area) and was brought to Okinawa from 1850 to 1950, reaching a peak of release in the late nineteenth century.
In 1669 the Satsuma Clan banned the use of any weapon except for the Samurai, this law originated with the art of Kobudo, using the basic tools of their day to day (leaves, tunfa, bo, kama, etc ...) as weapons. It is difficult to find evidence that Okinawans have been developing techniques to combat due to the prohibition of the use of arms by the rulers of the Satsuma clan. Rather, the evidence shows that after 1609, ti was practiced as self-defense and as a means of physical development by members of the nobility. To-in followed a similar path and developed at the end of the century. Nineteenth and early twentieth century the middle classes shizoku and their descendants, especially those who lived in Naha, Shuri and Tomari.
In the early seventeenth century, Japan quit over a terrible civil war which was the winner and the loser Togukawa clan of the Satsuma clan, headed by the Shimazu family. The new Shogun proved deft at deflecting the wrath of Satsuma, defeated but not destroyed to the Ryukyu, a nifty way to get rid of the enemy and establish Japanese control over an island so submissive to China. Exactly on April 5, 1609 the Satsuma pounced on Okinawa who fell under the yoke of the invader and clan so he stayed until 1879, when the island became part of the Japanese empire, the empire built Mitsuhito.
Japan in 1868 entered the Meiji era, which marked the abolition of the old feudal system and the birth of a new sociedade.Okinawa always maintained the position of semi-independent kingdom until shortly after the Meiji Restoration.
Before 1879 the martial arts were reserved for the noblest families, and even after that date, few disadvantaged (whether of money, it was tradition) had the courage to do them.
Soon after the occupation, Shimazu again banned the use of weapons possession and also any type of martial practice, even with a ban on the practice of any martial activity, the inhabitants of Okinawa continued to secretly practice their self-defense system, so in the eighteenth century we contemplate the birth of Tode (Chinese hand) or Okinawa-Te, the ancestral Karate. Undoubtedly the dominant techniques for fighting bare hands were Chinese and had their "origin" in the Shaolin monastery in China (Kung Fu).
The ban sparked interest in fighting techniques and the widespread practice until then restricted to a minority.
The existence of IT can be proven since the early seventeenth century through a poem written by the eminent professor Okinawan born in 1663 called Teijunsoku (also known as Nago Oyakata) which says:
No matter how much attention to the art of thee,
and scholars in their efforts,
nothing is more important that their conduct
and his humanity as observed in everyday life
It was definitely a time of raging training in secret places, usually at night, far from inhabited towns from disciples of confidence. This atmosphere continued until the late nineteenth century and partly explains the lack of written documents. Technically little is known about this period, except that the feet and hands became weapons efficient and fast, capable of replacing the blades banned.
Due to different political designation Tode of Chinese origin is changed in your kanji by Master Gichin Funakoshi to Kara-te (empty hand - Japanese), give to its formalization by Dai Nippon Butokukai was a short step.
Over the years karate has evolved in three rows and three different cities of Shuri-te Shuri, Naha-te Naha and Tomari-te of Tomari, each with distinct characteristics:
Shuri-te = mainly offensive, excel in lightness and speed.
Naha-te = Mainly defensive excel in power and powerful internal coup.
Tomari-te = It was a mixture of both and led the Shito-Ryu Itosu.Neste eighteenth century too little is known since they were tested the first kata, but many movements and attitudes were camouflaged in the traditional dances in order to disguise the distrust of authorities. Even today we can verify and analyze these moves in the traditional dances of Okinawa.
But little by little, more gifted men appeared, diversified styles and leaders who were to become masters codified her style.
In the nineteenth century was the time of the outbreak of the Karate of Okinawa, early in this century or maybe at the end of the eighteenth century, the three lines mentioned above came into force.
Around Naha graduated from the Naha-Te, its techniques resemble the Kung-Fu from Southern China, with emphasis on the use of upper limbs (short fist techniques, circulars and destructive), search for the body to body in static positions , low kicks. It is tough and flexible style that will produce the Goju-Ryu designation created by Master Chojun Miyagi and distinguished also by the search Respiratory IBUKA "a form of Chinese Chin-Kun (search for the mobilization of internal vital energy). The katas are varied and complex: Seisan, Saifa, Sanseru, Sanchin, Tensho, Sanseru, Suparinpei, etc ...
The popularity of karate in Okinawa has grown worldwide as the Okinawan people themselves have been migrating overseas in search of better opportunities, taking the opportunity to teach this fascinating and efficient martial art.
By: Leonardo Pereira - Jundokan International and Portugal.
4.Conclusion:
The historical development of karate is very long and is lost in time. It is said that the third millennium before Christ, a Hindu prince has developed an art of fighting with hands and sacrificed many slaves in their experiences in seeking vital points of the human body using a needle, was honored for discovering the points apply the coup hand and foot and neutralize opponents. Reading or not, so began the first scientific system of fight in history.
This type of fighting was called VAJRAMUSHTI, which could be translated as: * One whose hand is a diamond *. Probably this should be the oldest Asian fight without using guns, similar to Karate.
These two paragraphs were taken from page 14 of book by Prof.. Aldo lubes in my understanding that brings the deepest root * * of this art, other sources of research cited by me are also important and bring us a beautiful historical foundation.
