Wikipedia
Shotokan (松涛館) is a school of karate, reflecting the style of the initial students (including his son, Yoshitaka) of master Gichin Funakoshi (1868-1957). Gichin Funakoshi was the man who 'officially' brought karate from Okinawa to mainland Japan, although Kenwa Mabuni, Motobu Choki and other Okinawans were actively teaching karate in Japan prior to this point. ''Shoto'' was Funakoshi's pen name for his poetry, while ''Shotokan'' was the name of the hall where "Shoto" trained his students. =Origins=Funakoshi had trained in both of the popular styles of Okinawan karate of the time: Shorei-ryu and Shorin-ryu. He combined and modified the styles, and made his own, though he never named it, always referring to it simply as "karate". The karate that he transmitted to his students reflects the changes made in the art by Anko Itosu, including the ''Heian/Pinan'' kata series. Funakoshi himself changed the names of the kata included in his curriculum, in an effort to make the "foreign" Okinawan names more palatable to the then nationalistic Japanese mainland. In several cases, Shotokan kata have been modified, in some places favoring athleticism over practicality. A good example can be found in the side thrust kicks added to the ''nijushiho'' kata. Commands - Yoi=readyhai=yesyame=stoprei=bowichi=oneni=twosan=threeshi/yon=fourgo=fiveroku=sixshichi=sevenhachi=eightkyuu/nana=ninejuu=ten!sensei=teacher/master=Characte ristics=Training? usually begins by reciting the dojo kun, or dojo rules, and is divided into three sections: kihon or "basics", kumite or "sparring", and kata (forms or patterns of moves). Shotokan techniques in kihon and kata are characterised by deep, long stances which provide stability and powerful movements. Strength and power are often demonstrated instead of slower, more flowing motions. The kumite techniques mirror these stances and movements at a basic level, but progress to be being more "free" and flexible at a higher level. Funakoshi is said to have found the traditional martial arts (such as sumo, jujutsu and kenjutsu) to be too focused on combat, and he put more emphasis on health, breathing, releasing energy and outstanding mind and body control.=Shotokan today=Today, Shotokan remains a very popular style worldwide despite internal scandals, political infighting, and outright profiteering by some Japanese "masters". These have marred the modern practice for some karate adherents and splintered Shotokan into several factions which claim to be teaching "real" Shotokan.Hirokazu Kanazawa (1931-present) was the first to found his own school, called ''Shotokan Karate International''. He studied under Masatoshi Nakayama (1913-1987) and Hidetaka Nishiyama (1928-present), both disciples of Gichin Funakoshi. His group introduced elements of Tai Chi Chuan, particularly in the matter of flow and balance, and more traditional karate. Taiji Kase (1929-2004) also founded his own group, called the ''World Shotokan Karate Academy''. He studied martial arts under his father (a Judo instructor), as well as both Gichin Funakoshi and his son Yoshitaka Funakoshi. He left Japan in 1964 to teach karate internationally, but started teaching his own style to avoid the power struggles in the sport.=Basic Techniques=
Blocks - ''(All using the arm)''Gedan barai: Sweeping low blockAge uke: Rising high-level blockSoto uke: Outside mid-level blockUchi uke: Inside mid-level blockUde uke: Outside mid-level blockShuto uke: Knife hand block
Strikes - Oi zuki: Lunge punchGyaku zuki: Reverse punchTettsui: Hammer fistKizami zuki: Straight jab punchEmpi uchi: Elbow strike
Kicks - Mae geri: Front snap kickMawashi geri: Roundhouse kickYoko geri keage: Side snap kickYoko geri kekomi: Side thrust kick=List of Katas=Bassai daiBassai shoChinteEnpiEnpi/EmpiGankakuGojushiho daiGojushiho shoHangetsuHeian godan (5th Heian)Heian nidan (2nd Heian)Heian sandan (3rd Heian)Heian shodan (1st Heian)Heian yondan (4th Heian)Ji'inJionJitteKanku daiKanku shoMeikyoNijushihoSochinTaikyoku Shodan (Commonly known as 'kihon')Tekki nidanTekki sandanTekki shodanUnsuWankan=Belt Colours=The correspondence between belt colors and kyu varies from dojo to dojo; what follows is one example of such a system. The colours are symbolic of the karateka's skill. White signifies a birth, or beginning, of a seed. A white belt is a beginner searching for knowledge of the Art. Orange signifies the first beam of sunlight which shines upon the seed giving it new strength with the beginning of new life. An orange belt karateka is given their first ray of knowledge, opening their mind, from the sensei. Green signifies the growth of the seed as it sprouts from the earth reaching toward the sun and begins to grow into a plant. A green belt learns to further develop and refine their techniques. Black signifies the darkness beyond the Sun. A black belt seeks new knowledge of the Art. As the karateka begins to teach others, they plant new seeds, ready for growth. It also symbolises the karateka's imperviousness to darkness or evil.10th kyu - white (Beginner)9th kyu - orange8th kyu - red7th kyu - yellow 6th kyu - green 5th kyu - purple 4th kyu - purple with white stripe3rd kyu - brown (Intermediate)2nd kyu - brown with white stripe1st kyu - brown with red stripe 1st dan (martial arts)dan to 10th dan (martial arts)dan - black (Expert) Usually it would take a new karateka 3 years of consistent training to become 1st dan (martial arts)dan (Expert)It then takes several years of more training and experience to move up black belt levels4th dan (Master) karateka can be considered a 'sensei' (a teacher)6th dan (Grand Master) karateka and up are considered extremely proficient8th dan: Grand MasterVery few have a 10th dan (martial arts)dan grade. Some examples are: :*Gichin Funakoshi:*Masatoshi Nakayama:*Hidetaka Nishiyama:*Taiji Kase:*Hirokazu Kanazawa=Trivia=In the new Mortal Kombat games, the character Sub-Zero uses shotokan as one of his styles.In the Capcom series of Street Fighter games the character Makoto (Street Fighter)Makoto uses shotokan karate.In Namco's series Tekken, the character Jin uses shotokan karate.=See also=
In Wikipedia - Japanese martial arts titlesKarate, budo, Martial artmartial art, zenJapan Karate AssociationKung fu
External links - karateonline.org - Karate Resources Site With a Focus on Shotokan gichinfunakoshi.com - Gichen Funakoshi Tribute Page centralmnkarate.com - Central Minnesota Karate A dojo's home page with kata videos and testing material American Shotokan Karate Alliance iskf.com - International Shotokan Karate Federation ska.org - Shotokan Karate of America shotokankarate.org - Shotokan Karate Association kugb.org - Karate Union of Great Britain karate.co.za - JKA Karate South Africa ozwebart.com.au - Karate Union of Australia seinenkai.com - Hawaii Karate Seinenkai Salutes Hirokazu Kanazawa ? kime.to - Shotokan Ryu Kase Ha, Finland Taiji Kase Bio karatevid.com - Nishiyama Bio fbskui-karate.org - Masatoshi Nakayama Bio uucshotokan.co.uk - UUC Shotokan Website cbkarateclub.com - The Central Bucks Karate Club Doylestown, PACategory:Shotokan !Category:Karatede:Shōtōkanes :Shotokanfr:Shotokan-ryunl:Sho tokan? !karateja:松濤館流pl:Shotok anpt:Shotokanro:Shotokansv:Sho tokan
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