Karate Shotokan

History of Karate

Karate history can be traced back some 1400 years, to Daruma, founder of Zen Buddhism in Western India. Daruma is said to have introduced Buddhism into China, incorporating spiritual and physical teaching methods that were so demanding that many of his disciples would drop in exhaustion. In order to give them greater strength and endurance, he developed a more progressive training system, which he recorded in a book, Ekkin-Kyo, which can be considered the first book on karate of all time.

The physical training, heavily imbued with Daruma's philosophical principles, was taught in the Shaolin Temple in the year 500 A.D. Shaolin (Shorin) kung-fu, from northern China, was characterized by very colorful, rapid, and dynamic movements; the Shokei school of southern China was known for more powerful and sober techniques. These two kinds of styles found their way to Okinawa, and had their influence on Okinawa's own original fighting method, called Okinawa-te (Okinawan hand) or simply te. A ban on weapons in Okinawa for two long periods in its history is also partly responsible for the high degree of development of unarmed fighting techniques on the island.

In summary, karate in Okinawa developed from the synthesis of two fighting techniques. The first one, used by the inhabitants of Okinawa, was very simple but terribly effective and, above all, very close to reality since it was used throughout many centuries in real combat. The second one, much more elaborate and impregnated with philosophical teachings, was a product of the ancient culture of China. These two origins explain the double character of Karate--extremely violent and efficient but at the same time a strict and austere discipline and philosophy with a nonviolent emphasis.

The Influence of Master Funakoshi

Master Gichin Funakoshi was the first expert to introduce karate-do to mainland Japan, in 1916. One of the few people to have been initiated into all the major Okinawan karate methods, Master Funakoshi taught a synthesis of the Okinawan styles, as a total discipline. This method became known as Shotokan (literally "House of Shoto," Funakoshi's pen name). Because of the great popularity of the style in Japan and, later, around the world, Funakoshi is widely considered to be the "father of modern karate-do."

Two relatively different styles - in spirit as well as in mechanics - used to exist in Okinawa in late 19th Century: Shorei-ryu and Shorin-ryu The former was designed for well built people, placed emphasis on developing physical strength and was impressive in its shear power. The latter was light and quick, with fast strikes and counterattacks, designed for people who were small in size and very agile.

After years of intense study of both styles, Master Funakoshi arrived at a new understanding of martial arts, and a novel style was created, that combined the ideals of Shorei and Shorin.

As in all Karate styles it is Katas, formal sequences of basic techniques, that form the backbone of the tradition. The traditional Japanese martial arts, Judo and Kendo, two of the seven traditional paths to enlightenment in Japanese classical culture, were heavily centered around combat (Kumite). Master Funakoshi instead, in the centuries old Okinawa tradition, sought a path to spiritual depth through individual technique. Thus, Shotokan initially developed as a formal style with little Kumite application, instead focusing on breathing, releasing energy and outstanding mind and body control.

Shaolin Kung Fu

Chinese martial arts were first mentioned in literature dating back to the Chou Dynasty from 1122-255BC and but the Shaolin Kung Fu history begins with the building of the Shaoling Monastery in 495AD. This monastery which was built on the Sung Mountain in the Honen Province housed up to 2000 monks at one time and is noted as China's most famous monastery. Due to the fact that Shaolin Kung Fu was taught and passed down orally much of the story of its beginnings are a mixture of historical fact intermingled with legend.

Considered to be the Father of Shaolin Kung Fu and to Buddhists the founder of Zen, a lively monk named Tamo left his home in India in the 6th century AD and trekked eastward then north until he reached the Shaolin Monastery where he stopped and taught Zen meditation. Tamo realized that most of the monks were unable to handle the rigorous regime of the Zen mediation discipline so he created a series of exercises to build up their health and increase their stamina. Being very much like yoga in that these exercises were both psychological and physical, they are believed to have formed the beginnings of Shaolin Kung Fu.

It was during holy pilgrimages that martial arts really developed basically out of necessity as the monks were often robbed of their religious treasures by the many "pirates" or "bandits" of the time. Using the exercises and postures taught to them by Tamo and refining them into fighting movements, combined with the influence of Zen, a deadly form of martial art was born and they were well equipped to protect themselves and their treasures. Over the centuries this form of self-defense and spiritual lifestyle became legendary.


In 1736, the monastery was attacked by Manchu's battled troops and the monks were all but annihilated by the huge number of troops and the monastery was burnt to the ground. Thankfully, there were survivors who fled and this ensured that Shaolin Kung Fu history would be taught and indeed flourish. The monastery has been rebuilt several times and is always remembered as the birth place of Shaolin Kung Fu.

Although remnant writings have been found, one of the earliest extant references to Shaolin Fung Fu History was published in 1784 in the Boxing Classic: Essential Boxing Methods. The reference gives the first written documentation of the Monastery of Shaolin and the monks being the originators of Shaolin Kung Fu. Today, Kung Fu has a worldwide appeal and there are many forms practiced, one such style being Hung, which is named after Hung Hei Guen who was one of the Ten Tigers of Shaolin. He was taught by Gee Sin who was the abbot of Shaolin who escaped the fire and went on to teach and pass on the Shaolin Kung Fu History and methods throughout China, as it has been passed down to the famous art we still use today all around the world.