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The History of Karate
The History of Modern Karate: Where does Shokaido fit in?
Introduction
Shokaido is a style of karate formulated over thirty years ago, and it has matured since that time, bringing it to its present form. It is not a “new” style as such; it simply presents karate to the student in a different format. Shokaido continues to develop, grow and mature while remaining firmly rooted in the tenets of several traditional styles, most notably Shotokan. Gichin Funakoshi, (born in 1868, in Shuri Okinawa; died April 26, 1957) was the creator of, Shotokan karate, perhaps the most widely known style of karate, and is attributed as being the 'father of modern karate'. Shokaido and Shotokan are similar, but certainly not identical. When compared to the long history of Japanese martial arts, neither style is “ancient”, or even "old”, but we do both claim Funakoshi as the creator of the karate that we see all over the world today, and within our own styles.
Gichin Funakoshi had trained in both of the popular styles of Okinawan karate of the time: Shōrei-ryū and Shōrin-ryū. After years of study in both styles, Funakoshi created a simpler style that combined the ideals of the two. He never named his style, always referring to it simply as “karate”. Keeping with the pioneering philosophy of Funakoshi, Shokaido is also a less complicated style, and is generally just referred to by its practitioners as “karate”. We must be clear that Funakoshi did not “invent” karate; he refined, organized, and improved upon what was already known at the time. This was just another important (and defining) step in the evolution of karate.
Belt ranking
In 1924, Funakoshi adopted the belt rank system and the uniform developed by Kano Jigoro, the founder of judo. This system uses colored belts (obi) to indicate experience, expertise, and to a lesser degree, seniority. The order of colors varies widely from school to school, but belts are typically denoted with colors that become darker as a student approaches shodan (first degree black belt or first dan). Dan level belts are invariably black. Originally, karate had only three belt colors: white, brown, and black (with ranks within each). Some of the traditional Shotokan schools still carry on this tradition. Shokaido has seven ranks leading to the black belt. White is not a rank; the first belt that is earned is yellow, followed by orange, red, blue, purple, green, and brown. The black belt (shodan) is reserved for those students who are at least 16 years old, have studied a minimum of four years, and have proven that they are of good character and possess the needed skills to wear it. There are ten grades of black belt, each one with its own set of requirements (see “What Is A Black belt”).
The Twenty Principles
Funakoshi published several books on karate including his autobiography, Karate-Do: My Way of Life. This book is considered to be a “must read” for any serious karate student (karateka). Funakoshi’s legacy, however, rests in a document containing his philosophies of karate training now referred to as the niju kun, or "twenty principles".
These rules are the premise of training for all Shotokan and Shokaido practitioners and are published in a work titled The Twenty Guiding Principles of Karate. Within this book, Funakoshi presents 20 rules by which students of karate are urged to follow in an effort to "become better human beings."
Gichin Funakoshi carefully laid out the Twenty Precepts of Karate, which form the foundations of the art. Within these twenty principles, based heavily on the philosophy of Bushido and Zen (although not directly taught), lies the philosophy of Funakoshi’s understanding of karate. The principles allude to notions of humility, respect, compassion, patience, and both an inward and outward tranquility. It was Funakoshi's belief that through karate practice and observation of these 20 principles, the karateka would improve as a citizen.
In order to allow the Twenty Principles to permeate the student’s minds, every few months the Twenty Principles, as interpreted by Funakoshi and his (now very elderly) former student Teruyuki Okazaki, are presented verbally to the students of Shokaido during the lecture at the conclusion of each class. These precepts are as relevant today as they were when they were created over seventy five years ago, and a written understanding of the principles is part of the requirement for shodan.
The Twenty Principles
By Gichin Funakoshi
1. Karate begins and ends with respect. 2. There is no first attack in karate 3.Karate is an aid to righteousness and justice. 4. First know yourself, then know others. 5.Focus on mental technique, not physical technique. 6. Always have an open mind. 7.Inattention and neglect cause misfortune. 8.Never think that karate is only practiced in the dojo. 9. Karate is a lifelong pursuit. 10. Apply karate to your everyday life and you will find the secret of it. 11.Karate is like boiling water; if you do not heat it constantly, it will cool. 12. Do not think about winning, think about not losing. 13. Respond in accordance to your opponent. 14. Always battle in the most effective stances and positions. 15. Think of your hands and feet as sharp swords. 16. Step out the door and you face ten thousand foes. 17. Beginners must master low stances and posture; natural body positions are for the advanced. 18. Practicing forms is one thing; real combat is another matter. 19. Never forget your own strengths and weakness, the limitations of your body, and the relative quality of your techniques. 20. Continuously increase your knowledge of the world around you.
More on Styles
Funakoshi had many students at the university clubs and outside dojos, who continued to teach karate after his death in 1957. However, internal disagreements led to the creation of many different organizations - so that today there is no single "Shotokan school", although they all bear Funakoshi's influence. Being one of the first and biggest styles, Shotokan is considered a traditional and influential form of karate. However, the differences attributed to "style" are often a reflection of the disposition and preference of the teaching instructor (i.e. there are softer and harder schools of each style, some schools focus little on kata while others emphasize it, some will add or remove certain kata, etc.). The name Shokaido was created in order to acknowledge that it had broken away from the traditions of Shotokan. Shokaido is “karate”, but organized and taught in a distinctive form.
Kihon-Kata-Kumite
Karate training is usually divided into three parts: kihon (basics), kata (forms or patterns of moves), and kumite (sparring). Techniques in kihon and kata are characterized by deep, wide stances that provide stability, enable powerful movements, and strengthen the legs. Although the stances in Shokaido are not as deep as would be generally found in Shotokan, a stance should never be shallow, especially for beginners. Both styles are regarded as a 'hard' and 'external' martial art, and it is taught that way to beginners and coloured belts to develop strong basic techniques and stances. Initially strength and power are demonstrated instead of slower, more flowing motions. Those who progress to brown and black belt level develop a much more fluid style which incorporates a diversity of self defense and some aikido-like techniques. Formal kumite techniques mirror these stances and movements at a basic level, but are less structured, with a focus instead on speed and efficiency.
Kata
Kata can be described as a sequence of karate moves organized into a fight against imaginary opponents. The kata can consist of kicks, punches, sweeps, strikes, blocks, and throws. Body movement in various kata includes stepping, twisting, turning, dropping to the ground, and jumping. In Shokaido, kata is not a performance or a demonstration, but is for individual karateka to practice full techniques—with every technique potentially a killing blow —while paying particular attention to form and timing (rhythm). As the karateka grows older, more emphasis is placed on the health benefits of practicing kata, promoting fitness while keeping the body agile.
Shokaido has adopted a free-style rather than a memorized kata. This allows the practitioner to engage in the “combat” without focusing on the memorization. Free-style kata requires the student to think one step ahead, move quickly, and utilize all their learned techniques. This departure from the preset and prearranged kata taught at Shotokan schools is one of the greatest distinctions when comparing the two styles. Although one could argue for the advantages on either side of the debate, suffice it to say that kata is not only important, but essential to the practice of karate, especially in the absence of equipment or a partner.
Kumite
Kumite, or sparring is the practical application of kata to real opponents. The techniques used in sparring are somewhat different than kihon, and there are fewer formalities. Respect for ones sparring partner is the guiding principle when engaging in kumite.
Shokaido practitioners first learn how to apply the techniques they are taught in class, to hypothetical opponents by way of their kata. Kata then matures into controlled kumite.
Kumite is the third part of the karate training package of kihon, kata and kumite. Kumite is taught in ever increasing complexity from beginner through low grade black belt.
Beginners first learn kumite through basic drills, which involve working with a partner and blocking a single strike or kick. These drills use basic (kihon) techniques and develop a sense of timing and distance in defense against a known attack.
As the karateka gains skill, they learn to defend against more complex multiple attacks. This training requires the defender to execute a counter-attack faster than in the earlier types of sparring. Counter-attacks may be almost anything, including strikes, kicks, holds, and take-down maneuvers.
The next level of kumite is freestyle one-step sparring and its successor—free sparring. Freestyle one-step sparring is similar to one-step sparring but requires the karateka to be in motion. Practicing one-step sparring improves free sparring skills, and also provides an opportunity for practicing counter-attacks.
Free sparring is the last element of sparring to be learned. In this exercise, two training partners are free to use any karate technique or combination of attacks, and the defender at any given moment is free to avoid, block, counter, or attack with any karate technique. Shokaido karateka (when engaged in actual combat with an attacker), are encouraged to end an encounter with a single attack, avoiding extended periods of conflict or unnecessary contact in situations where there is likely to be more than one attacker.
Free sparring is not a part of the curriculum for Shokaido practitioners until brown belt, and then only for those who desire to advance to black belt. That said, many lower ranking students practice sparring in designated weekend classes while wearing protective equipment. This type of experience cannot be found in any other venue. Actual combat(simulated) with a partner is essential to learning timing, rhythm, and distance. One less obvious benefit is the development of a “fighting spirit”, the ability to engage with an opponent without being paralyzed by fear.
Summary
As you can see, karate is steeped in tradition, but has maintained it’s relevance to modern society. Students of karate join together in the practice of an art that has been refined and improved over hundreds of years. It is because of the dedication of those loyal to karate that it has never lost its appeal as an effective form of self-defense, and as a great vehicle for the development of character. Those who practice the art of karate today are given the responsibility of passing on the knowledge to the next generation, just as it was passed to them.
