Introduction
As
being a karateka (karate
practitioner), I chose to talk about karate. Karate is the most widely practiced
of all the Oriental martial arts. It is not a game of
points, weight classes or showy demonstrations. It is a martial art and way of
life that trains a practitioner to be peaceful; but if conflict is unavoidable,
true karate dictates taking down an opponent with a single blow. Such an action
requires strength, speed, focus, control. But these physical aspects are only
part of the practice; they are just the vehicle, not the journey itself. The advantage of it
above some other combat sports is that usually neither person gets hurt.
Body
History of Karate
The origin of the name "karate" is uncertain,
but it is true that it was named not so very long ago. In the past, it was
called "te." In those days karate or "te" was practiced
secretly according to forms which were passed down from master to only the best
and highest student. If there was no qualified student, a form was never passed
down and was lost with the passing of the master's generation. As a result of
this practice, many forms have disappeared. After the late 19th century, the
old policy of secrecy was abandoned and training was conducted in the open. Gradually,
karate was recognized by the public, and for the first time there was a ray of
hope for karate in the future. Karate was accepted as part of advancing
civilization; its physical, educational and cultural values were confirmed. It
had completely won public approval. In 1904, karate was officially adopted as
part of the physical education program in Shuri Elementary School. This was the
first group instruction in karate history. In 1930, karate people began to
participate in different exhibitions and demonstrations of the Japanese martial
arts on the occasion of the opening festivals in Tokyo.
Practice
Karate
can be practiced as an art, as a sport, as a combat
sport, or as self
defense training.
Weapons are an important training activity in some styles of karate.Karate
training is commonly divided into kihon (basics or fundamentals), kata (forms),
and kumite (sparring).
Kihon
Karate
styles place varying importance on kihon. Typically this is performance in
unison of a technique or a combination of techniques by a group of karateka.
Kihon may also be prearranged drills in smaller groups or in pairs.
Kata
Kata
means literally "shape" or "model." Kata is a formalized
sequence of movements which represent various offensive and defensive postures.
These postures are based on idealized combat applications. The applications
when applied in a demonstration with real opponents is referred to as a Bunkai. The
Bunkai shows how every stance and movement is used. Bunkai is a useful tool to
understand a kata.
Kumite
Sparring in Karate is called kumite. It literally means "meeting of
hands." Kumite is practiced both as a sport and as self-defense training.
Levels
of physical contact during sparring vary considerably. Full contact karate has
several variants. Knockdown karate uses full power techniques to bring an
opponent to the ground. In kickboxing variants (for example K-1), the preferred
win is by knockout. Sport kumite in many international competition under the World Karate Federation is
free or structured with light
contact or semi
contact and
points are awarded by a referee.
Dojo Kun
Dojo Kun is a set of guidelines for karateka to
follow. These guidelines apply both in the dojo (training hall) and in everyday life.
Rank
In
1924 Gichin Funakoshi, founder of Shotokan Karate, adopted the Dan system from the judo founder Jigoro
Kano using
a rank
scheme with a
limited set of belt colors. Requirements of rank differ among styles,
organizations, and schools. Kyū ranks stress stance, balance, and coordination. Speed and power are added at higher grades.
Shotokan Karate
Gichin Funakoshi
is widely considered as the “father” of modern day karate. He was born in the
Shuri prefecture in Okinawa in 1868 and at the age of 11 began to study Karate
under two of Okinawa’s top masters. In time, he became a master in his own
right and in 1922 he was invited to demonstrate karate to the Japanese public
for the very first time. The demonstration was such a success he was invited to
stay in Japan and teach, which he did with great success.For Sensei Funakoshi,
the word ‘karate’ eventually took on a deeper meaning than just martial arts
training, transforming into what is has become known as karate-do, the ‘way of
the empty hand. The establishment of the JKA (Japan Karate Association) lead
the way to the spread of Shotokan karate throughout the world.
The Twenty Precepts of Karate
Before he established the
JKA, Master Funakoshi Gichin laid out the Twenty Precepts of Karate, which form
the foundations of the art. Within these twenty principles, based heavily
on Bushido and Zen, lies the philosophy of the JKA.
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1.
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Never
forget: karate begins with rei and ends with rei (Rei means
courtesy or respect, and is represented in karate by bowing)
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2.
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There
is no first attack in karate
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3.
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Karate
supports righteousness
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4.
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First
understand yourself, then understand others
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5.
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The
art of developing the mind is more important than the art of applying
technique
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6.
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The
mind needs to be freed
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7.
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Trouble
is born of negligence
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8.
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Do
not think karate belongs only in the dojo
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9.
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Karate
training requires a lifetime
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10.
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Transform
everything into karate; therein lies its exquisiteness
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11.
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Genuine
karate is like hot water; it cools down if you do not keep on heating it
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12.
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Do
not think of winning; you must think of not losing
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13.
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Transform
yourself according to the opponent
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14.
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The
outcome of the fight depends on one’s control
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15.
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Imagine
one’s arms and legs as swords
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16.
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Once
you leave the shelter of home, there are a million enemies
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17.
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Postures
are for the beginner; later they are natural positions
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18.
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Do
the kata correctly; the real fight is a different matter
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19.
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Do
not forget control of the dynamics of power, the elasticity of the body and
the speed of the technique
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20.
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Always
be good at the application of everything that you have learned.
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Karate and its influence outside
Japan
Soviet Union
Karate
appeared in the Soviet Union in the mid-1960s, during Nikita
Khrushchev's policy of improved international relations. The first Shotokan clubs
were opened in Moscow's universities. In
1973, however, the government banned karate—together with all other foreign
martial arts—endorsing only the Soviet martial art of sambo. Failing to suppress these uncontrolled groups, the USSR's Sport
Committee formed the Karate Federation of USSR in December 1978. On 17 May
1984, the Soviet Karate Federation was disbanded and all karate became illegal
again. In 1989, karate practice became legal again, but under strict government
regulations, only after the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991 did independent karate schools resume functioning, and so
federations were formed and national tournaments in authentic styles began.
Europe
In the
1950s and 1960s, several Japanese karate masters began to teach the art in
Europe, but it was not until 1965 that the Japan Karate Association (JKA) sent
to Europe four well-trained young Karate instructors Taiji
Kase, Keinosuke
Enoeda, Hirokazu
Kanazawa and Hiroshi
Shirai. Kase went to France, Enoeada to England and Shirai in Italy. These
Masters maintained always a strong link between them, the JKA and the others
JKA masters in the world, especially Hidetaka Nishiyama in the
USA.
Italy
Hiroshi Shirai, one of the original instructors sent by the JKA to Europe along with
Kase, Enoeda and Kanazawa, moved to Italy in 1965. By 1970 Shotokan karate was
the most spread martial art in Italy apart from Judo. Other styles such as Wado
Ryu, Goju Ryu and Shito Ryu, although present and well established in Italy,
were never able to break the monopoly of Shotokan.
Conclusion
All in all, we can say that Karate
is one of the essential parts of a person’s life. For as Gichin Funakoshi marked:"The ultimate aim of Karate lies not
in victory or defeat, but in the perfection of the character of its
participants". I hope I succeeded in catching some of your attention to look
forward and search further more about this unique martial art also known as
Karate.
