History of Karate

Where Karate Began

Karate, the Japanese word for “empty hands,” was born in the Okinawan Islands as a form of self-
defense, at a time when weapons were banned by invading Japanese forces. It began as te (hand),
a fighting style used by the natives of the Ryukyu Islands, and was later influenced by Chinese
kenpō, introduced through the Chinese families that settled on Okinawa after trade relationships
between China and the islands were established.

From three Okinawan cities (Shuri, Naha, Tomari), each closely spaced but with very different
societal demands, three separate styles emerged:

Shuri-te
Naha-te
Tomari-te

Collectively, these styles were called Okinawa-te or tode (Chinese hand), and over time, the styles
merged slightly to become just two: Shōrin-ryū, developed near Shuri and Tomari, and Shōrei-ryū,
near Naha.

Because of increasing Japanese influence, the label of te was eventually lengthened to karate-jutsu
(Chinese hand art). It then changed to karate-do after an Okinawan master altered the meaning of
the word kara (also pronounced tode) to mean “empty” rather than “Chinese hand.” karate-do
translates into “the way of the empty hand.”

The Common Beliefs of Where Karate Started

Very little is known of the exact origins of karate before it appeared in Okinawa, but one popular
theory states that it came from India over a thousand years ago, brought to China by a Buddhist
monk called Bodhidarma (“daruma” in Japanese). As legend describes it, Bodhidarma arrived in
Shaolinsi and began teaching Zen Buddhism as well, a style of temple boxing based on exercises
designed to strengthen the mind and body. The historical accuracy of this legend is still a hot issue
of debate today.

Significant Dates in the History of Karate

1905: Karate is included in Okinawa’s physical education programs at the intermediate level.
1917: Funakoshi gives the first public demonstration of karate-do.
1922: Funakoshi is invited by Dr. Jano Kano to give a demonstration at the Kodokan Dojo,
bringing karate-do to Japan.
1924: The first university karate club is established in Japan, at Keio University.
1930s: Karate makes its way to Canada.
1936: Okinawan masters meet to discuss karate in Okinawa, a meeting sponsored by the
newspaper Ryukyu Shimpo.
1939: Japan opens Shoto-Kan, its first formal training school.
1945: The first dojo is opened in the United States.
1949: The Japan Karate Association is formed.
1950s: Karate is introduced in the United Kingdom.
1960s: Karate makes its way to the Soviet Union and is banned and unbanned several times over
the next three decades.
1964: France Shotokan Karate is created in France.
1989: Karate is legalized once again in the Soviet Union.

Significant Historical Figures

Gichin Funakoshi: Founder of Shotokan.

Dr. Jano Kano: Founder of Japanese judo.
Sakukawa Kanga: One of the first Okinawans to study in China.
Itosu Anko: Often called the “grandfather of karate,” brought karate to Okinawan schools and
simplified it for increased public acceptance.
Chojun Miyagi: Named the Gōjū-ryū style.
Hironori Otsuka: Founder of the Wadō-ryū style.
Kenwa Mabuni: Founder of the Shitō-ryū style.

Modern Karate

Today, karate-do is taught all around the world, and though it is often modified and always changing,
four distinctive Japanese styles have emerged:

Gōju-ryū
Shitō-ryū
Shotokan
Wadō-ryū
Karate has evolved into a popular and beloved sport. The World Karate Federation (WFK), the
largest organization for karate as a sport, has developed a system of common rules and regulations,
and though it is not yet recognized as an Olympic sport, the WFK is recognized by the International
Olympic Committee and coordinates with various national Olympic committees.

The History of Karate

In its current form, karate is less than 200

years old however it has roots that date back thousands of years.

The art originated on the island of Okinawa and in its early form was heavily
influenced by ancient Chinese martial arts, collectively known as kung fu.

The Beginnings of Karate History on Okinawa

The history of Okinawan Karate can be traced back to the late 17th century when a
ban on weapons was imposed by the samurai rulers of Japan.

The exact evolution of karate history is lost due to the lack of information being
written down which is unsurprising when taking into account the strict rules against
subjects of the island learning martial arts.

This meant that all training by early masters such as Kanga Tode Sakugawa (pictured)
and Sokon 'Bushi' Matsumura, had to be done in secret and as weapons could not be
carried on the island, self-defence tended to revolve around empty handed
techniques.

The earliest surviving written evidence of karate in Okinawa was a mention of the
word Tode (the Okinawan name for the art) in the late 1700s. It was in reference to a
visitor to the island from China named Kushanku who taught a form of Kung Fu and
may have introduced the first version of the Shotokan kata kanku dai. Tode style
blended with the martial arts already being cultivated on the island which was known
as Te, meaning ‘hand’.

Te was popular in three cities in particular, Shuri, Naha and Tamarai. Each city had
its own way of doing the martial arts and modern day styles reflect this; Shotokan and
Shito-ryu are mostly influenced by the style from the city of Shuri, that is Shuri-te,
and to a lesser extent Tamarai-te. Goju-ryu on the other hand is more influenced by
Naha-te.

Karate History and its Development into a World Martial Art

At the turn of the 20th century, Anko Itosu gained permission to end the shroud of
secrecy for those who wanted to learn martial arts and began teaching Te in
Okinawan schools. This led to further expansion by one of Itosu’s students, Sensei
Gichin Funakoshi, who introduced the art to Japan in 1922.

Funakoshi made many modifications to the art to make it more accessible to the
Japanese including changing the name and karate as we know it today was born.
Towards the end of his life, Funakoshi was instrumental in forming the Japanese
Karate Association (JKA) which set about making karate a world martial art by sending
out its best instructors to teach it all over the globe.

Today, karate is practiced by millions of people right across the world and although
the lines are often blurred between karate history facts and exagerations or legends,
the contribution made by the old Okinawan masters and those that followed them
should not be forgotten.
 The History of Okinawan Karate

Karate is studied worldwide by millions of

people and is considered by many as the best martial art available as it is suitable for
people of all ages, ability levels and body types. The techniques are said to promote
not only fighting prowess, but also good health and longevity of life.

Influences on Okinawan Karate History

Many historians trace Okinawan karate history and indeed the history of the martial
arts in the Far East to Bodhidharma, the Indian Buddhist monk who travelled to China
in around 527 CE. He stayed at the Shaolin Temple where he is said to have taught
the monks an ancient form of Indian martial arts known as Vajramushti, which dates
back to around 1000 BCE.

From there it grew and developed into what we now know as Kung Fu and spread
right throughout China. Over the centuries, it is believed that Chinese martial artists
visited the island of Okinawa and passed on their knowledge, developing over time
into an art that was unique to the island.

From 1609, Okinawa was run by the Satsuma Clan from Japan and under their rule,
weapons and martial arts in general were banned. Though the use of some weapons
was still practiced, their ban had a profound influence on the art as it led to the
secret development of many empty handed techniques.

All those who chose to learn martial arts had to do so in secret or risk punishment
from the authorities. As a result, very little information was written down about the
martial arts in Okinawa before the 20th century and much of what was recorded
unfortunately hasn’t survived, leaving the exact details of what was practiced and
believed a mystery.

Okinawan Karate Styles

There were three main styles which are named after the cities in which they
developed; Shuri-te, Naha-te and Tomari-te. Collectively, these fighting styles were
known as Okinawan Te (Hand) or Tode, (Chinese Hand). Two forms of Tode emerged
by the 19th century, Shorin-ryu which was developed from the Shuri and Tomari styles
and Shorei-ryu which came from the fighting style practiced at Naha.

It should be remembered that the cities were all within a few miles of each other
and Shorin-ryu and Shorei-ryu had many similarities. The main differences were of
emphasis and according to Sensei Gichin Funakoshi who studied both, they were
developed based on different physical requirements.

Shorin-ryu was a quick, linear art that taught natural breathing whereas Shorei-ryu
was more rooted and practiced breathing that was synchronized with each individual
movement; according to Funakoshi, both styles also have links to the Kung Fu styles
of the Wutang and Shaolin Temples.

Okinawan Karate History and the Meji Restoration

In the mid-1800s, Okinawa was a place in turmoil as a result of the end of the old
Samurai ways in Japan and the onset of the Meiji restoration, where the emperor
once again ruled. They found themselves caught between the national interests of
China, Japan and America (who they had previously paid joint tribute to).

The Okinawan king and his government were disbanded and made to become
commoners, the whole city of Shuri saw mass unemployment and the forefathers of
Karate found themselves going from being of the higher social class to a state of
abject poverty.

Sokon ‘Bushi’ Matsumura, a military officer who was responsible for the safety of
the Royal Family prior to the Meji Restoration was instrumental in the development
of Shuri-te, along with his student Anko Itosu. These were dangerous times for the
nobility of the island but they were not permitted to carry weapons.

It was around this time that Matsumura and Itosu are believed to have developed the
hard style that focused on rendering an opponent unconscious with very few
techniques. This replaced the submission holds, grappling and light rapid techniques
of Chinese boxing (kung Fu) that preceded them and is believed to be the first time
a style was practiced that closely resembles modern Shotokan Karate.

Until the early 20th century the Okinawan masters trained in secret, spending three
years on each kata and training extensively on a makiwara board; sparring as we know
it today was not practiced though karateka would often challenge each other to fights
to test their skills.

Then in around 1905, Anko Itosu took the art out of secrecy and managed to get the
authorities to allow him to start a program of teaching karate in the local schools.
This was one of the most significant acts in the history of karate and brought in new
era of growth for the art. It would ultimately see it go from a secretive martial art
taught only to the privileged few on a small island, to being a worldwide phenomenon
with ever increasing numbers of students by the middle of the 20th century.
 The Life and Legends of Anko Itosu
Anko Itosu’s teachings are legendary in

world martial arts. Along with his Master, Sokon ‘Bushi’ Matsumura, he was
instrumental in the development of the Shuri-te style of Okinawan karate.

Itosu can be said to be the first person to practice what would closely resemble the
type of Shotokan karate that is practiced today, and was responsible for taking the
martial art from being a secretive, behind closed doors art, to being spread to the
general public in Okinawa.

The Early Life of Itosu

Born in 1830 in the city of Shuri in Okinawa, Itosu is believed to have had a rough
childhood, often being beaten and abused by his father. It is said that his father
would tie him up and continually poke him with a stick in order to teach him fighting
spirit.

This would be reflected later in the teachings of Itosu, as many of the kata he is
thought to have invented and influenced have moves that are designed to disarm
a would-be attacker brandishing a stick.

At the age of 16 he started leaning karate from Master Matsumura and by the time he
grew up, Itosu was a well-educated man and worked as King Sho Tai’s personal
 secretary, whom he served for thirty years. For Itosu and the rest of the inhabitants
of the island, everything changed in 1879 as the Japanese ended the Royal dynasty
of Okinawa, sending the king into exile.

Most of the karate masters had worked for the King so as a result of his fall from
grace many, including Itosu, suddenly found themselves living in abject poverty even
though they were of the higher social class.

Anko Itosu and his Legendary Fighting Prowess - Tomoyose

When Itosu was a young man, he built up a reputation by winning several fights and
there are a number of legends about his endeavours that have been handed down to
us from an oral tradition.

One story tells of how he challenged an obnoxious bully named Tomoyose who was
criticizing the Shuri-te style, calling it “parlour karate”. Itosu was then attacked by
Tomoyose’s gang but he quickly dispatched three of them using one knockout blow for
each. Tomoyose then decided to attack himself and was also subdued in a similar
fashion, being rendered unconscious by Itosu.

Anko Itosu and the Thief

Gichin Funakoshi referred to his teacher’s incredible ability to withstand blows, his
vice-like grip and his amazing physical strength. Itosu was a well built, strong man
who conditioned his body to be able to give and take the hardest of blows. He
insisted his students regularly use the makiwara board, a pad that is repeatedly
struck in order to make the hands tougher and use to high impact hits.

One story that illustrates this power tells of a thief who tried to break into the
master’s house. When Itosu heard his wooden gate rattle, he went to investigate only
to realise that on the other side was the thief trying to gain access. Itosu, so the
legend goes, punched straight through the thick wooden gate, grasping the would-be
thief by the arm and creating a gaping hole in the gate.

Anko Itosu’s Influence on Karate

While it can be difficult to know where true karate history ends and myths and
legends begin, both these stories illustrate why Anko Itosu’s teachings are so
important to karate history. It was him that popularised and possibly brought in the
concept of finishing an opponent off with one blow, which is often delivered when
the opponents begins their opening attack.

Previously karateka, much like kung Fu practitioners, would attempt to overwhelm

their opponents with less powerful rapid-fire techniques, use grappling moves or
lighter strikes to vulnerable areas such as pressure points, the eyes or the groin.
For this reason, the master’s karate is said to be the first that closely resembles
what is practiced in Shotokan karate today, leading many to see Itosu as
theGrandfather of Modern Day Karate.
Another major contribution made by Sensei Itosu was to take the art out of secrecy
and get it taught in Okinawan schools. This would start a chain of events that
would lead to his karate being popularized throughout the world and become one
of the most practiced martial arts there is.

Sensei Gichin Funakoshi - Father of Modern Day Karate

 Sensei Gichin Funakoshi is known
as the Father of Modern Day Karateand is probably the best known name in
karate history.

He was born in the city of Shuri on the island of Okinawa in 1868 and by the age of
11, Funakoshi was training with the great Okinawan teachers Anko Itosu and
Yasutsune Azato.

At this time it was illegal to learn martial arts, though that did not stop him and many
others practicing in secret. Around the turn of the century the art came out into the
open and began to be taught in public schools, thanks largely to the efforts of Anko
Itosu.

Sensei Gichin Funakoshi and Japan

By the time Funakoshi was an adult he excelled in karate, so much so that when the
Crown Prince of Japan, Hirohito, visited Okinawa, Funakoshi was chosen to performed
a demonstration for him.

When the Japanese Ministry of Education held a demonstration of karate in Tokyo a

year later in 1922, the Okinawan Department of Education who he worked for as a
school teacher asked him to be the one to perform it and introduce the art to Japan;
when he did, a new era in the history of the martial arts was born.

The Japanese were so impressed that he was asked to stay in the country to further
demonstrate and teach his art. This began with an invitation from Jigoro Kano, the
founder of Judo, who asked Funakoshi to demonstrate karate in front of over one
hundred of his students.

After this, the requests kept coming so Master Funakoshi decided to move to Japan
permanently. He quickly gained students in the universities in and around Tokyo and
soon he had enough interest to start his own dojo.

Sensei Gichin Funakoshi’s Development of Karate

Sensei Gichin Funakoshi earned the title the Father of Modern Day Karate in a
number of ways. One was that he adapted the training methods so that they could be
more easily practiced by everybody, regardless of age, ability or sex.

He also made karate more accessible to the Japanese by changing the meaning of the
word ‘Kara’. Originally the meaning used was ‘Chinese’ with ‘Te’ meaning ‘hand’ but
the characters used for Kara could also mean ‘empty’ in Japanese. As this fitted the
style so well and because karate had developed to be very different from the Chinese
styles, it became the new meaning of the word. He also changed the name of many of
the kata, again making them more acceptable to a Japanese culture that hated
everything that was Chinese.

Amongst his more prominent beliefs was Funakoshi’s conviction that the best martial
arts exponents should be so confident that they had nothing to prove about their
fighting prowess. The true art was found in subduing an opponent without fighting,
echoing the teachings of the legendary samurai Tsukahara Bokuden from over 400
years previously.

In 1955, Sensei Gichin Funakoshi made another momentous contribution to the karate
world when he was instrumental in founding the Japanese Karate Association (JKA).
Funakoshi was the chief instructor but unfortunately, the great master died not long
after in 1957.

However through his most senior students such as Hidetaka Nishiyama and Masatoshi
Nakayama, Shotokan karate lived on and grew. Today, it is practiced by millions of
students and is a famous fighting system, respected and feared throughout the world.
 The Real Mr Miyagi – Founder of Goju Ryu

Everybody of a certain age remembers

the character Mr Miyagifrom the hit 1980s movie The Karate Kid. However what
many people do not realise is the wise old karate teacher was in fact based on a real
life master from Okinawa who founded one of the most successful forms of the
martial
 art, Goju Ryu karate.

Blending Chinese Kung Fu with Okinawan Karate

Sensei Chojun Miyagi (1888 – 1953) began his training at an early age and when he
turned 14, he was sent to study under the great master Kanryo Higaonna.

While working in China, Higaonna had the opportunity to study kung fu and blended
his new knowledge with the style he himself had been taught in his home town of
Naha (later this style would become known as Naha-te).

Though training was extremely hard, the young Miyagi excelled and through great
determination and a large amount of raw natural talent and was able to progress in
the art very quickly. After his teacher’s death in 1915, Miyagi also went to China and
though he did not intend to learn kung fu, what he saw there piqued his interest so he
began studying.

He attended the Pakua Chan School that emphasised the soft aspects of the martial
arts. He was particularly interested in the internal systems and breathing techniques
they taught there that promoted inner peace and harmony of the mind, body and
spirit.

He also studied at the School of Shaolin Chuan which had a more external focus on
training. The ‘hard’ aspect of the style he developed incorporates open handed
blocking with a circular motion along with strong punching and striking techniques.

The legs are also utilised effectively and while high kicks are getting more popular
today, Miyagi taught that kicks should be kept low in order to maximise their
effectiveness while minimising the risk (as high kicks are less likely to hit the target
and may result in a loss of balance). Goju Ryu karate also incorporates the use of
many other types of technique including;

 Sweeps
 Throws
 Joint locks
 Grappling
The Development of Goju Ryu Karate
In the early 20th century, Okinawan karate masters were in great demand in Japan
which appealed to Miyagi, so he went and began teaching classes at Kyoto University.
However after a while he became homesick and returned to Okinawa, taking some of
his best students with him.

One of Sensei Chonju Miyagi’s students who did not follow him back to his homeland
however was Gogen Yamaguchi, who instead stayed in Japan and became a very
successful teacher there. Known as The Cat because of his agility, cunning and speed
when fighting, he further developed the style by organizing it into the system that is
used all over the world today, forming the association known as Goju Kai.

Miyagi spent the rest of his life developing and teaching Goju Ryu karate while
Yamaguchi did likewise in Japan. On his deathbed, the founder of the style named
Yamaguchi as his successor, before passing away on 8 October 1953 at the age of 65.

Today, his legacy lives on and he is considered a legend of martial arts history. His
name will always be remembered through the style he created which despite some
modifications down the years, is still easily recognisable as the karate of thereal Mr
Miyagi.

The Legendary Fighting Prowess of Sensei Mas Oyama

 Sosai Masutatsu Oyama, commonly known
as Mas Oyama, was born into an aristocratic family in a small village in South Korea in
1923.

At the age of 9, he began studying Southern Chinese Kempo under the tutelage of Mr
Yi, an employee on his father’s farm. Then at the age of 15 he moved to Japan where
he joined the Yamanashi Youth Air Force Academy and then theImperial Japanese
Army.

Later the same year, he became the student of Gichin Funakoshi and by 1941 aged
18, he was already a second Dan black belt, progressing to fourth Dan before he was
21.

Oyama would always refer to Funakoshi as his true karate teacher and would later
state that of all the things he learned from the founder of the Shotokan system, kata
was the most important.

After the end of World War Two, Oyama began to train under fellow Korean Nei-Chu
So, an exponent of the Goju Ryu style and one of Gogen The Cat Yamaguchi’s best
students. He also took up Judo at this time and within four years was a fourth degree
black belt in the discipline.

Mas Oyama on Mount Minobu

After becoming disillusioned with his martial arts training, Oyama decided to throw
everything he had at it so he went to the top of Mount Minobu in the Chiba
 Prefecture, the same place the great samurai Miyamoto Musashi is said to have
received inspiration for his double sword system.

Oyama stayed there for eighteen months, testing himself against nature with gruelling
training methods that included;

 Practicing techniques and meditating under freezing cold waterfalls

 Jumping over bushes and boulders repeatedly
 Using trees and rocks as makiwara boards to condition the bones in his
hands, arms, legs and feet
 Running up and down steep slopes
 Lifting heavy rocks hundreds of times as strength training

He would rise at five in the morning and once his training was done, would read
extensively from martial arts manuals and from Buddhist texts. He would finish the
day with contemplative meditation; it was here that he began to develop the ideas
that would form his own style, kyokushin karate, and where he first though of the
idea of testing his abilities by fighting a bull.

When he left the mountain and returned to civilisation, he entered the first All Japan
Karate Tournament held in Kyoto, which he won. Despite his victory, he still felt that
something was lacking in his karate so he went back into isolation, this time heading
for Mount Kiyosumi for another year of fourteen hour a day training sessions and
continuous contemplation and reflection.

Mas Oyama's Bull Fights

When he returned, he decided that he wanted to take on the ultimate challenge in a
life and death contest with a bull (pictured above). He undertook this challenge 52
times; three of them were killed instantly by his strikes and 49 had their horns taken
clean off by his knife hand strike.

While this seems a little untoward to the modern reader due to the cruelty to animals
aspect, it must be remembered that this was in the 1950s and people had a totally
different mentality then (the animals he fought were also all ready for slaughter so
would have died anyway).

As a feat of strength, bravery and a demonstration of devastating technique, Mas

Oyama’s bull fights are unparalleled. That said, his first attempt in 1957 did not go
too well and even though he eventually won, he was bed ridden for six months from
injuries sustained from the fight.

Fighting Other Martial Artists

Not content with fighting dumb animals, he also took on more than 270 people over
the years, many of whom were beaten with one punch; most contests lasted a matter
of seconds and none over three minutes.

Oyama had made his bones so strong that even when his attack was blocked, he would
break the bones of his opponent’s blocking arm and while his hands were legendary,
he was also known for his powerful head kicks.

He travelled the world to fight, teach and establish dojos; he would fight anybody
from any style and in doing so gained enough fame to make his style, kyokushin
karate (the search for the ultimate truth), one that is today practiced worldwide with
over 15 million members. His legacy also includes a number of books that are amongst
the most read karate books ever.

At the age of 71 in 1994, Master Sosai Masutatsu Oyama died, losing just about the
only battle of his illustrious life, to lung cancer.

Karate International
We want to thank the many web authors for this page.
Karate History

Most Western students of Asian martial arts, if they have done any research on the subject at all, will
surely have come across references to Bodhidharma. He is known as "Daruma" in Japan and as often as
not, this Indian Buddhist monk is cited as the prime source for all martial arts styles or at the very least,
for any style which traces its roots back to the fabled Shaolin Temple. However, the question of his
contributions to the martial arts and to Zen Buddhism and even of his very existence has been a matter of
controversy among historians and martial arts scholars for many years (Spiessbach,1992).

As legend has it, the evolution of karate began over a thousand years ago, possibly as early as the fifth
century BC when Bodhidharma arrived in Shaolin-si (small forest temple), China from India and taught
Zen Buddhism. He also introduced a systematized set of exercises designed to strengthen the mind and
body, exercises which allegedly marked the beginning of the Shaolin style of temple boxing.
Bodhidharma's teachings later became the basis for the majority of Chinese martial arts. In truth, the
origins of karate appear to be somewhat obscure and little is known about the early development of
karate until it appeared in Okinawa.

Okinawa is a small island of the group that comprises modern day Japan. It is the
main island in the chain of Ryuku Islands which spans from Japan to Taiwan.
Surrounded by coral, Okinawa is approximately 10 km (6 mi) wide and only
about 110 km (less than 70 mi) long. It is situated 740 km (400 nautical mi) east
of mainland China, 550 km (300 nautical miles) south of mainland Japan and an
equal distance north of Taiwan. Being at the crossroads of major trading routes,
its significance as a "resting spot" was first discovered by the Japanese. It later developed as a trade
center for southeastern Asia, trading with Japan, China, Indo China, Thailand,
Malaysia, Borneo and the Philippines.
In its earliest stages, the martial art known as "karate" was an indigenous form of
closed fist fighting which was developed in Okinawa and called Te, or 'hand'. Weapons
bans, imposed on the Okinawans at various points in their history, encouraged the
refinement of empty-hand techniques and, for this reason, was trained in secret until
modern times. Further refinement came with the influence of other martial arts brought by nobles and
trade merchants to the island.

Te continued to develop over the years, primarily in three Okinawan cities: Shuri, Naha and Tomari.
Each of these towns was a center to a different sect of society: kings and nobles, merchants and business
people, and farmers and fishermen, respectively. For this reason, different forms of self-defense
developed within each city and subsequently became known as Shuri-te, Naha-te and Tomari-
te. Collectively they were calledOkinawa-Te or Tode, 'Chinese hand'. Gradually, karate was divided into
two main groups: Shorin-ryu which developed around Shuri and Tomari and Shorei-ryu which came
from the Naha area. "It is important to note, however, that the towns of Shuri, Tomari, Naha are only a
few miles apart, and that the differences between their arts were essentially ones of emphasis, not of
kind. Beneath these surface differences, both the methods and aims of all Okinawan karate are one in the
same" (Howard, 1991). Gichin Funakoshi goes further to suggest that these two styles were developed
based on different physical requirements Funakoshi, 1935). Shorin-ryu was quick and linear with natural
breathing while Shorei-ryu emphasized steady, rooted movements with breathing in synchrony with each
movement. Interestingly, this concept of two basic styles also exist in kung-fu with a similar division of
characteristics (Wong, 1978).
The Chinese character used to write Tode could also be pronounced 'kara' thus the name Te was replaced
with kara te - jutsu or 'Chinese hand art' by the Okinawan Masters. This was later changed to karate-
do by Gichin Funakoshi who adopted an alternate meaning for the Chinese character for kara, 'empty'.
From this point on the term karate came to mean 'empty hand'. The Do in karate-do means 'way' or 'path',
and is indicative of the discipline and philosophy of karate with moral and spiritual connotations.

The concept of Do has been prevalent since at least the days of the Okinawan Scholar Teijunsoku born in
1663, as this passage from a poem he wrote suggests:
No matter how you may excel in the art of te,
And in your scholastic endevours,
Nothing is more important than your behavior
And your humanity as observed in daily life.
(Nagamine,1976)
The first public demonstration of karate in Japan was in 1917 by Gichin Funakoshi, at the Butoku-den in
Kyoto (Hassell 1984). This, and subsequent demonstrations, greatly impressed many Japanese, including
the Crown-Prince Hirohito, who was very enthusiastic about the Okinawan art. In 1922, Dr. Jano Kano,
founder of the Japanese art of Judo, invited Funakoshi to demonstrate at the famous Kodokan Dojo and to
remain in Japan to teach karate. This sponsorship was instrumental in establishing a base for karate in
Japan. As an Okinawan "peasant art," karate would have been scorned by the Japanese without the
backing of so formidable a martial arts master (Maliszewski, 1992).

Today there are four main styles of karate-do in Japan: Goju-ryu, Shito-ryu, Shotokan, and Wado-ryu:

Goju-ryu developed out of Naha-te, its popularity primarily due to the success of Kanryo Higaonna
(1853-1915). Higaonna opened a dojo in Naha using eight forms brought from China. His best student,
Chojun Miyagi (1888-1953) later founded Goju-ryu, 'hard soft way' in 1930. In Goju-ryu much emphasis
is placed on combining soft circular blocking techniques with quick strong counter attacks delivered in
rapid succession.

Shito-ryu was founded by Kenwa Mabuni (1889-1952) in 1928 and was influenced directly by both
Naha-te and Shuri-te. The name Shito is constructively derived from the combination of the
Japanese characters of Mabuni's teachers' names - Ankoh Itosu and Kanryo Higaonna. Shito-ryu
schools use a large number of kata, about fifty, and is characterized by an emphasis on power in the
execution of techniques.

Shotokan was founded by Gichin Funakoshi (1868-1957) in Tokyo in 1938. Funakoshi is considered to
be the founder of modern karate. Born in Okinawa, he began to study karate with Yasutsune Azato, one
of Okinawa's greatest experts in the art. In 1921 Funakoshi first introduced Karate to Tokyo. In 1936, at
nearly 70 years of age, he opened his own training hall. The dojo was called Shotokan after the pen name
used by Funakoshi to sign poems written in his youth. Shotokan Karate is characterized by powerful
linear techniques and deep strong stances.

Wado-ryu, 'way of harmony', founded in 1939 is a system of karate developed from jujitsu and karate by
Hienori Otsuka as taught by one of his instructors, Gichin Funakoshi. This style of karate combines basic
movements of jujitsu with techniques of evasion, putting a strong emphasis on softness and the way of
harmony or spiritual discipline.
 Welcome WKF
 President
 From WUKO to WKF
 The IOC Recognition
 The Olympic Project
 Global sport Closing


Antonio Espinós
WKF President

It gives me great pleasure to write the foreword to this book about karate that will
surely take its rightful place within the international sports community.
Sport Karate has become a massive phenomenon across the globe involving
millions of families spanning countries within all five continents, and thus deeply
entrenched in global society.
The World Karate Federation is the only organization to have achieved consensus
among innumerable visions, styles and cultures of Karate. It is now the focal point
for National Federations, supporters, referees, coaches, athletes and recreational
practitioners. The WKF has driven the evolution of Karate from an esoteric Asian
martial art into a captivating and dynamic sport with global appeal.
Through four decades of diligent investment in the safety of Karate athletes,
standardized coaching and refereeing competence, as well as contemporary media
promotion, the WKF has brought real-time, world-class karate into the lives and
living rooms of anyone, anywhere on the planet.
The WKF has thus provided a way for citizens of all countries to improve their
lives by participation in any aspect of Karate – from recreational activity to high-
performance competition - and form enduring relationships that transcend
boundaries and promote intercultural understanding.
After almost half a century of innovative success, the WKF looks forward to
continuing the multifaceted development of Karate for the benefit of humankind.
BIRTH OF WUKO
Photo: Declaration of the creation of WUKO

After several decades of rapid worldwide growth, several competitions started to

attract karate athletes from several countries during the 1960s.

The different styles of karate, diversity of the rules and lack of unified protocols that
govern any type of competition indicated a need to create an international governing
body comprising united National Karate Federations that could start to address
these issues from a unified global perspective.

Ryoichi Sasakawa, President of the Japan Karate Federation (JKF) and Jacques
Delcourt, President of the European Karate Union (EKU) jointly proposed a series
of meetings that would produce not only the first amalgamated international rules
for sport Karate, but also the establishment of the World Union of Karate Do
Organizations (WUKO) on October 10, 1970.
 World Union of Karatedo Organizations

Tokyo was the site where WUKO was inaugurated and where the first WUKO World
Championships were held. Portland, Oregon hosted the first meeting of the fledgling
WUKO Directing Committee, the objective of which was to lay the foundation for the
future of unified sport Karate.
 National Karate Federations recognized by their National Olympic Committees and
Highest Sport Authorities soon became members and thus WUKO became the most
important world governing body for Karate.

TOKYO 1970
First World Championships

The scale and importance of the first WUKO World Championships in Tokyo, 1970
was unprecedented for the karate world as it included:

 33 countries
 Male Open Individual and Male Team Kumite divisions

The success, scale and media impact of the event was immediately recognized worldwide as an
innovative milestone in the development of sport Karate. Since then, the competition has been
refined to the point of incomparable sophistication in terms of technical Karate quality and of
credibility as a showcase sport event that reaches millions of karate practitioners in all corners of
the globe via state-of-the-art communications tools.
1970 Tokyo

1972 Paris
1975 Long Beach

1980 Madrid
 1982 Taipei

CHANGE TO WKF
The integration of several new organizations during the 1990s saw WUKO
membership increase to 150 National Federations. Therefore, a new name that would
more accurately reflect the size and scope of the organization was needed. The name
of the first International organization representing sport Karate was thus changed to
World Karate Federation (WKF) on December 20, 1992.
WUKO-WKF Presidents

As the President of the French Karate Federation, he promoted first the

creation of the European Federation, being its first President and later on
being the President of WUKO until 1998.

Jacques Delcourt 1992-1998

EVOLUTION OF WKF
COMPETITION
The Tokyo World Championships paved the way for a remarkable evolution in
international Karate competition over the next three decades.

That inaugural event comprised only male team and individual Kumite. Kata
divisions were introduced and women were included for the first time at the Madrid
World Championships a decade later during 1980. Current competition comprises a
total of four male and female kata divisions and twelve male and female kumite
divisions.

The incorporation of divisions for Persons with Disabilities into the World
Championships merits special mention. The overwhelmingly positive public
response to these exceptional athletes validated the perception of karate as an activity
in which all humanity can participate.

International development
IOC RECOGNITION
The significant growth of WKF during the 1980s and 1990s resulted in a
consolidated organization that fully represented sport Karate at the
international level.

This legitimacy was confirmed in 1999, when the IOC officially recognized
WKF as the sole governing body for sport Karate in the world.
 WKF UNIVERSAL
PARTNERSHIPS
The World Karate Federation is a member of the following leading
International Organizations:

The World Karate Federation comprises 188 countries in five continents that
represent over 10 million members. Five Continental Federations are represented
within WKF:
The five colors in the WKF logo symbolize the universal nature of Karate as a sport
and of the organizational structure that governs it.
 Karate is included in the following programs:

African Games
Asian Games
European Games
Mediterranean Games
Pan-American Games
Pacific Games
World Games

THE OLYMPIC WAY

The IOC shortlisted Karate during 2004 as a candidate sport for inclusion into the
2012 Summer Olympic Games.

This complex path encouraged Karate to undergo major development and

facilitated the introduction of improvements to ensure the safe participation of
athletes in a modern, visually attractive sport.

The olympic way

The WKF has petitioned the IOC to consider the inclusion of Karate in the Olympic
Games three times.
A campaign in 2012 was targeted towards demonstrating the effort applied and
the evolution of sport Karate to conform to all Olympic ideals during its journey
on the "Olympic Way".
This campaign reached millions of supporters that identified with the "K"
symbol, which is has since become an emblem of Karate and its Olympic
aspirations.

EVENTS DEVELOPMENT
Madrid 2002

París 2012

París 2012
PROGRESS AS A SPORT
Among the many advances that The Olympic Project facilitated, most were directed
towards changing the nature of the competition to improve sporting practices and
create attractive events.

One of the most obvious transformations that has had enduring visual impact has
been in the competition layout, which now comprises four aligned areas during the
eliminations and one elevated area during the finals.

These transformations have rendered Karate competition readily understandable for

fans, more visually attractive and have clarified refereeing practices with more
objective, simpler and fairer rules.

Gender equity, the incorporation of athletes with disabilities and various age groups
into competitive divisions, have notably increased athlete participation.

Quadrennial approval processes that ensure the incorporation of contemporary

protective devices have maximized athlete safety.
Application of the WADA anti-doping program now guarantees competition
transparency and educates participants about the importance of practicing a clean
sport.

Television and Internet coverage has significantly evolved to bring live WKF
competition to all and has allowed that Karate takes its rightful place among
international sport events that have worldwide followings.
 Referees are integral to WKF function. They actively collaborate to refine
competition rules that render WKF competition as fair and objective as possible
through ongoing training and assessment programs. These encourage the
incorporation of new referees and maintain the competence of qualified referees.

THE WORLD
CHAMPIONSHIPS, THE
FOREMOST KARATE
SPORTS EVENT
The evolution of Karate as a sport is accurately reflected in the changing nature of the
World Championships of the past four decades.

The present five-day World Championships includes 1200 athletes from over 100
countries and attracts thousands of supporters to stadiums, with millions
more following via TV and Internet.
 SPORT KARATE AS
INTERNET AND TELEVISED
ENTERTAINMENT
The expectations generated by today's World Championships demands global
diffusion. The WKF produces satellite signals through which TV and Internet
channels can offer live competition in high definition.

The World Championships are televised live in over 120 countries and the WKF
YouTube channel also allows the remainder access to these events in high definition.
 WORLDWIDE SPREAD OF
WKF COMPETITION
The WKF and its Continental Federations organize annual and biannual competitions
in male and female cadet, junior and senior divisions.
These competitions proceed worldwide with the endorsement of 188 National
Federations and anyone can follow them from any point on the planet.
An estimated 100 million individuals are involved with karate and the WKF Internet
channel surpassed 10 million views within the first 18 months of existence.

Evolution of countries with TV coverage

2006 - 46 countries
2010 - 80 countries
2014 - 120 countries
REACHING SUPPORTERS
THROUGH SOCIAL
NETWORKS
WKF is active in popular social networks.

Thousands of supporters are kept informed daily through the WKF Facebook page
where diverse information is available about Karate culture, philosophy, history,
values, competitions, athletes, and other types of current, relevant information.

The WKF supposes that the ultimate approach to broadcasting Karate is via the
WKF YouTube channel. Worldwide audiences can enjoy and appreciate
superlative performances by elite Karate athletes thanks to high-definition video.

The official WKF website integrates the Federation activities in terms of sport and
administrative issues. Results and databases for each competition are published in
real time.
 Karate has become the sport of reference among Martial Arts.

Although youth comprises the majority of Karate practitioners today, a wide

 range of individuals enjoy Karate and shar e its values of respect, humility, social
integration, physical and mental balance, rejection of violence and overcoming
difficulties. These positive values are important qualities that have considerable
public appeal.

INCORPORATION OF
TECHNOLOGY INTO
KARATE
Sport Karate benefits from technological innovations, such as the recently introduced
Hawk-Eye system of video replay. This system serves as an impartial second opinion
and thus facilitates referee decisions and adds excitement to competition.

Others include the use of mobile devices such as tablets and phones to follow
competitions in real time. Such progress and constant evolution epitomize the spirit
that defines the WKF.
 CLOSING
The WKF is the only organization that has succeeded in uniting all of these different
facets under one roof. As the home of world sport Karate, WKF is the focal point for
its member federations, supporters, referees, coaches, and
above all, its athletes.

Karate has evolved throughout almost half a century to become the exciting,
charismatic and dynamic activity that so many enjoy today. With your help, WKF
will continue to evolve and improve Karate for the benefit of humanity for many mor
e decades.

After all, what makes our lives so enjoyable?

KARATE