Pershore Shotokan Karate Academy
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History of Karate
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Karate is a martial art developed in Japan from a system used on an island called Okinawa. Okinawa is the Principle Island of the Ryukyu Archipelago laying three hundred miles to the south of Japan and three miles east of main land China
Although the roots of karate can be traced back thousands of years to India, the evolution of karate as we know it today began in the seventeenth century.
Legend has it that the Indian Buddhist monk Bodhidarma the originator of Zen Buddhism brought Ch Uan-Fa to the Shaolin temple in China during the Sung Dynasty. Some historians claim this to be false, but yet it remains a popular view.
Very little is known from that period until record of the practice of Ch Uan-Fa in Okinawa in 1372 when King Satto declared his allegiance to Chinas Ming Emperor.
In the centuries to follow Ch Uan-Fa gained a strong foothold in Okinawa practised along side with an indigenous unarmed fighting system known as Tode.
In 1609 the Japanese Satsuma Clan marched on the Ryukyu Islands ending their independence and banning all weaponry. This brought a bond between the Ch Uan-Fa and Tode to develop a fighting method to strengthen the physical and spiritual body in a bid to survive. The union came to be known as Te (hand).
Te was practised in secret in three main centres around the towns of , Shuri, Naha and Tomari. These local variations were later known as Shuri-Te, Naha-Te and Tomari-Te.
Between 1784 and 1903 karate replaced the word Te to describe the fighting system.
In 1875 the Satsuma occupation of the Ryuku Islands ended and they officially became part of the Japanese Empire. By 1903 karate was practised openly in schools.
Karate was by now a combination of hand and feet techniques influence by its origins.
Karate was officially introduced to Japan in 1917 when Gichin Funakoshi demonstrated the art at the Butokuden in Kyoto. By 1921 popularity had grown and Prince Hirohito was so impressed by a demonstration it was included in his official report to the Japanese Ministry of Education recommending it to be taught in Universities.
Prominent karate masters Funakoshi, Mijagi and Mabuni were instrumental in developing the three main styles from which all other originate, Shotokan, Shito-ryu and Goju-ryu.
Yoshitaka Funakoshi son of Gichin brought later changes forming Shotokan Karate into what is recognisable today.
Gichin Funakoshi was also a poet and wrote under the pen name "Shoto", meaning "whispering pines", the Shotokan was the "place of Shoto" where Gichin Funakoshi set up a dojo (training hall).
Sensei Taiji Kase who is the founder of the WKSA trained with Yoshitaka Funakoshi. Steve Cattle who founded the ESA in turn trained with Sensei Kase.
Yoshitaka Funakoshi
The development of modern day Shotokan can be in large part accredited to Gichin Funakoshi's third son, Yoshitaka.
It is Yoshitaka that has resulted in the karate that Shotokan exponents today practice Yoshitaka is known to have developed longer, deeper stances to create more strength, his kicks were more dynamic and the attacking techniques were developed even further all with the patronage of his father. Around 1930, Yoshitaka took over the running of his fathers main dojo in Japan and continued until 1944/45.
Yoshitaka was instrumental in introducing many more katas to the Shotokan system which he had learned from Azat. He was also instrumental in developing katas such as Ten No Kata, Chi No Kata, Hito No Kata, the five Heian katas, the three Tekki katas, Kanku Dai, Kanku Sho, Empi, Gankaku, Jutte, Hangetsu, Jion, Meikyo.
Yoshitaka was critically ill, however, and was told when he was a boy of around 13 that he would not live beyond his twenties due to tuberculosis. However, through hard training he lived to the age of forty seven.
Yoshitaka taught at the Shotokan dojo until 1944/45 but by 1945 he was seriously ill and much of the teaching was carried out by Genshin Hironish
Without a doubt from 1932/33 until 1945, Yoshitaka had a enormous influence on the way Shotokan karate developed. However when he died in 1947, Gichin Funakoshi had to come out of "retirement" to take over from where his son had left off to oversee the training.
Master Taiji Kase
Born in February 1929 it was in 1944 that Taiji Kase took up karate training at the original Shotokan dojo when it was being run by Gichin and Yoshitaka Funakoshi.
The following are excerpts from an interview by Steve Cattle 6th Dan For Traditional Karate Magazine in 1988:
"I started karate in 1944 in February of that year at the original Shotokan Dojo. That was the central dojo in karate at that time. The teachers then were Gichin Sensei and Yoshitaka Funakoshi Sensei. Actually Gichin had retired and Master Yoshitaka did most of the teaching. The name "Shoto" was Gichin Sensei's pen name and although he had resigned he still visited the dojo frequently and he had authorised the development of technique which had been advanced by Master Yoshitaka. The teaching was mostly done by Master Yoshitaka or by his assistants: Hironishi and Egami. This was of course in the middle of the war. I trained about three days a week mostly in kihon just like we have now: Sanbon Kumite, Oi tsuki, Maegeri, Yokogeri... All very hard basics!
We did kata also. Karate was done for combat only, there were no thought of competition.
In 1944 during the war when I was training at the Shotokan Dojo on the wall were written the official names of the katas. I often looked at the list of these katas I remember many of them till this day.
There was written Ten No Kata, Chi No Kata, Shi No Kata, Taikyoko Shodan, Nidan, Sandan, Heain Shodan - Godan, Tekki Shodan - Sandan, Bassai Dai, Bassai Sho, all kinds of katas as I remember. At this time I was only a beginner I didn't know what the katas were. I used to ask my seniors what those katas were. We have of course, documents and books from this period. The most famous one is "Karate Do Nyumon" which is ascribed to Master Gichin Funakoshi but was actually written by his son Yoshitaka.
This was written in 1943. This book showed the official kata names such as Nijishiho, Shokyo, Shoto and Hotaku. Where we now have Nijishiho, it was probably named Hakko and Futaku is Gojushiho.
After the war and Master Yoshitaka's death, Sensei Gichin had to come back and with him all the assistant instructors he had taught which were of the 1st generation of karate in Japan. They returned from China and other parts of Asia. Upon their return they discussed how to develop karate. But they were not aware of the changes that had taken place in their absence. Master Yoshitaka had completely changed karate, always the approval of his father. However, through the leadership of Sensei Gichin they tried to stay close to the original concept of Yoshitaka's ideas.
Yoshitaka developed the inner strength of his body, he believed that if you developed big techniques the muscles in one area would assist the muscles in another. So we have the shotokan basics very big. Very deep stances. Often they appear useless. Its only after ten or twenty years practice that they become useful. This is a deep concept. It's not tomorrow we are thinking of when we train these techniques but far into the future. After many years of strong, hard practice we can do many things. We can move anywhere with balance and stability. Without this training, I don't think its possible to have the power and balance to be effective. This is what Master Yoshitaka perfected."
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Who we are
Who we are
Redditch &Pershore Shotokan Karate Academy
On behalf of Redditch & Pershore Karate academy I would like to welcome you to the club and provide you with some information about our activities. The club provides opportunities for Adults and children from the age of seven, to receive instruction in Shotokan karate; all teachers are qualified and have been screened for their suitability for working with children.
We welcome parents/Guardians to all training and grading and value your support.
Arrangements should be made for your child to travel to and from training sessions. We appreciate it if children can arrive promptly and are collected promptly at the end of the session, if they are not making their own way home. if you are going to be late picking your child up, please contact the sports centre .
Below is some information about training times and details regarding club registration grading and kit.
Monday Redditch 6.30-7.30
Tuesday Pershore 6.30 - 7.30
Thursday Redditch 7pm to 8.00pm
Annual Membership and licence Adults£35.00 Children £30.00
Monthly training fee Children £16 covers one session week or £24 (Junior from 12yeas) for all sessions at Redditch and Pershore
Adults £20 covers one session a week or £32 for all sessions at Redditch and Pershore
For health and safety it is important that the club is informed of any medical condition or allergies that may be relevant should you or your child fall ill or be involved in an accident while at the club.
Karate training has many benefits for children, especially the development of three important areas of their personalities.
Self-Confidence:
Karate helps prepare a child for life. The children in our Karate classes know more is expected from them and with a little encouragement and support from their instructors and parents, they rise to the occasion.
Etiquette:
Children are taught from the outset that Karate is primarily a defensive and not an offensive martial art. They learn to be polite and respect their fellow students.
Discipline:
Children react to discipline very well and after a short period they develop self-discipline. Their concentration is enhanced as they focus their mind on the job at hand. Many parents notice a marked improvement in their child's powers of concentration.
we offe· Proven methods in positive instruction, which help children develop self-confidence, self-discipline, physical fitness, and respect for authority. Fun and energetic classes that children love to attend!
AREAS OF SPECIALIZATION INCLUDE
Karate classes to help young children learn discipline and listening and motor skills that will help them in school.
Junior Karate classes help children and teens develop coordination, confidence, self-discipline..
If you would like to talk to someone at the club about this information or your child’s involvement with the club, please contact us on 01386793160
e-mail slater@esa.uk.com
www.redditchkarate.com
Sincerely,
Slater Williams
Chief Instructor
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