A
Brief History of
Karate
Bodhidharma,
a Zen Buddhist monk from India was the first teacher
of Indian fighting techniques at the Shaolin monastery. Bodhidharma, was
known as Ta-Mo in the Shao-lin monastery. He wrote a
manuscript about Chinese boxing at Shaolin monastery,
the I-Chin-Ching. Through his 18 exercises
and brutal training his students increased their strength,
agility, and speed.
Bodhidharma, developed Shaolin kung fu. His teachings of empty-hand
fighting and yoga or seated meditation became the system upon which many martial
arts systems are now based. The Shaolin monastery is located in the Shao-Shi
mountains of Honan province in China.
Zen Buddhist monks developed a system of fighting known as "te" or hand.
As more Chinese techniques were added the system became "t'ang" or China
hand.It took several hundred years for "t'ang" to become
known as "karate-do" or empty hand. The "do" was
added to express a desire to seek spiritual and whole body development. This
was in contrast with the Okinawa-te style which was full contact.
Yoshitaka Funakoshi led
the transition from full blows to skin level focused hits. Gichin
Funakishi, student of Chinese Martial Arts.1905, implimented
karate in Okinawan physical education program for middle school
students. Discipline played a major role in the school system.
1917, Funakoshi moves to Kyoto, Japan. Gives first exhibition
of "t'ang".
1921, Funakoshi demonstrates the "t'ang" system
for the Crown Prince of Japan. His impressive performance gets him an appearance
at the first national athletic exhibition in Tokyo.
1924, Funakishi began teaching in schools and dojos. Karate
started to spread and several styles began to emerge, such as kyokushinkai,
and shukukai.
1936, Funakishi built the first karate only dojo. He named
it "shotokan" or "hall of shoto". "Shoto" was
Funakishi's pen name. He published "Karate do Kyokan" a short time
later.
1955, the first dojo was opened by the Japan Karate Association. Funakishi
dies in 1957.
Karate is now well established and today
is practiced around the globe. |
