The Evolution of Karate

The evolution of karate is quite interesting topic . In a previous post I educated you on shotokan karate history. But now let’s delve even further into the rich history of karate in this dynamic post. From its roots in Okinawa to its global popularity today, learn all about this dynamic martial art.

WHAT IS KARATE?

Karate is a Japanese martial art that is popular worldwide. That no only taps into the physical aspects designed in development of defensive and counterattacking body movements. But also in modern era is about fighting and self-defence. Through its mental discipline and principles that target the overall improvement of its practitioners known as kaizen.

The word karate is a combination of two kanji 空 kara, meaning empty, and 手 te, meaning hand. By also adding the suffix 道 dō meaning way. karate-dō. This would implies karate as a total way of life that goes well beyond the self-defence applications. In traditional karate-dō, one is supposed to compete and strive to excel against him/herself.

THE CONNECTION BETWEEN MIND AND BODY

Martial artist around the world understand that this disciplined art is actually more mental than it is physical. While Martial arts involves striking, kicking and bag work. The philosophies also encourage meditation and being one with self, leading to calming of the mind.

Martial arts connect the body, spirit, and the mind because the training is comprehensive. You cannot train to your full potential unless these elements work together in perfect harmony.

IMPACTS ON THE BODY

Martial arts training provides you with the ultimate full-body workout, which improves your overall health, strength, flexibility, endurance and balance. It also strengthens the core muscles and educates you the importance of how to breathe so you maintain your stamina for longer.

THE POWER OF THE MIND

Traditional martial arts training is for life, there is no fast path to success. Mastering your martial arts training takes specific drills focusing on basic techniques to build muscle memory and strength. This technique strengthens the mind and teaches its practitioners to instil positive values such as dedication, focus, attention, and dedication.

In order to build on your martial arts skills requires you have 100% focus while executing each technique while moving up and down the dojo. In order for this to be achieved you have to clear your mind and push back other thoughts.  This has an amazing effect of calming your mind and make you feel more confident. It also silences that inner voice that seems to distract you from being able to concentrate.

Martial arts connects the mind and the body by making students to focus on how they feel internally. Practitioners are required to maintain correct body posture and balance. When you are able to connect with your own movements as you, train it heightens self-awareness and increases the connection between the mind and the body.

In a self defence situation you would never to be able to defend yourself from a would be attacker. If your mind freezes from panic or self doubt – because at the moment this happens all your martial arts training has gone out the window. This is why will need to focus by making sure to you understanding this vital connection.

MARTIAL ARTS SPIRIT

The philosophies in martial arts encourages its practitioners to focus on making improvements in small increments. For instance, practitioners should slowly start to train with more advanced belts, as this will allow them to grow by pushing themselves outside of their comfort zones. This is what develops the spirit because it makes students to face their fear and replace it with incredible focus and the desire to succeed.

I remember a long time ago coming across this philosophy which states “Before you can control someone else, you have to master self-control”. This highlights the important of self-awareness where the mind becomes aware of the bodies movements and strikes the perfect balance. Through muscle memory this type of awareness becomes an automatic response, which enable one to respond quickly in order to protect yourself.

KARATE IS A NO WEAPON ART (The Evolution of Karate)

This is something that I use to wonder about when I began training in karate. Why does karate mean empty hand, yet we train using various weapons. So, let’s take a closer look at where these weapons come from and why are they associated with Karate?.

Karate, was developed on the island of Okinawa by Funakoshi Gichin, the father of modern Karate. The story goes that commoners and farmers were prohibited from having weapons or practicing martial arts when the area was invaded by the Samurai from the Satsuma clan. So, in order to protect themselves they hid their martial arts training and fashioned weapons from farm tools.

These Okinawan weapons became to be known as Kobudo. A lot of Okinawana martial artists would train in both arts and many karate techniques could be performed with a weapon in hand for greater effect. So, you see this began a crossover between the two. So it was only natural Karate practitioners would eventually pick up these types of weapons as part of their training.

Traditional Japanese weapons now consist of a mixture of both traditional but also modern-day karate weapons.

TRADITIONAL vs SPORT KARATE

The objective behind traditional karate is self-defence and survival. It is based on the concept of ‘finishing blow’, meaning the last blow of the fight that is sufficient to render the attacking opponent unconscious/ unable to fight. In traditional karate competitions, the point is awarded to the person that gets the finishing blow. The purpose of this fighting technique is to develop well-balanced mind and body through training. This is where the evolution of karate began.

Sport karate is more about competition and scoring points. The points are awarded to the fastest and the most precise hit on the target with a foot or fist, so there is no need for the finishing blow. The purpose is to cultivate the fighting spirit and win the battle.

In traditional karate schools, the training atmosphere has a minimalist approach. Hardwood floors and negligible fixtures are inspired by the conventional karate teachings found in Japanese dojos.

Sport karate classes are conducted in a modern set-up where mats replace hardwood floors. Matted floors are installed to provide a safer environment, especially for children. Big, wall-sized mirrors are placed to give a studio-like appearance.

EARLY OKINAWA KARATE (The Evolution of Karate)

The origins of karate in Okiwana can be traced back to the late seventeenth century. When a ban on weapons and martial arts was imposed by the Japanese ruling samurai clan, the Satsuma. 

Unfortunately, the exact evolution of karate history was lost due to the lack of information documented during this period. This is because all training had to be done in secret and as weapons not allowed on the island. Self defence was trained around empty-hand techniques.

The earliest surviving written evidence of Okinawan karate was a mention of the word Tode (the Okinawan name for the art). And was in the late eighteenth century. It was in reference to a visitor to the island from China named Kushanku who taught a form of Chinese boxing (kung fu). And may have introduced the first version of some of the shotokan karate including kanku sho and kanku dai. 

Tode blended with another style of martial arts already being cultivated on the island.  Which  was known as Te, meaning hand, a combination that was a necessity for karate’s origins. Te was popular in cities such as Shuri, Naha and Tamarai. Each city had its style of doing the martial arts. Which you can still see in more 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-Rye on the other hand is more influenced by Naha-te.

TRADITIONAL KARATE  HISTORY (The Evolution of karate)

At the turn of the twentieth century. Anko Itosu gained permission to end the shroud of secrecy for those who wanted to learn martial arts and began teaching in Okinawan schools. This led to further expansion by one of Itosu’s students. Sensei Gichin Funakoshi, who had a major influence on the history of karate when he introduced the art to Japan in 1922. 

Funakoshi made many modifications to Okinawan karate to make it more accessible to the Japanese 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 the fighting style a world-renowned martial art by sending out its best instructors to teach it all over the globe. 

Karate as we know it now is practiced by millions of people worldwide and although the lines are often blurred between karate history facts and legends, the contribution made by the old Okinawan masters such as Anko Itosu, Gichin Funakoshi and many others should not be forgotten.

WHERE WAS KARATE INVENTED?

Though Karate has roots that goes back to Ancient China and even India, the art was primarily developed on the island of Okinawa. It was brought to Japan in the early 1900s where it was refined into the modern Karate that we practice and love today. 

Modern Karate is solidly Japanese. After being brought from Okinawa, the martial arts style was further refined and developed in Japan. Japanese culture is now firmly ingrained in the philosophy and mindset that is taught to its Karate practitioners around the world. The Okinawan art that developed into Karate was a mixture of both Chinese martial arts and Kung Fu. 

We know that no single person can be credited with the invention of Karate as a whole. However, Gichin Funakoshi has always been known as the Father of Modern Karate. He was the founder of Shotokan Karate and responsible for bringing Karate to Japan. 

FINAL THOUGHTS

I hope you have enjoyed learning about the evolution of karate.  This beautiful art has a long and amazing history. While we may never know all the details of the early life of karate. As karate practitioners we certainly can be proud of the heritage behind this popular martial art. 

Just like many Karate practitioners, senseis and masters before you have proudly worn gi and their belts.  Rest assured that you are joining a long history of martial arts tradition and will continue to inspire many more generations to come.

Ready to deepen your knowledge Shotokan Karate? Check out the following link to read my article Shotokan Karate Demystified