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The
Japanese word kara translates as empty and the word te means
hand. The third word do is generally translated as
the way or way. Thus, karate-do means the empty
hand way.
Karate-do
is a martial art based upon the principles of self-defense. It was
developed on the island of Okinawa (in Japan) by peasants who were denied
the possessions of weapons by the elite warrior class. In order to
defend themselves from these warriors, the Japanese peasants refined the
ancient Chinese fighting methods into a highly effective combat art.
Their hands and feet became their weapons and through diligent training
they were able to defend themselves against one or more armor-clad
attackers.
When
karate-do was no longer needed for day to day survival, the art continued.
Since the knowledge and teaching of karate-do was strictly forbidden by
the military government, its masters taught in secrecy for generations.
In the 1900's, karate-do was reintroduced to the Japanese people, who then
refined its powerful techniques. Soon after, karate-do spread to
western civilizations. Today, there are four major karate systems
recognized in the world: Shito-ryu, Shotokan, Goju-ryu, and Wado-ryu.
Karate
Masters:
Click-on
pictures for biographies
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Satunuku
"Tode" Sakugawa (1733 - 1815) |
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- Studied Kenpo in
China
- A student of
Takahara in Okinawa and Kusanku in China
- Awarded title of
"Satunushi", a social class two levels below the royal
family
- First teacher of
"Tode" (later to be known as karate) in Okinawa
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Sokon
"Bushi" Matsumura (1806 - 1894) |
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- Forefather of
Shorin-ryu
- A student of
Satunuku Sakugawa
- Awarded title of
"Bushi" by King Sho Tai of Okinawa
- Worked as a
body-guard for three different Okinawan kings
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Yasutsune
"Ankoh" Itosu (1830 - 1915) |
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- Master of Shuri-te
(the hand of Shuri)
- A student of Sokon
Matsumura and Kosaku Matsumora
- Considered with
Higashionna to be the two most important 19th century Okinawan
Karate Masters
- Introduced
Karate-do to the Okinawan public schools in 1901.
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Kanryo
Higashionna (1851 - 1915) |
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- Master of Naha-te
- Studied Kempo in
China's Fukien province under Liu Liu Kung
- Considered with
Itosu to be the two most important 19th century Okinawan Karate
Masters
- Noted for his
extraordinarily powerful Sanchin Kata
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Gichin
Funakoshi (1868 - 1957) |
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- Founder of
Shotokan
- A student of Ankoh
Itosu and Yasutsune Azato
- Considered the
"father" of modern day karate
- Felt that the
Japanese martial art should be labeled karate (empty hand),
since no weapons were used
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Chojun
Miyagi (1888 - 1953) |
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- Founder of
Goju-Ryu (hard-soft way)
- A student of
Kanryu Higashionna
- Introduced Kenwa
Mabuni to Higashionna
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Kenwa
Mabuni (1889 - 1952) |
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- Founder of Shito-Ryu
- A student of Itosu
and Higashionna
- An Okinawan born
descendent of the "Bushi" (warrior) class
- Blended the hard
and soft techniques of Shuri-te and Naha-te to create Shito-Ryu
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Hironori
Ohtsuka (1892 - 1982) |
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- Founder of
Wado-Ryu (way of peace)
- A student of
Funakoshi
- Blended Jui-Jitsu
and karate techniques to form Wado-Ryu
- First person to be
awarded Meijin
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