|
In the year 525 AD, during the
six dynasties of China (AD 220-AD 581), Bodiharma (Daruma in Japanese)
a monk from India, wandered into China for the purpose of spreading
Buddhism, ended up at the Shaolin Monastery in Henan province.
The Shaolin monks were trained to stay seated for long periods
of time practicing meditation. Because of a lack of physical exercise,
Daruma introduced organized calisthenics and Yoga into their daily
training. This help developed blood flow and stamina needed for
hard core meditation. This later develops into Zen Buddhism and
Shaolin Gung fu. Mixing his teachings with the indigenous martial
arts, the Shaolin monks were inspired to examine the combative
movements of birds and beasts over the centuries combine it into
a systemize form of self-defense called "Shorin-ji Kempo".
The monks of the Shaolin Monastery became very famous in both
mental and physical strengths and their art spread and expanded
into many areas of Asia, including Okinawa (The Ryukyu Islands)
and the art was called To-di (Chinese hand). There was a long
history of cultural exchange between China and the Ryukyu Islands
dating back to the Ming dynasty (AD 1368-AD 1644). Ti (Hands)
was brought over from Ming China. To-di (Chinese hand) was mostly
developed and brought over during the Qing dynasty (AD 1644-1912).
Karate "Okinawan Gung fu" spread and developed around
the three villages of Shuri, Naha and Tomari, where Chinese influence
is greatest. These arts became known as Shuri-te, Naha-te and
Tomari-te for the area in which it was practices. The arts from
Shuri and Tomari became known as Shorin ryu "Shaolin temple
style" and the arts from Naha became known as Shorei ryu
"Enlighten Spirit style". Master Gichin Funakoshi brought
Shorin ryu to main land Japan and it developed into Modern Shotokan
Karate-do. Shorei ryu develop on Okinawa and became the styles
of Kojo ryu, Goju ryu and Uechi ryu.
Development of Shotokan Karate
 
Master Gichin Funakoshi
Master Gigo Funakoshi
 
Master Tomosaburo Okano
Master Toyotaro Miyazaki
1868, Master Gichin Funakoshi
"Shoto" as he was known, was born in Naha Okinawa and
as a young child began learning To-di from Master Anko Azato of
Naha and Master Anko Itosu of Shuri. Masters Asato and Itosu were
disciples of the great Okinawan Martial Artist, Sokon Matsumura
who was himself a disciple of Kanga Sakugawa and three Chinese
Military attaches, Wai shin Zan, Ason and Iwah.
1917, Master Funakoshi performed
the first public demonstration of Karate outside of Okinawa at
the Butokuden "Martial art center" in Kyoto Japan.
1921, Master Funakoshi demonstrated
Karate at Okinawa's Shuri castle for Hirohito the Crown Prince
of Japan. The Prince ( Future Emperor of Japan) was so impressed
that he wanted the art to be introduce to Mainland Japan.
1922, The Master moved to Japan
and permanently settle down in Koishikawa Tokyo and started teaching
at the Meisei juku (dormitory for Okinawan Students).
1922, Master Funakoshi performed
public Karate demonstrations in Tokyo and introduced the Okinawan
art to the general public.
1922, Master Tomosaburo Okano
was born in Hachioji-shi Tokyo Japan. Later Master Okano was designated
a living national treasure for karate by the Japanese government.
1922, Master Funakoshi wrote the
first textbook on Karate called Ryukyu kempo To-di (meaning, Okinawan
fist method China hand).
1924, Master Funakoshi started
to teach at Keio University karate club and later many other University
karate clubs were formed.
1925, Master Funakoshi wrote Rentan
Goshin To-di jitsu (meaning, physical fitness self-defense China
hand art).
1929, Master Funakoshi change
the name of his martial art to Karate-do (way of the Empty hand).
1935, Master Funakoshi wrote karate-do
Kyohan, using the new term for karate (meaning, way of the empty
hand, master text).
1936, Master Gichin Funakoshi
with the help of his students formed the Dai Nihon Karate-do Shotokai
"meaning Great Japan empty hand way pine wave association".
Master Funakoshi became the founding Kaicho "president"
and Shihan "Master Instructor" of the association and
Gigo Funakoshi also known as "Yoshitaka Funakoshi" became
the Shihan-dai "assistant to the Master".
1939, With the help of the Dai
Nihon Karate-do Shotokai members, funds was raise to built the
karate dojo of Master Funakoshi. The dojo was call the Shotokan
(meaning pine wave building), The dojo was built next to his home
in Mejiro Tokyo, (formally inaugurated on January 29, 1939). The
style of karate became known as Shotokan ryu.
1941, Master Tomosaburo Okano
started karate At 19 years old with Mister Toshio Igarashi, a
member of the "Pine Wave school".
1942, Mister Igarashi brought
and introduced Master Okano to the Shotokan dojo and became a
direct student of Master Gichin Funakoshi and his third son, Master
Gigo Funakoshi.
1942, On October 10th, Master
Okano with the help of Misters Suzuki Shinjo, Kaneko Isamu and
Takagi Yoshitomo, established the "KenkoKai Karate-Bu"
a karate research club in Hachioji-shi Tokyo
1943, Master Funakoshi wrote Karate-do
Nyumon (meaning, enter the door to way of the empty hand).
1944, On September 25th, Master
Toyotaro Miyazaki was born in Hachioji-shi, Tokyo Japan.
1945, On April 29th the Shotokan
Dojo was destroy during the air raid over Toyko.
1945, On November 24th, Master
Gigo Funakoshi died of a long illness. He was 39 years old.
1945, Master Okano returned from
the air force and revived the KenkoKai Karate-Bu after the war.
1948, The kenkokai Karate-bu change
it's name to the Kenkojuku Dojo. The Kenkojuku Budokan was established
at the present location in Minamimachi Hachioji-shi.
1949, On May 27th, students headed
by Master Masatoshi Nakayama formed the Japan Karate Association
(JKA), naming Master Funakoshi as the Technical adviser.
1955, On November 30th, Master
Funakoshi and his first and second son visited the Kenkojuku Dojo
for a special ceremony.
1957, Master Gichin Funakoshi passed away on April
26th at the age of 88.
1959, Master Toyotaro Miyazaki joined the Kenkojuku
dojo and became a top student of Master Okano.
1964, Shihan Kai Leung started martial art training and later
became a top student and instructor of Shotokan under Master Miyazaki.
He is a founding member of the International Shotokai Karate-do
Federation and is now the head instructor of the federation.
1967, Master Miyazaki came to
America and started teaching the original style of Shotokan. He
settle down in the New York City area and became the Head instructor
of the USA Kenkojuku Shotokan Karate-do Association. He later
founded the Japan Karate-do USA Shotokai Karate-do Association
and now supervise the International Shotokai Karate-do Federation.
1976, The Whitestone Dojo was founded by Shihan
Kai Leung in Whitestone New York.
1982, The Shotojuku Dojo
was founded by Master Toyotaro Miyazaki and Shihan Kai Leung in
Astoria New York.
|
