Shotokan Karate    

Shotokan Karate is a Japanese Martial art originating in Okinawa.  Japanese martial arts are more straight line fighting styles, than the circular techniques of their Chinese cousins. These styles have origins as far back as 520 a.d.   Japanese martial arts range from empty hand martial defense systems to joint locking and throwing systems to styles devoted entirely to weapons' practice.  However, all Japanese arts have some things in common and those are a profound passion for details, a deeper meaning than the action alone and appreciation for percision and accuracy.

The art of karate (kara-te, which means empty hand, is commonly believed to have come to Japan from the island of Okinawa, where fighting with weapons was banned for many years.  Ancient Okinawan traders visited China's Fukien Province and brought back the martial techniques of China's Southern Shaolin temple. The Okinawans developed such an effective self-defense system that many Japanese masters wanted it as their own. Karate was brought to the Japanese mainland in 1922 by Gichin Funakoshi, the father of Shotokan Karate and eventually became the best known Japanese martial art. The JKA ( Japan Karate Association ) was the first formal organization of the major karate styles. The karate arts of the Japan Karate Association include Goju Ryu, Wado Ryu, Shito Ryu and Shotokan.  These are still some of the most widely practiced karate styles in the world today.
There are four major components of training a karateka ( practioner ) must develop in order to gain expertise or mastery of any of these major karate styles.  Although,  the balance of training in these four aspects varies from school to school, it is considered essential that any major traditional karate stye represent the first three of these components. These are kihon, kata, bunkai and kumite.

• Kihon:  are the basic techniques and fundamental body movements considered the  building blocks of karate skill.  These include stances, shifts, blocks, strikes, kicks, sweeps and takedowns. Understanding the fundamental principles and physics behind these movements are key to performing explosive powerful and percisely effective karate techniques ( kime ) with efficiency.

• Kata:  is a combination of basic techniques and body movements designed in a logical performance format which is relatively balanced in all direction ( embussen ).   Kata is the essence of any traditional martial art.  Through the centuries, during certain periods when martial arts practice was banned, kata was the only way in which masters could transfer their martial art to future generations. Kata is divided into two main categories; those which develop physical strength of bone and muscle as well as the strength of the mind ( fudoshin ).  The other category of kata are designed to develop fast reflexes and the ability to move quickly in various directions.  In either category, the karateka will visualize himself surrounded by many opponents in order to perform techniques with the proper mentality.   Within each kata is a specific lesson or skill to be developed, there are over 50 kata that are practiced  between the various major karate styles. Initially, learning the moves of kata may take a matter of minutes but mastering each kata may require years of practice, as the challenge and reward are both revealed in the journey of training.

• Bunkai:  is the application of basic techniques for self defense purposes, otherwise described as how the movements in kata are applied situationally.  All of the major karate styles possess techniques which can be effectively utilized to halt or subdue an attacker because karate is born of budo ( art of war ).  These are usually short quick techniques applied to specific areas of vulnerability with percise balance, force and accuracy.

• Kumite:  is the most recent aspect of training that has been developed only in the last century.  Kumite is the fighting sport of karate.  The karate techniques used and developed are modified versions of the kihon and bunkai.  In so much as,  they challenge an opponents awareness, speed, balance and target accuracy.  However;  the force, mentality and target choices are placed in proper perspective so as NOT TO harm the opponent, but rather demonstrate superior strategy and physical technique execution for points in a game or match.  The character values of courtesy, confidence, respect, humilty and tenacity rank high in determining superiority in this compettion.