The History of Karate
The complete history of Karate is unclear, many people argue over its true origins. It is safe to say, however, that the very first inception of it was in Okinawa. Although some people consider Okinawa and Japan to be the same entity, during the time of Karate's creation, the two were separate. It was actually much later after Karate had become popular in Okinawa that it became popular in Japan. It began as a form of martial arts known as ti and was practiced widely by the royal and influential people of Okinawa. Ti was not a set art form however, with each different area it was practiced in, it took on influences of the culture and people there. Many Okinawans developed their own personal styles of Ti by adding or taking away moves and techniques (which are also called kata according to their own tastes.
During this time, distinguished members of the Okinawan society regularly visited China to learn various art forms and disciplines. As a result, Okinawan's integrated a form of Chinese kung-fu (this form was considered more open-handed) and the ti began to take on the form of modern Karate as we know it today. Even in recent years, however, there is not much delineation between styles of Karate similar to the roots of the ti which also had very little delineation between styles.
In 1806, a man by the name of Tode Sakukawa began teaching one of these forms of fighting in a city known as Shuri. Having been one of the first ones to start teaching a form of fighting with roots in Okinawa, he christened his style Karate-no-Sakukawa and modern it began to take shape. Tode Sakukawa's efforts in the city of Shuri is actually the first written record of the martial art Karate.
Karate quickly took to popularity, and many of Tode Sakukawa's original students began teaching their own adapted styles to students of their own. Sokon Matsumara is considered Tode Sakukawa's most prominent student, and he adapted his own style by incorporating techniques found in the ti and Shaolin art forms. Sokon Matsumara then taught his style (which became known as the Shorin-ryu and is still used today) to a man by the name of Anko Itosu. Anko Itosu is often called the Grandfather of Karate and taught many prominent figures today. He developed many skills for beginners and also developed his own style in which he brought to Japan.
It was after Karate was brought to Japan that it began to gain extreme popularity. With the help of men such as Gichin Funakoshi and Ohtsuka Hinonori, Karate began to take on a more modern form. Ohtsuka Hinonori blended techniques from several forms of martial arts, including Aikido, Judo, Kendo, and Jujutsu. This particular form was a more fluid and energetic martial art and because of this, took on more fighting and sparring (this is called Kumite. This form, is perhaps the closest to modern Karate as we know it today. Many people today continue to practice Karate, even though it has come a long way from its original inception in Okinawa.
Related Tags: martial arts, karate, fight, fighting
James Dunn owns and opperates Martial Arts TutorVisit Karate Lessons for more information about Karate or Judo Lessons to learn about Judo.
Your Article Search Directory : Find in ArticlesRecent articles in this category:
- Canadiens Early Season Struggles
Inconsistency has reared its ugly head once again. After a shutout loss to the lowly New Jersey Devi - Mens Magazine in the Toronto Market
Magazines are wonderful things. They are able to explore their particular area of interest in more d - They Won the Lottery But Then Lost it All
We all dream about winning the lottery and every time we watch those balls spin we think about what - Manchester City Imploding
Life changed for Manchester City fans the minute their club was taken over by the ultra wealthy Oil - Different Types of Sports Water Bottle
If you are an athlete and there is a competition the next day, there are a lot of things to prepare. - Poker Supplies a Person Needs to Play
There are a lot of people all over the world that enjoy playing poker on a regular basis. There are - Data on NCAA Football 11 (XBox)
EA Sports has always been the pinnacle for sports video games. The Madden franchise for NFL football - World Golf Amateur Team Championship 2012
Golf is said to be the game of nobles. Over a period of time, the game has developed into a craze fo - Will "The Decision" Yield the Result? Lakers, Heat Seen as Likely Finalists
By far the biggest moment in the NBA offseason was the hour-long ESPN special in which LeBron James - The Evolution of the Game: Table Tennis
Table tennis was probably derived from the game "Royal Tennis," a popular diversion during medieval
Most viewed articles in this category:
- Rainbow, Brown And Brook Trout
Maine fishing has Rainbow, Brown, and Brook trout. Trout are an important part of fishing tradition. - Gymnastics Floor Music
Over the last decade or two, gymnastics as a sport has undergone considerable changes in the way it - Texas Holdem Blinds - Understanding Blinds In Texas Hold'em Poker
Posting blinds is a very important aspect of the betting structure of Texas Hold'em poker. It keeps - Indoor Mobility Scooters
Mobility scooters exclusively provide assistance to physically disabled people, who don't necessaril - Texas Holdem Tournament - Learn How To Run A Texas Hold'em Tournament
Texas Hold'em is a popular game, so next time you consider hosting a social function at your house w - The Nfl Channel And The Controversy Surrounding It
If you watch TV, and especially if you are a loyal spectator of the NFL Channel, you might have hear - Texas Holdem - How To Become Better At Texas Hold'em Poker
If you know the rules, if you know the game, if you know the odds, chances are you'll do well at pok - Essential Boxing Equipment For Every Boxer
When you are training to become a boxer there are a few very important pieces of boxing equipment th - Some Advice On How To Stay Motivated To Run
Staying Motivated to Run Do you have a hard time staying motivated to run? There are a lot of thing - NCAA: Three Good Coaches
There are coaches in each and every type of sport out there, and many of them are good at what they