All about Karate

What is Karate

Karate-do (空手道 Karatedō ?, ​​'the way of the empty hand ") 1 is a traditional martial art of the Ryukyu Islands of Japan, which is now known as Okinawa Island.

It originated in the native martial arts of the Ryukyu Islands, called "Tuidi" or te (手, literally "hand"; Tii in Okinawan) and in some styles of Chinese martial arts. These styles of martial arts arose from the need of noble warriors of the island (the pechin) to protect the last king of Okinawa, Sho Tai, and themselves with Japanese armor warriors (samurai) belonging to the clan Satsuma invaders. Gradually, karate was developed in the Ryukyu Kingdom and later expanded, being taught systematically in Japan after the Taisho era, in the twentieth century as a result of cultural exchanges between the Japanese and the inhabitants of the Ryukyu Islands.

Karate-do is characterized by the use of punches and kicks, but not restrict his repertoire only to them and includes open hand punches, takedowns, joint locks, throws and takedowns some further blows at vulnerable points, and points nervous. In karate-do strength, breathing, balance and posture, proper hip rotation connection and joint coordination muscles and limbs, shifting much of the body weight and center of gravity to impact. Generally it seeks to defeat the enemy by strong impacts seeking to be definitive or as effective as possible, similarly to stab or cut a katana or Japanese sword. A person who practices the martial art is called karate or karate.

Today already are nine styles of karate both Okinawan and Japanese origin recognized by the World Karate Federation or World Karate Federation (WKF), and these Shorin-Ryu, Goju-Ryu, Uechi-Ryu, Isshin-Ryu , Shorinji-Ryu, Ryuei-Ryu, Shito-ryu, Shotokan and Wado Ryu Kushin-ryu.

Shorin-ryu

Founded in 1908 by sensei Chosin Chibana. It is a system derived from karate or Shuri-te style palace Okinawa. It is rooted in the techniques and tactics inherited Sakukawa Kanga (Tode Sakukawa) and Matsumura Sokon, modified by his student Anko Itosu (Itosu Yasustsune). The style was later appointed Shorin-ryu by one of his students, Master Chosin Chibana. This style of karate over time would result in variations and Sobayashi as Matsubayashi Shorin-ryu (combination of Shorin-ryu karate with Tomari-te, one of three styles of Okinawa Tode) and of course variations in the region of Honshu as Shotokan, Shito-ryu and Koden-ryu. Shorin-ryu original Chosin Chibana karate became known later as Kobayashi Shorin-ryu, one of its main features the teaching of two of the most important styles of Kobudo (art of management of ancient weapons of Okinawa) kobudo style Matayoshi and Ryukyu Kobudo Ryu style founded by Shinpo Matayoshi. Also worth mentioning is that this style Kobayashi Shorin-ryu and Shorin-ryu is the only style of karate that preserves and teaches the full program of kobudo. Currently, teachers of other styles they learned kobudo trained with masters of Shorin-ryu. However, it kobudo as practiced today is considered as a separate martial art of karate. As style, Shorin Ryu becomes fundamental emphasis on the fight in the middle and long distances, as well as speed, mobility, creating striking power (momentarily generated by the movement of the pelvis anteversion, weight transfer body, sets the temporary contraction of the muscles of the torso and abdomen and hip rotation), natural movements, blockades or checks at an angle, the penetration of the punches and the elimination of any movement that does not have a specific target .

Goju-ryu

Developed from the Naha-te and Naha port style. Its popularity is mainly due to the master Kanryo Higaonna (1853-1915), who opened a dojo in Naha city, based on eight forms brought from China. His best student, Chojun Miyagi (1888-1953), later formally founded the Goju-ryu, or "soft and hard style" in 1930. In Goju-ryu much emphasis is placed on combating medium and short distance combining techniques I smooth circular block with strong and fast counterattacks executed in quick succession, and grappling and restraint techniques. Currently Goju-ryu has variants both in the region of Honshu (Japan's main islands) and in Okinawa. Variants of the region Honshu are the Goju-kai, the Seigokan Goju-ryu founded by Seigo Tada, Nihon Goju-ryu founded by Yamaguchi Goen and between variants practiced in Okinawa are the Gohakukai-ryu which is a combination of Goju Ryu with Tomari-te Iken Tokashiki founded by, and Yuishinkan Goju-ryu founded by Kisaki Tomoharu "which is a combination of Goju-ryu with Shuri-te and techniques of Judo.

Uechi-ryu

Founded in 1915 by Kanbun Uechi and known under its current name in 1939, its origin is composed of an old style of kung fu he learned in China and Tode ("Chinese boxing") of the Okinawan city of Naha and Naha-te. This style of karate is one of the three main styles of Okinawa Prefecture along with Goju-ryu and Shorin-ryu as well as being the source of styles in the region of Honshu as Koshiki Uechi-ryu and Seishin-Ryu. Uechi-ryu master makes strong emphasis on circular movements and techniques grabs, punches and open hand takedowns.

Shito-ryu

Founded in 1928 by Kenwa Mabuni (1889-1952) influenced directly by both Naha-te as Shuri-te, although the Shorin-Ryu and Isshin-Ryu, it's basically a mixed style of karate-do. The name Shito is derived from the combination of the Japanese characters in the names of Mabuni teachers: Anko Itosu and Kanryo Higaonna. The Shito-ryu schools use a large number of kata, taken from Shorin-Ryu, Shorinji-Ryu, Isshin-Ryu and Goju-Ryu. It is characterized by an emphasis on speed of execution of the techniques and the precision of their movements.

Shotokan

Founded by Funakoshi (1868-1957) in Japan in 1938. When Master Funakoshi is considered the founder of modern karate, as it was the first to raise awareness of the art in the region of Honshu in Japan. Funakoshi was born in Okinawa. He began studying karate with Yasutsune Azato, one of the foremost experts in the art of Okinawa, and later with the master Anko Itosu. In 1921 Funakoshi introduced publicly for the first time karate in Tokyo. In 1936, at age 70, he opened his own training hall. The Shotokan dojo, the pseudonym used by Funakoshi to sign poems written in his youth was called. Shotokan has specific characteristics but curiously they are not due to the type of karate taught by Funakoshi personally, but the innovations added by students including his son Yoshitaka, innovations, although Funakoshi not always shared the allowed. This style is characterized by the frequent use of low position, angle blocks, the use of long distance, hip rotation in both offense and defense, and the use of muscle power to generate synergy both attack techniques fist and open hand, and defense techniques; also has some pitches and several similar sweeps to Judo, some fighting techniques from the Okinawan Tegumi, like concepts and traditional training methods derived from kendo (Japanese fencing), these arts practiced by several of its initiators teachers and teacher Nakayama.

Wado-ryu

Founded in 1939 by Hironori Otsuka, a system of karate developed from the Shorin Ryu and Shotokan, with several tactical and technical elements derived from jiu-jitsu Japanese (specifically the style Shindo Yoshin-ryu, 新 道 楊 心 流) and travel and dislocations, combined with avoidance techniques. He places a strong emphasis on soft and precise application of force. It also includes the spiritual discipline, leading the practitioner to harmonize with its surroundings, which is what "Wadoryu" "way of harmony".

In addition to these basic styles, there are countless variations and combinations of them. Some are from Okinawa, as the Matsubayashi Ryu Soshin Nagamine. Others arose from the fusion of other styles or divisions of the above, including elements of other martial arts, such as Ken-Shin-Kan founded by Seiichi Akamine, the Shindo Jinen Ryu founded by Yasuhiro Konishi, the Kyokushin or Kyokushinkai founded by Mas Oyama, the Gensei Renbu Ryu Geka Yung Kai, the Shotokai Egami, the Kushin Ryu, Ryu Shokundo Kumagawa Taito, Toyama Kanken Shudokan teacher, among others.