History

Karate Do

Literally means “Way of the Empty Hand”. It is a defensive martial art system that originated in the Okinawan Islands south of Japan. The origin of Karate-Do was primarily a response by the Okinawans to recurrent invasions and the resultant political, economic and cultural dominance by both China and Japan throughout the last millennium. Primarily the Okinawans' experienced prolonged periods of subjugation in which all weaponry was banned. Significantly native Okinawans developed Karate-Do as a response to military dominance by stronger nations. Absorption of Chinese and Japanese cultures also provided the Okinawans with a source of information to formulate a definitive native Okinawan self defence system. Following final annexation by Japan and the resultant stability, Karate-Do developed into many different schools of Karate culminating in the 19th Century as Shuri-te, Naha-te, Tomari-te and Uechi-Ryu schools.

Shotokan

In the first half of the 20th century an Okinawan school teacher called Gichin Funakoshi developed a karate system by combining elements from two schools Shorei-Ryu and Shorin-Ryu. These schools were previously developed by other masters from Naha-te and Shuri-te/Tomari-te respectively.

In 1921 Gichin Funakoshi left Okinawa for Japan where he taught his interpretation of Karate to the wider Japanese population. His first Dojo or training hall (literally “Place of The Way”) was named by Funakoshi's students as the “Shotokan” Dojo. The term Shotokan was derived from Funakoshi's pen name “Shoto” which means “Pine Waves” and “Kan” which means hall. Funakoshi's pen name was “Pine Waves” because he often reminisced about the sound of the wind flowing through Okinawa's fine pine forests.

Throughout the 20th Century and especially after the Second World War Shotokan (as well as other Karate systems) began to spread to other nations. Shotokan was organised into the Japanese Karate Association that governed and still governs to some extent the ethos of Shotokan. Instructors were prepared by the JKA in Japan and were sent around the world to teach.

The ethos and teachings of Shotokan Karate are through physical, mental and spiritual training. These are accomplished by the three elements of Karate – Kihon, Kata and Kumite. Kihon is the basic training in which students (Karate-Ka) learn and practice the various striking and blocking techniques as drills. Kata is the application of techniques in set sequences through which the body becomes acquainted with combinational techniques that become natural. Kumite is engaging with a partner or sparring opponent. Each are key to Karate. Karate is not complete without all three.

Ultimately in relation to modern life and facing life challenges Karate-Do teaches confidence, respect, compassion, sincerity, endeavour and seeking but never attaining perfection. Gichin Funakoshi introduced the Twenty Guiding Principles of Karate and the Dojo Kun to guide the Karate-Ka (student).

Club

The club is administered by Karen Whytock (owner) and instructed by Ally Whytock, in Blairgowrie since June 2009 and Coupar Angus since January 2010.