Shotokan Karate Origin

781 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Effect of domestic violence in a society

There are several theories and myths surrounding the origins of the martial arts, karate included. Some believe that the tradition of the martial arts originates from the founder of Zen Buddhism, the Bodhidharma (Bandfield, Robins). Others believe that the origin could have started as far back as the Greek and Roman Empires, or even have originated in India. The one portion of the history of martial arts that is agreed upon by most sources is the fact that it was transferred through China and into Japan. The subject of where the martial arts originated from is widely debated, however there are certain styles that have a proven history. One of these styles is the form of karate known as Shotokan. Founded by Gichin Funakoshi, Shotokan combines two different Okinawan martial arts, Shuri-te and Naha-te. Funakoshi formed the Shotokan style of karate in 1936, which he utilized to not only teach his students a form of martial art, but a way of life. Funakoshi opened the first karate …show more content…

Initially, I had started to take the class because it would help me get my degree, but as soon as I started, I started to feel better health wise. The health benefits of karate have had an impact on me, but the mental impact karate has had on me has given me the most growth. When I started karate, I had next to no confidence in myself as an individual due to the circumstances I grew up in. I was raised in an environment where I had to be perfect and if I was not, then I was belittled and treated like I was unable to do anything. Not only that, I was exposed to domestic violence between my mother and her husband for two years. After my mother died, I was adopted by my grandparents, but I still had the deep scars that were inflicted in the previous years. I was deeply depressed, to the point that I actually contemplated suicide. My family moved to Texas, and I slowly started to get better, but nothing has helped me as much as karate

Show More
Related

  • Japanese Katana

    1191 Words  | 3 Pages

    Japanese sword history spans several centuries. It is commonly divided into five major periods, the Jokoto and Koto periods or the ancient swords, pre-650 A.D, and the old swords from post-650 A.D. until 1596 A.D. when the Shinto...

    Read More

  • Development of Northern Shaolin Kung Fu

    815 Words  | 2 Pages

    The style of Kung Fu that I study originated in Northern China, in the Shaolin Monastery. It’s been passed down from teacher to student for a long time, and its true origins and history are shrouded in some mystery. I’ve found that the influence of the Shaolin Monastery’s surroundings is of little significance when it comes to both geography and the surrounding plants and animals. I found that customs are passed down from generation to generation, and that multiple philosophies contributed to the development of Northern Shaolin Kung Fu.

    Read More

  • Shintoism in History

    873 Words  | 2 Pages

    A thousand torches blaze with fire in dozens of cities and towns in Japan. It is January 15th, the start of the lunar year. Before World War II, the emperor of Japan used to light fires twice a year at the four corners of his palace in homage to Kagutsuchi, the God of Fire. Today, temples across the country continue to celebrate the fire festivals, known as Dosojin Matsuri, to honor the fire deities and ask for favors. Shintoism is not a normal religion. In modern perspective, it resembles the views of many modern pagan religions—for instance Wicca—in the sense that it involves ideas like animism, shamanism and the existence of a spiritual world; nevertheless, Shintoism, unlike western modern paganism, is deeply rooted in Japanese culture including its literature.

    Read More

  • History of Samurai

    2853 Words  | 6 Pages

    The Japanese warrior, known as the samurai, has played a significant role in Japan's history and culture throughout the centuries. Their ancestors can be traced back to as far as can be remembered. Some stories have become mysterious legends handed down over the centuries. In this report you will learn who the samurai were, their origins as we know them, how they lived and fought and their evolution to today. It will be clear why the samurai stand out as one of the most famous group of warriors of all times.

    Read More

  • Jujitsu Essay

    819 Words  | 2 Pages

    The exact origins of Jujitsu are unclear, as most of its history was passed on in the oral tradition. The few early written references show that its origins date back to Japanese mythology, where it is said that the gods, Kajima and Kadori, used Jujitsu to discipline the lawless and wild inhabitants of the Eastern provinces. Therefore, by definition, the art is nearly 2000 years old, however records do exist which show that the art was being practiced as far back as the 8th Century, over twelve hundred years ago. Jujitsu was formalised and most popular during the Edo period of Japan. This was the era of the Samurai. Jujitsu was the Samurai’s main set of combat techniques, after the sword. Jujitsu was a part of the Samurai’s fighting skills, something he could use when he was unable to use his favourite weapon.

    Read More

  • Buddhism and Islam

    1683 Words  | 4 Pages

    Buddhism originated from India, and was founded by Prince Siddharta Gautama, who later came to be known as Buddha, or the enlightened one. Born of a princely caste, he later renounced his comfortable life in search for nirvana. In order to do that, he joined a band of ascetic, who was a group of Hindu priests. In his teaching, the Buddha taught his followers to follow "the middle way", that is, not the way of extreme asceticism. He attained full understanding of the nature of being by meditation and after his success, decided to impart his knowledge to those who follow him .

    Read More

  • Martial Arts Functionalism

    888 Words  | 2 Pages

    Martial arts, more specifically Goju Ryu, played an important role in my life and has taught me various things, both mentally and physically. Goju Ryu or hard-soft style in English, is a style of Martials arts and it

    Read More

  • Robert a. Trias an Enigmatic Martial Arts Master

    1372 Words  | 3 Pages

    karate dojo in 1946, headed what became the most sizably voluminous international karate federation in history, and trained many of America's top karate competitors. He was by turns fatherly, arrogant, outgoing and secretive, and had associated himself at one time or another with virtually every consequential karate master in Japan. Corroborating sources for much of his personal history are fragmentary (as with much of the history of karate in general) and his daughter, Dr. Roberta Trias-Kelley, a superb martial artist to whom he bequeathed leadership of the system upon his death in 1989, perpetuates to edify Shuri-ryu karate and sell her father’s publications from her headquarters dojo, Trias Karate, in Phoenix, Arizona.

    Read More

  • The Black-Belt Test

    589 Words  | 2 Pages

    “To conquer frustration, one must remain intensely focused on the outcome, not the obstacles.” I still remember this quote from Within I Rise by T.F. Hodge because this specific quote has helped me through my long and winding journey toward the black-belt. It started with my friend in fifth grade showing me what he learned in karate class the day before, and me asking my mother if I could join. My brother and I went to our first class and I instantly fell in love with the sparring, grappling, fighting combinations, self-defense, and of course, learning to use nunchucks. It was not long before I had my eye on the black-belt, but there were many obstacles ahead. Less than one percent of all students at my karate school end up getting to

    Read More

  • Fencing In The Elizabethan Era

    1279 Words  | 3 Pages

    Scholars have dated the first sword fighting schools in the 12th century (Elizabeth 1). The

    Read More

  • The Kamakura Era

    1943 Words  | 4 Pages

    With the fall of the Aristocracies during the Heian period, the first establishment of a Shogunate system was created. The Kamakura Era of Japan “takes its name from the garrison town of Kamakura on Sagami Bay in central Honshu, not far from modern Tokyo.” (Colcutt). The Kamakura Era lasted from 1192 until 1333 C.E. and began what is referred to as Japan’s 700 year medieval period. This era defined the foundation of the hierarchical Shogunate system and the role of the legendary samurai warriors. Founded by Minamoto no Yoritomo, the Samurai were part of the warrior government system known as Bakufu. This historically famous system was established after the Genpei War. “The war between [the] Minamoto... and Taira

    Read More

  • Karate versus Tae Kwon Do

    388 Words  | 1 Pages

    Through my advanced training in the martial art of tae kwon do, I have come to realize the numerous benefits that this sport has to offer. I have gained many things including knowledge of self-defense, excellent physical conditioning, and a refreshing outlook on life. The rewards are abundant, however they require an immense amount of effort to achieve. Each martial art is unique and has distinct contributions of its own. This is why it is difficult to hear people generalize they are all the same. What people do not realize is the enormous difference between the individual martial arts. Today, the two most popular martial arts in the world are karate and tae kwon do. On the outside, they both seem very similar, in actuality they are on opposite sides of the spectrum.

    Read More

  • Kung Fu And Chinese Culture: Kung Fu And Chinese Culture

    1321 Words  | 3 Pages

    If you search Amazon Movies & TV for kung fu, it returns over 5000 hits. Every kid in America knows that kung fu is a Chinese martial art. Even though kung fu is almost always associated with China, it’s historical significance in ancient and modern Chinese life is underappreciated and not given the analysis it deserves. If you ask someone to name the great inventions and accomplishments of ancient China, he or she will probably mention the Great Wall, the compass, fireworks, and paper. And yet kung fu is one the original great inventions of China, one that embodies fundamental elements of Chinese culture. In fact, it has probably, more than any other Chinese creation, influenced and even helped sustain the Chinese cultural identity.

    Read More

  • Japan and Japanese Culture

    1178 Words  | 3 Pages

    There are many historical aspects of the Japanese, but the most interesting is the history of the Samurai. In Japans history war played a large role in the country. Controlling clans fought for parts of the land and overall control of the country. These clans were powerful families that resided in the country and who all wanted power and control of Japan for themselves. The families that would be in control were known as Shoguns. These shoguns would have warriors that fought for them if any of the other clan families would try to attack him in order to overthrow him and take his power from him. The Samurai followed a code that developed from Chinese beliefs when in battle. The Samurais code was known as the Bushido. This code was also known as “The Way of The Warrior” which was the main belief s...

    Read More

  • Importance Of Karate

    893 Words  | 2 Pages

    Karate helped me focus on achieving goals. When I was younger in karate we had a point system for doing well in class and after I received enough points I could go to the karate store and by a gift I wanted. Doing this gave me a goal to strive for, and therefore, helped me stay focused. As I got older there were other goals I had, such as joining the Extreme Performance Team (XPT). XPT got to go to different festivals and do karate demos to show what karate is all about. Being in XPT was an honor because people looked up to the team members and it was a great deal of fun. However, my biggest goal in karate was to get my black belt and it took me six years to achieve that

    Read More

More about Shotokan Karate Origin

Open Document