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"True karate is this: that in daily life one's mind and body be
trained and developed in a spirit of humility, and that in critical times, one
be devoted utterly to the cause of justice."
--Gichin Funakoshi
Karate can also be described as a martial art, or fighting method, involving
a variety of techniques, including blocks, strikes, evasions, throws, and joint
manipulations. Karate practice is divided into three aspects: kihon (basics),
kata (forms), and kumite (sparring).
History
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Gichin Funakoshi is considered the father of modern karate-do (the
"way" of karate). Mr. Funakoshi was born in 1868 on the island
of Okinawa, where he dedicated the early part of his life to the study
of martial arts and the profession of education. In 1917 he brought
karate-do to Japan and over the next five decades dedicated his life to
establishing it as one of Japan's major martial arts. He undertook the
task of systematizing the training and performance of karate-do and
wrote some of the earliest books on this martial art. Mr. Funakoshi is
responsible for the spread of karate-do world-wide. He is especially
well known for insisting that life of the karate-ka be a life of
humility and service for oneself and one's students. His style was
called "Shotokan" after his pen name. |
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Philosophy
The objective of karate is not to learn how to fight or the development of the
body, although it is true that practitioners learn fighting skills and develop
stronger bodies. The purpose of karate-do is the development of the mind and
character through rigorous physical training. The ultimate goal of a karate-ka
is the development of the five goals of karate-do known as the Dojo Kun and are
as follows:
Seek Perfection of Character
Be Sincere
Put Maximum Effort Into Everything You Do
Respect Others
Develop Self-Control
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What is Karate