Shotokan (松涛館) is a school of karate, reflecting the style of master Gichin Funakoshi (1868-1957), who first brought karate from Okinawa to mainland Japan. Shoto was Funakoshi's pen name for his poetry, while Shotokan was the name of the hall where "Shoto" trained his students. Funakoshi had trained in both of the popular styles of Okinawan Karate of the time: Shorei-ryu and Shorin-ryu. He combined and modified the styles, and made his own, though he never named it, always referring to it simply as "karate".
Training is usually divided into three sections: kihon or "basics", kumite or "sparring", and kata. Shotokan techniques in kihon and kata are characterised by deep, long stances which provide stability and powerful movements. Strength and power are often demonstrated instead of slower, more flowing motions. The kumite techniques mirror these stances and movements at a basic level, but progress to be being more "free" and flexible at a higher level. Funakoshi is said to have found the traditional martial arts (such as sumo, jujutsu and kenjutsu) to be too focused on combat, and he put more emphasis on health, breathing, releasing energy and outstanding mind and body control.
Shotokan karate is today the most popular style of karate, and is practiced in hundreds of dojos around the world.
Roland Habersetzer, Shotokan Kata, Éditions Amphora, October 1990, Paris, France, ISBN 2851802105.
Hirokazu Kanazawa, Shotokan Karate International Kata, Shotokan Karate-do International Federation, Japan, 1981, vol. 1 & 2, ISBN 4262168514, ISBN 4262168522.
Karate was being changed from merely a fighting art to an art which improves human beings through rigorous and challenging endeavor.
He stated that karate "should be simple enough to be practiced without undue difficulty by everybody, young and old, boys and girls, men and women." His opinion that karate training can contribute to both mental and physical health must have some genesis in his recovery from poor health during early youth.
"Karate is not only the acquisition of certain defensive skills, but also the mastering of the art of being a good and honest member of society." This statement indicates the importance of self-improvement and contribution to a better society.
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