Shōtōkai facts for kids

Shotokai is a special group that was started in 1930 by a master named Gichin Funakoshi. He wanted to teach and share the art of karate-Do. Today, the name Shotokai also refers to a specific way of practicing karate.

What is Shotokai?

Shotokai is not an official style of karate itself. It's the name of the association that Gichin Funakoshi created in 1930. Its first name was Dai Nihon Karate-do Kenkyukai. In Japan, it became known as Dai Nihon Karate-do Shotokai in 1936. The main training hall for this group was called Shotokan. Gichin Funakoshi's karate style is also known as Shotokan ryu.

After Master Funakoshi passed away in 1957, his oldest son, Giei, wanted the Shotokai group to handle the funeral. However, another group, the JKA, disagreed. They couldn't agree, and the JKA didn't attend the funeral. This caused a big split in Shotokan karate that still exists today.

The name "Shoto" was a pen name Master Funakoshi used for his poems. It means "pine leaves." "Kai" means "group" or "method." So, Shotokai means "Shoto's group" or "Shoto's method." Some of the most important masters in Shotokai were Gichin Funakoshi, his son Giko Funakoshi, Genshin Hironishi, Tadao Okuyama, and Shigeru Egami.

When Master Funakoshi died, his students divided into different groups. One group was the Japan Karate Association (JKA), and the other was the Shotokai Association. A big reason for their disagreement was whether to allow competitions in karate.

Even though Shotokai is an association, it has its own clear way of practicing karate, known as Shotokai Karate. Master Shigeru Egami developed this new way of training. He believed that some older karate methods were not as effective.

After many years of study, Egami found that striking works best when your mind and body are relaxed. This idea is the main focus of Shotokai. It teaches you to be flexible and relaxed, instead of stiff and tense. He created new techniques and ways to practice based on this idea.

Shotokai does not believe in karate competitions. Master Gichin Funakoshi, who was also a philosopher and teacher, always said there are no contests in Karate. Master Egami wrote that karate should first be practiced as a fighting technique. Then, with time, you can understand a deeper meaning. This deeper meaning is about "jita-ittai," which means the union of one with another. It's about living together peacefully.

Shotokai works to keep Master Gichin Funakoshi's karate teachings alive. For example, they have republished his books for many years. They also continue to practice traditional Okinawan karate weapons, especially the Bō (a long staff).

Important Instructors

• Gichin Funakoshi (1868–1957)
• Isao Obata (1904–1976)
• Takeshi Shimoda (1901–1934)
• Gigō Funakoshi (1906–1945), Gichin's third son, also known as Yoshitaka Funakoshi.
• Shigeru Egami (1912–1981) He was the main instructor of the Shotokan Dojo from 1976 to 1981.
• Motonobu Hironishi (1913–1999), he learned from Gichin and Yoshitaka. He was the president of the Shotokai from 1962 to 1995.
• Tadao Okuyama (1918–2006)
• Toshio Watanabe (1918-2018)
• Matsuo Shibuya (1925-)
• Hiroshi Noguchi
• Jotaro Takagi (1927–2016), he was the chairman of the Shotokai in Tokyo starting in 1995.
• Mitsusuke Harada (1928–2021), he learned from Gichin and Yoshitaka Funakoshi. He earned his fifth-degree black belt from Gichin Funakoshi in 1956.
• Tetsuji Murakami (1927–1987)
• Ayahito Sugimoto ( 1932–2005)
• Sadaharu Honda (1939-)
• Atsuo Hiruma (1941–)
• Tomoji Miyamoto (1945–)
• Kenjiro Kawanabe (1931–)

How Shotokai Karate is Practiced

Shotokai Karate is different from other types of Shotokan karate, like JKA or SKI. It focuses more on spiritual training than on competitive tournaments. The 15 traditional forms, or kata, taught by G. Funakoshi are practiced. However, Shotokai often uses smooth, flowing movements instead of sharp, stiff ones. This doesn't mean the style is weak. It believes that a powerful strike comes from being relaxed.

Sparring, or Kumite, in some Shotokai schools is done with full power. But it is very controlled to prevent injuries. People know who is attacking and defending, and what attacks can be used. The main idea of Shotokai karate is "sen no sen" – "irimi." This means being able to guess what your opponent will do. Then, you move into their attack very early, before they even finish starting it. A skilled practitioner should be able to know an opponent's intentions before they even move. This fulfills Funakoshi's saying: 'there is no first attack' in karate. This focus on "sen no sen" is a very important part of Shotokai practice.

See also

In Spanish: Shōtōkai para niños