Shōtōkai facts for kids
Shotokai (松濤會, Shōtōkai) is a special group that was started in 1930 by a master named Gichin Funakoshi. Its main goal was 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 like some others. Instead, it is the name of an association that Gichin Funakoshi created. It was first called Dai Nihon Karate-do Kenkyukai in 1930. By 1936, it became known in Japan as Dai Nihon Karate-do Shotokai. The main training hall for this group was called Shotokan. Because of this, Gichin Funakoshi's karate style is also known as Shotokan ryu.
After Master Funakoshi passed away on April 26, 1957, in Tokyo, his oldest son, Giei, wanted the Shotokai group to handle the funeral. However, another group, the JKA / Kyokai, disagreed. They believed they should be in charge. Because they couldn't agree, the JKA / Kyokai did not attend the funeral. This event caused a big split in the Shotokan world that continues even now.
The name Shotokai comes from "Shoto," which was a pen name Master Funakoshi used for his poems. "Shoto" means "pine leaves." "Kai" means "group" or "method." So, Shotokai means "Shoto's group" or "Shoto's method." Some of the most important masters of Shotokai include Gichin Funakoshi, his son Giko (Yoshitaka) Funakoshi, Genshin (Motonobu) Hironishi, Tadao Okuyama, and Shigeru Egami.
When Funakoshi died in 1957, his students divided into different groups. One group was the Nihon Karate Kyokai (Japan Karate Association, JKA). The other was the Shotokai Association. A major reason for their disagreement was whether karate competitions should be allowed.
Even though Shotokai is an association, it has a clear way of practicing karate, often called Shotokai Karate. Master Shigeru Egami helped create this new way of training. He believed that some older karate methods were not as effective.
After many years of study, Egami discovered a powerful way to strike. He found that being relaxed in both mind and body made movements more effective. This idea of being relaxed is central to Shotokai. It focuses on being flexible and calm, rather than stiff and tense, to create power. Based on this idea, he suggested new techniques and a new way to practice.
Shotokai does not support competitions. This is because its founder, Gichin Funakoshi, who was also a Confucian thinker and teacher, believed there should be no contests in Karate. Master Egami wrote that karate should first be practiced as a fighting technique. Then, with time, practitioners can understand a deeper spiritual state. This state is called 'jita-ittai', which means "the union of one with the other." It is about living together peacefully.
Shotokai works to preserve Gichin Funakoshi's karate teachings. For example, it has republished his books for many years. It also keeps the art of Shotokan Karate weaponry alive. This mainly includes the traditional Okinawan weapon called Bō (or kon in Japanese).
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 or Waka Sensei (the young master).
- Shigeru Egami (1912–1981) Shigeru Egami was the chief instructor of the Shotokan Dojo from 1976 to 1981.
- Motonobu Hironishi (1913–1999), studied under 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), was the chairman of the Shotokai in Tokyo from 1995.
- Mitsusuke Harada (1928–2021), studied under Gichin and Yoshitaka Funakoshi. He received his fifth dan 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 quite different from other types of Shotokan karate. These include groups like JKA, SKI, ITKF, and SKA. Shotokai focuses more on spiritual practice than on competitive tournaments. The 15 traditional forms, or kata, taught by G. Funakoshi are practiced. However, Shotokai often uses smooth, flowing movements. Other styles might use sharp, quick, or stiff movements. This does not mean Shotokai is gentle. It believes that an effective strike comes from being relaxed, or "decontraction."
Sparring, or Kumite, in some Shotokai schools often involves full-strength attacks. It is carefully controlled to make sure who is attacking and defending. The types of attacks allowed are also limited to reduce the chance of injury. The main idea of Shotokai karate is found in the tactic called "sen no sen" - "irimi." This means being able to guess what your opponent will do. Then, you move into their attack, surprising them very early. A skilled practitioner should be able to predict an opponent's moves even before they start moving. This fulfills Funakoshi's famous saying: "there is no first attack" in karate. This focus on "sen no sen" tactics is a very important and unique part of Shotokai practice.
See also
In Spanish: Shōtōkai para niños
