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| Shotokan Karate |
Shotokan Karate – What is the difference between karate and Shotokan Karate?
Shotokan Karate is sometimes called shotokan karate because the name shotokan has been used as both the name of the style and the family of styles that it belongs to. It’s very important to understand this distinction because there are still many people who think that all karate is shotokan karate, even though this isn’t true at all!
History
The history of shotokan karate starts with two men, Gichin Funakoshi (the father of modern-day karate) and his former student, Kanbun Uechi. In 1934 Funakoshi traveled to China to visit his son. During that time he also shared karate with a Chinese national named Tang Hao. Hao was so impressed by what he saw that he invited Funakoshi to stay at his home for several months during which time he trained under him (Funakoshi) in Beijing.
Training
If you’re interested in practicing or learning more about shotokan karate, consider contacting your local dojo. Visit them a few times and try out their classes to get a feel for how they operate. You might want to start taking private lessons as well to learn directly from an instructor who can show you all of the basics firsthand. And if you’re not sure what kind of schedule will work best for you, ask if it’s possible to take lessons on a weekly basis (or however often you can fit into your busy schedule). The important thing is that you go in with an open mind—you never know which style of training will be right for you!
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| Shotokan Karate style |
Styles
Are you thinking about taking up a martial art for fitness or self-defense reasons, but are unsure of which one to start with? If so, it can be difficult to choose from all of the available options. Some people choose styles based on their personality; others find that choosing a style that complements their current practice or hobbies gives them something in common with their fellow students. Still others want to study under a particular grandmaster because they admire his style. In other words, martial arts choices tend to be very personal decisions. So what style should you choose? Read on for details about three popular styles—Shotokan Karate, Wing Chun Kung Fu, and Muay Thai Kickboxing—and decide which one might be right for you.
Disciplines
This can be a little confusing because there are many different styles of karate out there. However, most historians consider two main schools of thought: Shito-ryu Karate (少林流空手), meaning little forest school or Shito-ryu empty hand, founded by Gichin Funakoshi, father of modern Karate; and Shōtōkan (松濤館), meaning pine-waves house, created by Masatoshi Nakayama in 1943. The name change was a method to distinguish his own system from other martial arts. In fact, Nakayama was so focused on training that he once slept only 3 hours per night!
Dojo Etiquette
Part of what makes martial arts training so powerful is its emphasis on more than just physical technique; students learn to recognize their own emotions, those of others, and how to act in a civil, respectful manner. At a karate dojo (school), it’s important for everyone to know and follow certain etiquette guidelines. If you are brand new to training or if you’re visiting a new place, here are some things you should know about karate dojo etiquette.
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| Shotokan Karate Dojo |
Mental Skill Development
Preparation, Practice, Performance: In life and in sports, we all have things we want to accomplish. Whether you want to learn a new martial art technique or be able to stand up for yourself better in a dangerous situation, if you want something done right then you need to practice. It may take months before you’re able to break down a new technique into pieces that are easy enough for your brain to handle it efficiently. Preparation also means setting goals: what do you hope to gain from learning Shotokan Karate or any other martial art? Visualize your success using motivational imagery. Perhaps one day you can even be part of an Olympic team!
Belt Ranking System
The ranking system of a Martial Art such as Karate is part of what sets it apart from other forms of physical exercise. Each belt color represents a degree of knowledge, commitment, skill level and expertise in self-defense. Although each school has its own system for ranking students, there are some basic guidelines common to most systems that can help you understand what your child will have to learn before earning a new rank: dedication to learning; knowledge of proper techniques; control over one’s actions; mastery over basic exercises or movements; ability to pass an exam or evaluation by demonstrating one’s skills in front of others. In all cases, children should not be pressured by their instructors or parents into receiving belts at any time they fee unprepared.
Belt Ranking System
Ranks and Titles
There are seven ranks in Shotokan karate. The highest rank is tenth dan, followed by nidan, sandan, yondan, godan, rokudan and shichidan. The black belt color associated with each rank differs depending on which style of martial arts you practice. For example, fourth-degree black belts wear white in Taekwondo; white belts are worn in judo at first-degree level; blue belts are worn by new Shodokans at first degree while they are still in training; brown belts are not used until a practitioner has achieved seventh degree.
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