What is Shotokan Karate?
Shotokan karate is one of the most popular martial arts practiced today. It has its roots in
the ancient Chinese martial arts, and can ever be traced back to the Shoalin Temple ( as can
most of today martial arts ). Having roots in China, Shotokan can also be traced to Okinawa
( where it was developed ), then to Japan ( where it was named ), and then to the world at
large.
If you know of and can think of martial arts like aikido and tai chi chuan, with their "soft"
circular movements as "soft", then Shotokan would be a "hard style". It is more linear than
circular and it can be very aggressive and devastating to an opponent.
Shotokan is not suited to all people, just as other arts are not. There is not such thing as the
perfect martial art. Nor is there any one art that is better than another? all the rest. The art
is not better, only the practitioner. But, remember that on any given day, anyone can beat
anyone!
Shotokan karate is one of the most popular martial arts practiced today. It has its roots in
the ancient Chinese martial arts, and can ever be traced back to the Shoalin Temple ( as can
most of today martial arts ). Having roots in China, Shotokan can also be traced to Okinawa
( where it was developed ), then to Japan ( where it was named ), and then to the world at
large.
If you know of and can think of martial arts like aikido and tai chi chuan, with their "soft"
circular movements as "soft", then Shotokan would be a "hard style". It is more linear than
circular and it can be very aggressive and devastating to an opponent.
Shotokan is not suited to all people, just as other arts are not. There is not such thing as the
perfect martial art. Nor is there any one art that is better than another? all the rest. The art
is not better, only the practitioner. But, remember that on any given day, anyone can beat
anyone!
The Tiger Symbol.
The tiger long been the symbol of Shotokan karate. But where did it come from? Who
designed it? Why a tiger?
There are two stories that explain where the symbol come from. One is historical and one
more fanciful. Here they are:
Historical.
Master Funakoshi was prompted to write a book about karate. This was to be the first
karate book ever written. The man who pushed Funakoshi to write the book was an artist
name Hoan Kosugi. It was decided that if Funakoshi wrote the book, Kosugi would design
the cover.
In Japanese, "tora no maki" is the official written document of an art. Funakoshi's book
would be the "tora no maki" of karate. "Tora" also means "tiger". It was this similarity that
caused to Kosugi to decide to use a tiger as the artwork he would put on the cover of the
book.Thus was born the symbol of Shotokan.
Fanciful.
It was said that when Funakoshi wanted to be alone and relax, he would go for a walk on
Mt. Torao. "Torao" means "tiger's tail" and the mountain was named such because it
resembled a tiger's tail. Thus, he decide to choose the tiger as his art's symbol. The tiger
would symbolize two aspect of his art, strength and power ( of the tiger itself ) and peace
of mind (as Funakoshi attained when walking on the mountain ).
The tiger long been the symbol of Shotokan karate. But where did it come from? Who
designed it? Why a tiger?
There are two stories that explain where the symbol come from. One is historical and one
more fanciful. Here they are:
Historical.
Master Funakoshi was prompted to write a book about karate. This was to be the first
karate book ever written. The man who pushed Funakoshi to write the book was an artist
name Hoan Kosugi. It was decided that if Funakoshi wrote the book, Kosugi would design
the cover.
In Japanese, "tora no maki" is the official written document of an art. Funakoshi's book
would be the "tora no maki" of karate. "Tora" also means "tiger". It was this similarity that
caused to Kosugi to decide to use a tiger as the artwork he would put on the cover of the
book.Thus was born the symbol of Shotokan.
Fanciful.
It was said that when Funakoshi wanted to be alone and relax, he would go for a walk on
Mt. Torao. "Torao" means "tiger's tail" and the mountain was named such because it
resembled a tiger's tail. Thus, he decide to choose the tiger as his art's symbol. The tiger
would symbolize two aspect of his art, strength and power ( of the tiger itself ) and peace
of mind (as Funakoshi attained when walking on the mountain ).
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