About Gichin Funakoshi - Karate Master

Gichin Funakoshi - Karate Master

A Karate legend and Shotokan master, Gichin Funakoshi (船越 義珍 Funakoshi Gichin) was born Noverber 10th 1868, Shuri Okinawa, an island close to Japan. He passed away April 26th 1957 in Tokyo.
Gichin Funakoshi
If you had to name one person as being the most influential figure for Karate in both Japan and the rest of the world, it has to be this man. This master (meijin) was born in Shuri, Okinawa, an island off Japan. Funakoshi introduced Karate to Japan, where it enjoys being the most popular Martial Art. Funakoshi’s nickname was ‘Shoto’ and hence his style was named Shotokan. 
Gichin Funakoshi was born in Shuri, Okinawa in the year of the Meiji Restoration in 1868. His parents were ethnic Okinawan which orginally had a different family name: Tominakoshi. He met his first Karate teacher whilst in primary school - his close friend's father, Ankō Asato, a karate and kendo master. Funakoshi found it difficult to obtain his goal of attending medical school due to Japanese government regulations and so he spent a lot of effort learning about martial arts, a much loved interest of his. He  trained in both classical Chinese and Japanese philosophies and teachings, and eventually became an assistant teacher in Okinawa. Funakoshi had trained in both of the popular styles of Okinawan karate of the time: Shōrei-ryū and Shōrin-ryū.
No only was he a karate master, Funakoshi was also an avid poet and philosopher who would reportedly go for long walks in the forest where he would meditate and write poetry, another interest of his.
Kan (from Shotokan) means training hall, or house, thus Shotokan referred to the "house of Shoto". This name was coined by Funakoshi's students when they posted a sign above the entrance of the hall at which Funakoshi taught reading "Shoto kan". By the late 1910s, Funakoshi had many students, of which a few were deemed capable of passing on their master's teachings. Continuing his effort to garner wide-spread interest in Okinawan karate, Funakoshi ventured to mainland Japan in 1922.
The Creation of Shotokan Karate In 1936, Funakoshi built the first Shōtōkan dojo in Tokyo. He changed the name of karate to mean "empty hand" instead of "China hand" (as referred to in Okinawa); the two words sound the same in Japanese, but are written differently. It was his belief that using the term for "Chinese" would mislead people into thinking karate originated with Chinese boxing. Karate had borrowed many aspects from Chinese boxing which the original creators say as being positive, as they had done with other martial arts. In addition, Funakoshi argued in his autobiography that a philosophical evaluation of the use of "empty" seemed to fit as it implied a way which was not tethered to any other physical object.
Funakoshi's take on the use of kata was reported to have caused some recoil in Okinawa, prompting Funakoshi to remain in Tokyo indefinitely. His extended stay eventually led to the creation of the Japan Karate Association (JKA) in 1955 with Funakoshi as the chief instructor. Funakoshi was not supportive of all of the changes that the organization eventually made to his karate style. He remained in Tokyo until his death in 1957.
After World War II, Funakoshi's surviving students formalized his teachings. Towards the latter half of his life, Master Funakoshi became extremely dissatisfied with the direction in which the system he had originally created had been developed.[citation needed] All elements of true karate style pressure point striking were slowly removed and emphasis on fighting and training with kata devolved to little more than endurance training, with little understanding of kata's meaning.[citation needed] [edit] Legacy Funakoshi published several books on karate including his autobiography, Karate-Do: My Way of Life. His legacy, however, rests in a document containing his philosophies of karate training now referred to as the niju kun, or "twenty principles". These rules are the premise of training for all Shotokan karateka and are published in a work titled The Twenty Guiding Principles of Karate Within this book, Funakoshi lays out 20 precepts by which students of karate and urged to abide in an effort to "become better human beings"
 He lived for 88 years and passed away on April 26, 1957.

Gichin Funakoshi's son

The third son of Gichin, and also known as Yoshitake, this man is widely credited for having a huge influential effect on modern day Karate. Whereas his father is known for transforming Karate from a mere fighting technique to a philosophical martial do (way of life), Gigo developed the style immensely with encouragement from his father. Developing new techbiques separated Japanese Karate-do from his native Okinawan art, giving it a completely different and unique style and look.
Although Gigo's father is known as being the creator of Karate as we know it today, Gigo is infact the technical creator of most of the techniques, kata and forms. The changes he brought can be seen in the contrast between the ancient art of To-de, which emphasized the use and development of the upper extremities and Shotokan which used new leg techniques such as mawashi geri, yoko geri kekomi, yoko geri keage, fumikomi, ura mawashi geri and ushiro geri. He used leg techniques which are carried out with a much higher knee-lift than in previous styles with an emphasis on using the hips. He also emphasized the oi tsuki and gyaku tsuki.

Origins of the Karate Belt Grading System

Origins of the Karate Belt Grading System

Karate took its belt ranking system from Judo. As Gichin Funakoshi introduced karate, he took advice from his good friend Kano Jigoro, the founder of Judo and their ranking system.
Originally there was few kyu ranks, although it is unknown, it is thought to be three - being white brown and black. Other colors which are now in the karate ranking system today were later introduced. The first new belt color that was brought in was green, it wwas thought that this gave a seasonal meaning to the belts, white - spring, green - summer, brown - autumn and black - winter.
Some schools even now use different numbers of ranks, some choosing to omit certain ranks, however most offer all kyu ranks. There are some Karate Organizations which enforce standardization across the schools.
It is common for karate sensei's to use tape to put a loop on the end of the belt. This indicates that the student is one level up from the original belt rank that they have already earned.
The Karate belts and ranks are beneficial in the way that they provide a benchmarking system for both instructors and students. Students can be organized quickly into groups when teaching a large class. A sensei at one glance can know what level a student is and instantly know what syllabus that person is training to.
Of course, students also get benefits from the belt system. They can set short term goals and feel a sense of satisfaction once they meet the next ran as well as confirming that that have progressed their karate ability. When a student reaches a new kyu rank, they are encouraged to work harder to progress again to the next kyu, which is usually a minimum of 3 months in training.
Once passed beyond the kyu ranks and into black belt, Dan ranks are used to provide further motivation and rewards for continuing to progress. The later dan ranks also provide this motivation to continue training, providing experts with rewards for continuing their training.

Karate Belt (Dan Level)

Karate Belts (Dan level)

1st Dan Karate Black belt  shodan (初段:しょだん): first degree black belt
2nd Dan nidan (二段:にだん): second degree black belt
3rd Dan sandan (三段:さんだん): third degree black belt
4th Dan yondan (四段:よだん): fourth degree black belt
5th Dan godan (五段:ごだん): fifth degree black belt
6th Dan rokudan (六段:ろくだん): sixth degree black belt
7th Dan nanadan (七段:ななだん): seventh degree black belt (also, shichidan)
8th Dan hachidan (八段:はちだん): eighth degree black belt
9th Dan kyuudan (九段:くゅだん): ninth degree black belt
10th Dan jūdan (十段:じゅうだん): tenth degree black belt

karate Belt (kyu Level)

Karate Belts (kyu level)

Karate Belts GradingKyū-level practitioners are often called mudansha (無段者) which means literally "ones without dan". People of such ranks are considered as initiates, not students. Remember, although this is the official shotokan karate belt ranking system, many clubs will choose to follow their own system based on this.
10th Kyu Karate White belt Jūkyū (十級:じゅうきゅう)
9th Kyu Karate Orange belt Kukyū (九級:くきゅう)
8th Kyu Karate Red belt Hachikyū (八級:はちきゅう)
7th Kyu Karate Yellow belt Nanakyū, Shichikyū (七級:ななきゅう, しちきゅう)
6th Kyu Karate Green belt  Rokkyū (六級:ろっきゅう)
5th Kyu Karate Purple belt Gokyū< (五級:ごきゅう)
4th Kyu Karate Purple and white belt Yonkyū (四級:よんきゅう)
3rd Kyu Karate Brown belt Sankyū (三級:さんきゅう)
2nd Kyu Karate Brown and white belt Nikyū (二級:にきゅう)
1st Kyu Karate Brown and white belt Ikkyū (一級:いっきゅう)
The original belt system, still used by Shotokan Karate of America is:
8th–4th kyū: white
3rd–1st kyū: brown
1st-5th dan: black

Karate Colour Belt

Shotokan Karate Belts

The Grading system of 
Shotokan Karate
Karate BeltsThe Shotokan Karate Grading syllabus has a range of grades, also known as kyu.  When a Karate practitioner progresses beyond brown belt, the next grading is Black Belt or Shodan (1st Dan). Students wear belts which are colored to signify their grade level.
Karate belts are said to date back to the Japanese judo. Here, a system of using a variety of colored belts was used as it was felt it was the best way of determining an individuals skill level. There are many people who believe that a method of dyeing the belts was used, which may suggest why the belts get darker with each grading level. Others believe in the theory of a white belt becoming dirtier until it becomes black, which was the first method of determining someone skill, although this theory is most likely a myth.
Below is a list of the Shotokan Karate Belts. Please click on the relevant grading for a more detailed guide and syllabus for each level. Please also see our guide how to tie a karate belt.

Meaning of karate kihon

Kihon Karate

Kihon - basics

              Basic is the most important aspect of Karate. Practicing without basic Karate is like trying to build a house without first laying the foundation.
Basics consists of punches, kicks, blocks and strikes, and includes a variety of techniques with a variety of applications. In the end your ability to be good at karate depends on your ability to master the dasar.Hal is valid in any pursuit you do and that's why karate training has much in common with your everyday life.

meaning of karate fight

In studying karate, usually kumite (literal meaning 'meeting of the hand') made ​​after studying karate kihon and longer words, there is even a new start when the blue belt kumite. However, in general kumite is now taught since white belt.




Kumite is divided into several types, including shiai-kumite we know as a special kumite jiyu-kumite match and a greater emphasis on creativity and skills in karate sparring, and goshinjutsu-kumite kumite forms a greater emphasis on reducing the real situation as in the streets .

However, the portion of shiai-kumite more prominent lately in many universities. In addition because of the increasing number of children who learn karate, as well as the rise of karate matches, ranging from early childhood classes to veterans.

meaning of karate kata

Kata (型: かた)literally means "shape" or "model." Kata is a formalized series of movements are various offensive and defensive postures. Posture is based on the application of the ideal fighter.Some Words uses horses low and wide. This practice develops leg strength, correct posture, and gracefulness. Strong arm movements to improve your fitness and upper body strength. Word varies from a number of movements and difficulty. Words require the karateka to learn complicated movements. Diligent training and correct awareness leads to understanding the principles of real combat.Traditionally, words are taught in stages. Before learning word is repeated to demonstrate mastery of karate techniques are better to gain knowledge and experience of movement. Common to karate practice and repeat each movement said they have learned to be any quality improvement movement. Karateka must do one of the new words or earlier, to show and find out how its development.Various styles of karate learning different words, or variations of the core general. Some words may be known by two names, one in Japan, and the other from Okinawa / China. For that, Gichin Funakoshi changed many names to help spread the word a lot Karate throughout Japan.The number 108 has mythological significance in dharmic religions. This figure is also prominent in the symbolism

KATA Gōjū-ryū Shitō-ryū Shōrin-ryū Shotokan
Ananku

Yes
Annan
Yes

Annanko
Yes

Aoyag (Seiryu)
Yes

Chatanyara
Kushanku

Yes Some
Chinte
Yes Yes Yes
Chintō/Gankaku
Yes Yes Yes
Dan Enn Sho



Empi Sho



Fukyugata/Gekisai/
Shinsei
Yes Yes Some
Garyu



Go Pei Sho



Gojūshiho
Yes Yes Yes
Hakucho
Yes

Hakutsuru



Heiku
Yes

Jiin
Yes
Yes
Jion
Yes Yes Yes
Jitte
Yes Yes Yes
Jyuroku
Yes

Kanchin



Kanshiwa



Kanshu



Kururunfa Yes Yes

Kusanku/Kanku-dai
Yes Yes Yes
Matsukaze
Yes

Naihanchi/Tekki
Yes Yes Yes
Nan Dan Sho



Nipaipo/Neipai
Yes

Niseishi/Nijushiho
Yes Yes Yes
Pachu
Yes

Paiku
Yes

Papuren
Yes

Passai/Bassai
Yes Yes Yes
Pinan/Heian
Yes Yes Yes
Rōhai/Meikyo
Yes Yes Yes
Saifā Yes Yes

Sanchin Yes Yes

Sansai



Sanseiru/Sanseru Yes Yes

Seichin



Seipai Yes Yes

Seiryu



Seisan/Hangetsu Yes Yes Yes Yes
Seiyunchin/Seienchin Yes Yes

Shisōchin Yes Yes

Sōchin
Yes
Yes
Sunsu



Suparinpei/Pechurin/
Hyaku Hachi Ho
Yes Yes
Yes
Taikyoku Some Yes Some Yes
Tenshin



Tensho Yes Yes Some
Ten No Kata

Some Yes
Tsuki no Kata



Unsu/Unshu
Yes
Yes
Wankan

Yes Yes
Wanshu/Enpi
Yes Some Yes
Yantsu



Zen Shin Ko Tai