History - Shito-Ryu Karate-Do
In the early days, Okinawa "Te" (known as modern day Karate-Do) was practiced and handed down in small groups from generation to generation. The greatest masters at the time were Yasutsune (Anko) Itosu who was from Shuri, the capital of Okinawa and Kanryo Higaonna who was from Naha, another province in Okinawa. These two men were the highest authority of "Te" at the time, however their systems of instruction were significantly different from each other. Mr. Higaonna placed more emphasis on the hardening of the body in close quarter fighting and emphasized the use of circular motion, whereas Mr. Itosu emphasized more speed and agility.
Kenwa Mabuni (1880-1952) was the founder of our style, Shito-Ryu. He was born in Shuri, Okinawa. He studied under Mr. Itosu, initially, then later was granted permission as well as encouragement from Mr. Itosu and his friend, Chojun Miyagi to further his studies under Mr. Higanonna as well.
In 1915, Mr. Mabuni moved to Osaka, Japan and started to teach what he learned from his two masters out of his home. He later taught at police stations and universities to spread Karate-Do throughout Japan.
He established the "Okinawa Karate Kenkyu Kai" in 1925. He opened a dojo in the Nishinari prefecture in 1935, and he named his style "Shito-Ryu." He founded his own new style of Karate based on the teachings of his great masters. He took the first character of each of his teacher's names to coin the name "Shito-Ryu." The first character representing Itosu's name is pronounced "Shi" (she), and the first character representing Higaonna name is pronounced "To" (tow). "Ryu" means style, thus the three characters is a combination of both teacher's names as well as styles.
In 1931, he later renamed his organization "Dai Nippon Karate-Do Kai, Shito-Ryu." Mr. Mabuni established credibility by receiving a first master's certificate (Renshigo) for Karate from the Dai Nippon Butoku Kai (The most prestigious society of martial arts in Japan). After the World War II, he renamed his organization as "Nippon Karate-Do Kai, Shito-Ryu."
Mr. Mabuni died in 1952. His two sons, Kenei and Kenzo inherited the Shito-Ryu traditions and continue to teach and each have organizations of their own.
Shito-Ryu is one of the four major systems in the world today, and considered to be the most technically correct system. It also has the most katas of all the traditional Karate-Do systems.
KARA - TE - DO
History - THE PHILOSOPHY OF KARATE-DO
Karate-Do means " The Way of the Empty Hand " as the literal translation. The philosophical interpretation goes beyond the superficial understanding and emphasizes an attitude and mindset of an undying spirit of self-determination, and self-dependence when confronted with adversity and peril. The mind must mold itself to the training of the body in order to forge a strong and cultivated spirit to meet the challenges of extreme circumstances. The demands of training conditions the fortitude of the practitioner so as to react instinctively without hesitation to resolve a physical or moral conflict. Mastering one's inner self takes years of dedication summoning the fighting spirit from deep within our soul. Karate-Do demands that we as practitioners of the art must be strong internally as well as externally. We gain confidence and integrity through our diligence and effort in training, and seek to evolve with deeper understanding our true potential as human beings.
The physical element of Karate-Do is that of Technique and Application and the means to achieve it. The term " Kara " meaning empty or (Infinite), and " Te " meaning hand or (Technique), leads to the understanding that the body is the instrument of delivery for a magnitude of applications and techniques. The intent of training is to condition the natural mechanics of the body in order to maximize the effectiveness of projecting technique. To execute technique without deliberate conscious action is the fundamental goal of training. Through years of diligent and disciplined effort of repeated practice and analysis, the body is conditioned and hardened as an instrument of self-defense of great potential decisiveness.
Concepts of Karate-Do inherent in its techniques are abstract and difficult to explain unless one has experienced it first hand. In order to achieve the levels of performance, one must gain knowledge and experience through their own physical training. "Furyu moji" is a Zen Buddhism term expressing "something that cannot be conveyed in writing, but must learned through physical effort". In order to develop the essential basis of understanding Karate-Do, one must experience it first hand through their own training.
Karate-Do techniques were created and refined from survival tactics taken from extreme situations of mortal combat against multiple, or armed opponents. Karate-Do training is strongly influenced by the concept of true "Budo" (The way of Peacemaking); that one must always train with the idea in mind of being in extreme circumstances, or peril. The concept of "Ichi-geki-Hissatsu" (To kill with one devastating strike) is a inherent mindset in developing the proper technique. The idea of knocking down an opponent with a single blow is borrowed from combat against the samurai sword. If the sword can kill with one utterly finishing strike, so must the technique delivered from one armed only with ones own body. In order to achieve the proficiency of delivering one devastating strike, all the necessary components of mind, technique, and the full mechanics of the body must all come to a focal point in its projection; this concept is referred to as "Kime". The one finishing technique is delivered to the vital points of the body or weak points to debilitate the opponent. "Kime" and "Ichi-geki-Hissatsu" are two essential components of Traditional Karate-Do training, that must be inseparable in order to properly develop true technique.
The ultimate goal of Traditional Karate-Do training is to bring the mind and body together as one, as it transcends technique into a state of individual consciousness and response. One must purge the mind of self-serving thoughts and reflect inwardly to understand the true essence of ones training. This element of Karate training is referred to as the " Do ". This fundamental ideal represents the path that one takes to seek truth and enlightenment in oneself. By training Karate one possess a great advantage over others, thus must observe to maintain complete control over ones emotions and actions. We as Karate practitioners strive to strengthen ourselves internally as well as externally and having clear conscience so as to truthfully face our lives without regret. We must seek to be inwardly gentle and humble, as we become externally hardened. It is also symbolic that the practitioner of Karate-Do wears a traditional white uniform (Do-gi) to represent the state of mind and purpose in ones training, that of purity and virtue.