|
Karate has has been known longest as a means of self-defense.
It has its roots in the 2,000-year old Chinese form of boxing called Ch'uan fa (Kung fu) or Kempo, which
today is still practiced in China. Around the year of 16,00, a fighting art was developed on the island of Okinawa, which
was then in a cultural contact with China and Japan. The art of fighting called Okinawa-te (Okinawa-hand). This fighting art
took Kempo, which was brought to Okinawa by Chinese soldiers, and they used their native style of fighting. In all the political
reshuffling that beset Okinawa, its people were forbidden by their government to have any weapons for self-defense. The Okinawan's
then developed Okinawa-te and the fighting art became popular as a secret fighting art. This fighting art was kept so secret,
that in contrast to the Chinese Kempo, there exist no historical documentation regarding the old Okinawa-te.
Around the turn of the century, when the value of Okinawa-te for cultural education was being acknowledged in Okinawa,
the art was introducded into the lower grade in school. The the name Karate was chosen to replace the name, Okinawa-te.
Many Karate Ryu followed after Okinawa-te. Today in the world of karate, there are hundreds of styles. There are the
so-called more traditional karate styles, then there are those that may follow a more non conformist method of karate. One
thing for sure...all martial arts are man made. For anyone to made an uneducated remark as to saying the older karate styles
are better then the newer styles, one must comperhend the fact, karate is not, that on style of karate is better
then another. Just because a practitioner can develop in one karate style, does not mean he can develop as fast in another.
There is no legitimate, scientific prove if what so ever, that every karate style, produces good fighters.
If you practice one of the following karate paths: Karate-Do (way) which is normally the path adepted toward discipline,
be it martial or religious. Karate-do is an integral part of Budo. The next karate system of practice is: Karate-Bujutsu:
which in turn, is still karate, but the method of its practice is more of a combat method once used by the Bushi of ancient
Japan. Then the next method of karate is: Karate-Jutsu (empty hand, technique). Karate-Jutsu is a method of techniques rooted
in the tradition of a school (ryu). One can acquire it only after many years of training and. The term applies to all
karate styles "violent" martial arts.
| Avelino R. Mayoral, Soke San Dai, Hanshi, Kaiden |
|
|
| Judan, 10th Degree Black Belt |
|
