What is Shotokan karate?

Where Shotokan comes from

Karate developed on the island of Okinawa. In 1922 an Okinawan schoolteacher, Gichin Funakoshi, demonstrated it in Tokyo and stayed on to teach. "Shoto" was the pen name he used for his poetry, and "kan" means hall, so Shotokan was simply the name of the hall where he taught. His students later gave the name to the style.

After the Second World War his senior students formed the Japan Karate Association (JKA) and turned his teaching into a structured syllabus. JKA instructors then took Shotokan around the world.

The three parts of training

Kihon: basics

Punches, strikes, blocks and kicks, practised in lines, up and down the hall. The aim is to make each technique fast, balanced and driven by the hips and legs, not just the arm.

Kata: forms

Kata are fixed sequences of techniques performed alone against imagined opponents. Beginners learn the five Heian kata first. There are more than twenty kata in the JKA syllabus, and senior students keep refining the early ones for the rest of their lives.

Kumite: sparring

Partner work starts with pre-arranged drills where the attack is announced. It progresses to semi-free and then free sparring. Shotokan kumite is controlled: techniques are delivered with full speed and intent, and stopped just short of the target.

The dojo kun

Shotokan classes traditionally close by reciting five principles, known as the dojo kun:

• Seek perfection of character.
• Be faithful.
• Endeavour.
• Respect others.
• Refrain from violent behaviour.

They are a reminder that karate training is meant to shape how you behave outside the dojo as well as in it.

The Japan Karate Association

The JKA is headquartered in Tokyo and has member organisations in more than a hundred countries. Japan Karate Association New Zealand is its national body here, and Tomyris Karatedo is listed among its dojos. Training and gradings at Tomyris follow the JKA syllabus.

Is Shotokan right for you?

Shotokan suits people who like structure and measurable progress. It builds strong legs, good posture and sharp technique. If you want to try it, see our karate classes in Christchurch, or read how Shotokan compares with other karate styles.