History of Karate

The evolution of karate is believed to have started way back in the fifth century, but it was not until karate emerged in Okinawa, Japan, that the history of karate became clear and accurate.

Tracing back at the history of Okinawa, there were several parts in their past where weapon bans were imposed. For this reason, a form of closed-fist fighting known as Te was developed. Te evolved through the years mainly in three different cities, Shuri, Naha and Tomari. Each city represented a different form of self-defense, Shuri-Te, Naha-Te, Tomari-Te, primarily because a different sect of society occupied each of the three towns. The styles that were formed from the three cities were collectively called the Okinawa-Te.

Karate was then slowly divided into two groups: Shorin-ryu, a style developed in the cities of Shuri and Tomari and Shorei-ryu, one that came from Naha city.

Shorin-ryu is a style that combines Shuri-Te and Tomari Te and emphasizes on quick and linear movements that entail natural breathing, while Shorei-ryu focuses on steady movements that are synchronized with the breathing.

Karate though only became popular when Gichin Funakoshi introduced this in the main islands of Japan. It was Funakoshi who demonstrated karate for the first time in public at the Butoku-den in 1917. In 1922, Funakoshi was invited to demonstrate and to teach karate at the Kodokan Dojo. This then became an instrumental part of the establishment of the base of karate in Japan.

Prior to World War II, the popularity of karate became the catalyst that introduced karate in high schools. Many universities also started karate clubs, which became a major influence to Western Dojos.