| History of Karate |
The ancient Greeks, already practiced a form of unarmed combat by the time the first Olympiads took place. Pancratium as it was called,
was a form of wrestling in which almost anything was allowed.
In Japan, and by about the years 29 BC - 70 AD, Sumo appeared to be only form of Martial Art being practiced at the time.
With the advent and popularity of the Martial Arts in the later part of the 20th century, we became acquitanced with a number of other
ancient, and somehow obscure Martial Arts, to the point where, almost every country in the world had some form of "ancient martial arts
background"
was a form of wrestling in which almost anything was allowed.
In Japan, and by about the years 29 BC - 70 AD, Sumo appeared to be only form of Martial Art being practiced at the time.
With the advent and popularity of the Martial Arts in the later part of the 20th century, we became acquitanced with a number of other
ancient, and somehow obscure Martial Arts, to the point where, almost every country in the world had some form of "ancient martial arts
background"
| Bodhidarma and Shorin-ji |
Although as it seems by now, every country in the world developed its own fighting techniques, Karate has the deepest connection with
some of the fighting methods found in China, especially with Shao-lin-ssu.
A budhist monk called Daruma Bodhidharma, came to China in the 5th or 6th century. He was a disciple of the priest Prajnatara and
after 20 years practicing the Budhist faith, became the twentyeighth patriarc of the Budhist faith after Sakyamuni.
After the death of his mentor, Bodhiddharma heard that Budhism had entered China, but in a different form. He thought of travelling to
China to correct this. After many hardships, Daruma arrived at the capital of Liang (Ching-lung) and met the Emperor Wu.
Because of differences in the way Budhism was supposed to be taught and spread, the Emperor soon got Daruma expelled from his
Kingdom. He travelled north to the Kingdom of Wei, eventually arriving at the Shao-lin-ssu near Lo-yang.
Daruma was a practitioner of Yoga, and it is said that he remained in meditation for nine years upon arriving in Wei. In China, Yoga
became known as ch'an, a word deriving from from the Indian dhyanu, "meditation," and later, in Japan it became Zen.
Bodhidharma's basic doctrine was one of body and spirit being one. For both to unite, you had to purify the spirit, and for that you
required discipline of the body. Daruma brought to China two books on military arts, the I-chin-ching and the Hsien-sui-ching both of
which showed some aspects of hand to hand methods of fighting. They also showed that Indians were already practicing some forms
of Martial Arts three thousand years ago. It is not hard to see how Budhist iconography shows pictures and statues with hands, arms
and legs in positions that are basic to Karate. Therefore, it could be fair to say that Indian methods of fighting were brought to the
Shaolin by Daruma.
Since the priests of the Shao-lin-ssu often had to defend themselves against attacks from bandits, the I-chi_ching was useful not only in
Zen meditation, but also as self-defence method. The Shao-lin-ssu method of fighting spread to the Ryukyus via commerce and
migration, and combined with earlier methods of hand to hand combat to become the ancestor of modern Karate.
From ancient times, Chinese hand to hand combat has been divided into kung-fu, which later became taikyoku-ken and jou-fu which
developed into ryuku-ken. Kun-fu invloved the use of kicks and thrusts; jou-fu concentrated on close grappling and locking techniques.
The Shaolin monks develop a mixture of both, and blended their culture in the fighting arts. Later they called it kempo. Many societies
grew out of the monastery, and they formed secret groups. These chinese boxers went on to fight for freedom against the ruling houses
of China, namely the Ming and Ching dynasties. When various European countries began their invasions of China, the Great Sword
Society put up great resistance against the Germans.
So annoyed were they that they called for assistance from the great powers in those days, England, America and France. Slowly but
surely, superior fire power was no match against ancient weaponry and strategies, and in 1900 the Manchu goverment banned kempo
throughout China. There was turmoil in China for many years, and it was only after the Tang's dynasty, that we see a resurgence of
kempo in the north and south.
With this resurgence, came a period of development which sees the differences between northen and southern shaolin schools.
Scholars believe this was due to climate, terrain and different ways of life between these two people's.
some of the fighting methods found in China, especially with Shao-lin-ssu.
A budhist monk called Daruma Bodhidharma, came to China in the 5th or 6th century. He was a disciple of the priest Prajnatara and
after 20 years practicing the Budhist faith, became the twentyeighth patriarc of the Budhist faith after Sakyamuni.
After the death of his mentor, Bodhiddharma heard that Budhism had entered China, but in a different form. He thought of travelling to
China to correct this. After many hardships, Daruma arrived at the capital of Liang (Ching-lung) and met the Emperor Wu.
Because of differences in the way Budhism was supposed to be taught and spread, the Emperor soon got Daruma expelled from his
Kingdom. He travelled north to the Kingdom of Wei, eventually arriving at the Shao-lin-ssu near Lo-yang.
Daruma was a practitioner of Yoga, and it is said that he remained in meditation for nine years upon arriving in Wei. In China, Yoga
became known as ch'an, a word deriving from from the Indian dhyanu, "meditation," and later, in Japan it became Zen.
Bodhidharma's basic doctrine was one of body and spirit being one. For both to unite, you had to purify the spirit, and for that you
required discipline of the body. Daruma brought to China two books on military arts, the I-chin-ching and the Hsien-sui-ching both of
which showed some aspects of hand to hand methods of fighting. They also showed that Indians were already practicing some forms
of Martial Arts three thousand years ago. It is not hard to see how Budhist iconography shows pictures and statues with hands, arms
and legs in positions that are basic to Karate. Therefore, it could be fair to say that Indian methods of fighting were brought to the
Shaolin by Daruma.
Since the priests of the Shao-lin-ssu often had to defend themselves against attacks from bandits, the I-chi_ching was useful not only in
Zen meditation, but also as self-defence method. The Shao-lin-ssu method of fighting spread to the Ryukyus via commerce and
migration, and combined with earlier methods of hand to hand combat to become the ancestor of modern Karate.
From ancient times, Chinese hand to hand combat has been divided into kung-fu, which later became taikyoku-ken and jou-fu which
developed into ryuku-ken. Kun-fu invloved the use of kicks and thrusts; jou-fu concentrated on close grappling and locking techniques.
The Shaolin monks develop a mixture of both, and blended their culture in the fighting arts. Later they called it kempo. Many societies
grew out of the monastery, and they formed secret groups. These chinese boxers went on to fight for freedom against the ruling houses
of China, namely the Ming and Ching dynasties. When various European countries began their invasions of China, the Great Sword
Society put up great resistance against the Germans.
So annoyed were they that they called for assistance from the great powers in those days, England, America and France. Slowly but
surely, superior fire power was no match against ancient weaponry and strategies, and in 1900 the Manchu goverment banned kempo
throughout China. There was turmoil in China for many years, and it was only after the Tang's dynasty, that we see a resurgence of
kempo in the north and south.
With this resurgence, came a period of development which sees the differences between northen and southern shaolin schools.
Scholars believe this was due to climate, terrain and different ways of life between these two people's.
| Kempo in the Ryu Kyu's |
No one knows when kempo entered the Ryukyu islands. It is possible that one Sakugawa of the city of Shuri, travelled to China with the
purpose of bringing kempo back to his home country.
It is also possible that envoys and merchants taught the people of Shuri, and techniques were then passed down from person to
persons.
The Ryukuans did not learn the original style shao-lin-ssu kempo. They assimilated techiques from here and there, and by creating their
own, developed a very characteristic Okinawan style, or Okinawa-te.
The Chinese who taught kempo in Okinawa did not bother about opening training halls, but only gave a little instruction in their spare
time. This allowed the Okinawans to express and add their own sentiment, to the arts of te.Although shaolin kempo and Okinawan
karate resemble each other at first sight, they are actually quite different. The people of Okinawa was no longer doing the same thing
as kempo practitioners were.
Ryuryu Ko was teaching Kanryo Higaona, and he in turn was developing Goju ryu and so on. Even the name had to be changed, and
because of resentment between the Chinese and Japanese peoples, the words China-te was changed to Karate meaning "empty
hand"
Master Gichin Funakoshi introduced Okinawan Karate into mainland Japan in 1923. In 1929, Kenwa Mabuni starts teaching karate in
the Osaka and Kyoto areas, and Chojun Miyagi devoted himself to the spreading of Goju ryu. Funakoshi Sensei founded Shotokan,
Mabuni, Shito ryu, Uechi founded Uechi ryu and Miyagi taught Goju ryu.
And so karate was born. Although nowadays there are hundreds of karate styles, one must believe that ALL have something to offer,
and perhaps we should learn from each other, rather than partition the Arts even more.
purpose of bringing kempo back to his home country.
It is also possible that envoys and merchants taught the people of Shuri, and techniques were then passed down from person to
persons.
The Ryukuans did not learn the original style shao-lin-ssu kempo. They assimilated techiques from here and there, and by creating their
own, developed a very characteristic Okinawan style, or Okinawa-te.
The Chinese who taught kempo in Okinawa did not bother about opening training halls, but only gave a little instruction in their spare
time. This allowed the Okinawans to express and add their own sentiment, to the arts of te.Although shaolin kempo and Okinawan
karate resemble each other at first sight, they are actually quite different. The people of Okinawa was no longer doing the same thing
as kempo practitioners were.
Ryuryu Ko was teaching Kanryo Higaona, and he in turn was developing Goju ryu and so on. Even the name had to be changed, and
because of resentment between the Chinese and Japanese peoples, the words China-te was changed to Karate meaning "empty
hand"
Master Gichin Funakoshi introduced Okinawan Karate into mainland Japan in 1923. In 1929, Kenwa Mabuni starts teaching karate in
the Osaka and Kyoto areas, and Chojun Miyagi devoted himself to the spreading of Goju ryu. Funakoshi Sensei founded Shotokan,
Mabuni, Shito ryu, Uechi founded Uechi ryu and Miyagi taught Goju ryu.
And so karate was born. Although nowadays there are hundreds of karate styles, one must believe that ALL have something to offer,
and perhaps we should learn from each other, rather than partition the Arts even more.
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