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CONTENTS
Historical
Background
Modern
Karate
Etiquette
Bowing
Titles
Preparing
for Class
During
Practice
Formal
Procedures
Comments
from Students
OTHER
PAGES
Course
Syllabus
Introductory
Information
Promotion
Requirements
Ten
No Kata
Basic
Combinations and Sparring
Techniques
Self-Defense
Kata
Karate
Uniforms
Japanese
Karate Terminology
Suggested
Books and Videos
Karate
Main Page
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Welcome to the Skyline College Shotokan Karate class.
The following information will give you a brief
introduction to the art of Shotokan Karate and the
guidelines for your participation.
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
The origin of karate is still very uncertain,
but may date back more than a thousand years. According
to one of the most widely accepted versions, the monk,
Dharma (also known as Bodhidharma or Daruma), traveled
over the Himalayas from India to the Shao Lin monastery
in China. He began to teach the monks physical training
methods in order to build strength and endurance for the
sustained meditation and hardships of monastery life.
This physical training was further developed and adapted
over the centuries into a highly effective fighting art,
and some 600 years ago was introduced to the island
kingdom of Ryuku, now called Okinawa. The Chinese methods
were gradually blended with the indigenous fighting arts
of the islands. During this period the Ryukus fell under
the control of Japan. The feudal lord of Kagoshima, on
the southernmost tip of Kyushu in Japan, banned the
Okinawans from the use of all weapons. This spurred the
development of secretly practiced "empty-hand" fighting
and self-defense techniques. The martial art that evolved
was referred to as te, meaning "hand," or as kara-te,
meaning "Chinese hand." Gradually, several styles of
kara-te were systematized by the Okinawans, primarily
Shorin-ryu (Shorin being the Japanese pronunciation of
Shao Lin, ryu meaning "school" or "style") and Shorei-ryu
(also called Naha-te because it was developed in the Naha
region of Okinawa). Shorei-ryu divided into two styles -
Goju-ryu and Uechi-ryu. Shorin-ryu divided into three
styles - Shuri-te, Matsubayashi-ryu and the original.
In 1922, Funakoshi Gichin, an Okinawan master of
karate, formally introduced the art to Japan at an
exhibition of traditional martial arts. His demonstration
so impressed the audience that he eventually remained in
Japan to teach for the rest of his life. In 1936 his
students established for him a large training hall in
Tokyo known as the Shotokan. It is from this landmark and
this master that the style of Shotokan Karate evolved. In
the course of development, Funakoshi changed the Japanese
characters for kara-te from the original "Chinese hand"
to those which mean "empty hand." Funakoshi also chose
the new character for its meaning in Zen philosophy:
"rendering oneself empty." To the master, karate was a
martial art, but it was also a means of building
character. He wrote: "As a mirror's polished surface
reflects whatever stands before it and a quiet valley
carries even small sounds, so must the student of karate
render his mind empty of selfishness and wickedness in an
effort to react appropriately toward anything he might
encounter. This is the meaning of kara, or 'empty' of
karate."
ABOUT MODERN KARATE
The Japanese differentiate between bu-jutsu
(martial skills) and bu-do (martial way or path). The
term do implies a much broader scope which encompasses
mental and spiritual, as well as physical, training.
Shotokan is a style of karate-do. It is much more than a
method of street fighting and goes even beyond a system
of self-defense. The following is extracted from the
writing of Nakayama Masatoshi, a student of Master
Funakoshi and author of the Best Karate series:
"If karate is practiced solely as a fighting
technique, this is cause for regret. The fundamental
techniques have been developed and perfected through long
years of study and practice, but to make any effective
use of these techniques, the spiritual aspect of this art
of self-defense must be recognized and must play the
predominant role.
To be capable of inflicting devastating damage on an
opponent with one blow of the fist or a single kick has
indeed been the objective of this ancient Okinawan
martial art. But even the practitioners of old placed
stronger emphasis on the spiritual side of the art than
on the techniques. Training means training of body and
spirit, and, above all else, one should treat his
opponent courteously and with the proper etiquette. It is
not enough to fight with all one's power: the real
objective in karate-do is to do so for the sake of
justice.
Gichin Funakoshi, the great master of karate-do,
pointed out repeatedly that the first purpose in pursuing
this art is the nurturing of a sublime spirit, a spirit
of humility. Simultaneously, power sufficient to destroy
a ferocious wild animal with a single blow should be
developed. Becoming a true follower of karate-do is
possible only when one attains perfection in these two
aspects, the one spiritual, the other physical.
Deciding who is the winner and who is the loser is not
the ultimate objective. Karate-do is a martial art for
the development of character through training, so that
the karateka can surmount any obstacle, tangible or
intangible."
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PROPER ETIQUETTE
As a student new to the martial arts, you may
hear the word "etiquette" repeatedly. The masters say
that the first thing to be learned as a student of
karate-do is etiquette. What exactly is meant by
etiquette? Etiquette means the proper code of behavior
for a martial artist.
So - what is proper behavior in a martial artist? The
answer is deceptively simple: Any behavior that is
motivated by respect. If you truly learn this martial art
it is inevitable and natural that you will develop
respect for the art. In appreciating the truth and beauty
of the art - automatically you will also develop respect
for the teachers who impart their knowledge to you.
Likewise, you will have respect for your classmates who
share your learning experience. And, finally, there will
be respect for yourself, the learner.
BOWING
Bowing is often associated with studying the martial arts. In the
Asian cultures from which karate developed, bowing is a way to greet
others and show respect. To give students practical “cultural
experience” in studying Japanese karate, we will perform the
following bows:
- "Bow in" before practice and "Bow out" after practice. These
bows are done from a kneeling position. If you must arrive late
or leave early, wait to be acknowledged by the instructor, then
bow from the side of the practice area before entering or
leaving.
- Bows to fellow students before and after practicing
together.
- Bows when formally performing kata.
The kneeling bow is executed by resting the hips on the heels,
knees together, toes pointed to the rear, feet resting on the upper
insteps. Sit upright with palms resting downward at the juncture of
thighs and waist, fingers together, elbows angled back. Begin by
leaning forward at the waist and placing the left palm on the floor
one hand’s distance in front of the left knee. Next place the right
hand similarly in front of the right knee. Open the thumbs and touch
tips of thumbs together, similarly, touch tips of forefingers
together to form a triangle. Bend forward, keeping back straight,
until your elbows touch the ground. Eyes should be open and you
should maintain zanshin throughout. Pause and recover by removing
first the right and then the left hands to the starting position,
The standing bow is executed by placing the heels together, toes
pointed outward at 45 degrees. Hands are held at the sides, palms to
upper thighs, fingers together, elbows slightly bent to the rear.
Bend forward from the waist - about 15 - 20 degrees. Don't let you
hips stick out too far in back. Your eyes should be lowered along
with the movement of your head. Even though your eyes are lowered
you should maintain zanshin or awareness of your total surroundings.
TITLES
Instructors are shown respect by addressing them
with the title of "Mr." or "Ms". In many karate schools
the head instructor is often addressed as "Sensei" which
means "teacher" in Japanese.
PREPARING FOR CLASS
Come to class clean and well-groomed. Wash your
workout clothing after every session.
Jewelry, rings, watches and hats should be removed
prior to any training. Fingernails and toenails must be
kept trimmed and hair should be kept back. Shoes and
socks must be removed.
Wearing a karate uniform is optional. The Japanese
term for the karate uniform is gi. Men wearing a gi do
not usually wear anything underneath the gi top. Women
wearing a gi should wear a plain white T-shirt under the
gi top. If you elect not to wear a gi, you should wear
loose fitting workout clothes (sweats) that allow you to
kick and punch without restriction. Because we practice
self-defense techniques, I recommend that you wear long
sleeves.
Be on time for class. If you arrive late, stretch out
quietly to the side of the room. When ready, wait to join
class until invited by the instructor. If you must leave
class early, please notify the instructor before class
begins.
DURING PRACTICE
Concentrate on your training.
 Develop a spirit of family with your fellow students.
Every one has something to teach you. Everything you
encounter in the dojo is a lesson for you to learn and
grow from.
Never do anything to obstruct your own or another's
learning. There should be no unnecessary talking or
horseplay during practice.
Practice to your full potential. The speed of your
progress, the quality of your techniques and the
intensity of your workout are solely dependent upon the
effort you put into your training.
top
FORMAL PROCEDURES
Japanese terms it is helpful to know:
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Hajime
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Begin or Start
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Kiai
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Focused Shout or Yell
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Mawate
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Turn Around
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Mokuso
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Close Eyes (Meditation)
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Naore
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Return to Ready Position
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Otate
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Stand Up
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Rei
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Bow
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Seiza
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Kneeling Position
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Yame
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Stop
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Yasume
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Relax
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Yoi
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Ready Position
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Counting in Japanese:
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Ichi
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One
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Ni
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Two
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San
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Three
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Shi
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Four
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Go
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Five
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Roku
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Six
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Shichi
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Seven
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Hachi
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Eight
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Ku
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Nine
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Ju
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Ten
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OPENING CLASS:
Instructor or senior student says: "Line Up."
Entire class lines up standing in a straight line, senior belts
to the right, lower belts to the left in descending order. If
students are of equal rank, the student with the most seniority is
to the right. If students are of equal seniority, the student oldest
in age is shown the respect of lining up to the right. Practice
ego-less-ness. If any doubt arises, defer your position.
Instructor says "Seiza."
Instructor kneels. Entire class kneels, together. Begin by
placing the left knee next to the toes of the right foot. Place the
right knee next to the left knee. Descend gracefully, do not crash
down. Sit up straight in ready position.
Instructor says "Mokuso." ("Meditation")
Begin "zazen" or meditation. With eyes closed or half closed,
focus on the flow of the breath. Do not try to control inhalation or
exhalation; merely watch the breath happen as a detached observer.
Calm the mind and prepare yourself for training. Instructor says, "Mokyuso
yame" to end meditation.
Senior student says: "Sensei ni - Rei!" ("Bow to the teacher")
Instructor and entire class bow to each other. Wait until
instructor rises before rising yourself - you must "sense" this, as
you will be looking down.
Instructor says: "Naore" or "Otate" ("Return to Ready Position"
or "Stand up")
Class waits for instructor to stand before rising. Begin rising
by placing toes of right foot next to left knee and reversing the
kneeling sequence. Return to yoi position. Maintain zanshin
throughout this process.
ENDING CLASS:
Everything is the same except instructor says: "End today's
class. Line up!"
There is no meditation (zazen) at the end of class.
PRACTICING BASIC TECHNIQUES:
Students line up as directed by instructor.
Instructor says: "Ready Position (Yoi)."
Students assume ready position.
Instructor announces and may demonstrate technique.
Most techniques begin from a position of left downward
block, left front stance. Instructor says: "Begin
(Hajime)."
Students execute left downward block into a left front
stance, with kiai.
Instructor counts off techniques in order. At the end
of the last technique, students pause.
Instructor says: "Stop (Yame)".
Students return to ready position (yoi).
COMMENTS FROM STUDENTS AT THE END
OF THE SEMESTER:
- "Taking this class has been very rewarding and I have
learned many things. In signing up for this class I had
the idea that I would learn to defend myself. Being a
small person, I knew that I could easily be pushed over
and therefore taken advantage of. I definitely got what I
wanted out of the class, but I've learned so much more
than just self-defense. I've learned confidence, how to
use perfectionism in a positive way, balance, focus and
happiness. I very much enjoy the people in the class.
It's sort of like a family to me."
- "Beside benefiting physically from this class, I also
learned a lot from it mentally. After taking this course
I realize that the most important thing about karate is
not always about strength. The most important thing is
the ability to control your strength and use it
wisely."
- "I have played every sport there is to play and have
not learned more about myself than I have in this karate
class."
- "In karate class I have learned to discipline myself.
I have been training hard every day in class. When I walk
into the dojo I feel like I am a different person, only
concentrating on practicing as hard as I can."
- "I have enjoyed the class and the people in it. We
have a very good group. It is good to see improvement in
myself and everybody else in the class. I think that most
people come to karate to learn how to kick butt, and then
stay because they get a great deal more out of it than
they ever thought they would."
- "I'm not quite sure whose idea it was for me to
enroll in this Shotokan karate class, but it was a great
idea! I am no longer a spectator of life, but an active
player who has just received my yellow belt!"
- "I learned that karate is so much more than a
self-defense and fighting technique. There is a much
larger picture involved. Karate is a way of thinking, a
philosophy, a form of self-expression. I found a deep
respect for the beauty of kata. I was impressed by the
theme of respect that seemed to encompass the dojo."
- "For the longest time I wanted to take a karate
class, but I hadn't considered the amount of effort I
would have to put forth. After thinking it over for a
while, I decided to stick it out. I know now that I made
the right decision. Had I quit, I would have missed out
on a great learning experience."
- "All I can say is that karate is one of the best
things I have done in my life."
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