What is Shotokan Karate-do?
 |
After Grandmaster Funakoshi taught at the Kodokan, he started teaching privately at Meisei Juku where he stayed. At the request of college students, he began to teach Karate at several colleges, including Waseda University, with Master Noguchi and Master Watanabe, Keio University with Master Obata, and Taku Shoku University, with Master Nakayama. Around this time, he changed the writing of Karate in Chinese characters from “Karate” (Chinese Hand) to “Karate” (Empty Hand). This meant not only to defend yourself without weapons (empty hands) but also to create a state of empty mind (Kuu), so that you can be ready for any type of situation mentally.
There were two major Styles in Karate in Okinawa: Shorei-Ryu, which stressed power and strength, and Shorin-Ryu, which stressed speed and sharpness. Grandmaster Funakoshi selected 15 Katas (Forms) from these two styles and changed their names from Okinawan to Japanese.
After Grandmaster Funakoshi passed away in 1957, his followers started calling his Karate “Shotokan”, derived from his pen name “Shoto”. Today, Shotokan Karate is studied by many and is the most popular traditional Japanese Karate style in Japan and all over the world.
Doshi-Kai Shotokan Karate Member Handbook
History
Doshi-Kai (meaning “the group pursuing the way”) was founded by Master Nagao Matsuyama, in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1984. The atmosphere at Doshi-Kai is unique—serious and focused, but friendly and not militaristic. In this setting, you can really feel the difference between “commercial” martial arts and the rare traditional non-profit groups where the “art” is more important than the promotion, the technique more valued than the belt, and the individual progress is not measured by how much you’ve paid out, but by how hard you work on yourself. These classes will challenge you to excel, much like the way they were taught in Japan to promote mental and physical discipline. Master Matsuyama’s advanced take on Shotokan combines the flexibility and fluidity of Taisabaki (shifting) with the speed, power and forward focus of traditional Shotokan. Every class with Master Matsuyama is like a special seminar—he has been mentored by Master Watanabe, who himself is the oldest living student of the founder of Shotokan Karate, Grandmaster Funakoshi. Advanced students come from a long way off, just to have a chance to work out with Master Matsuyama at his level. The adult classes are open and beneficial to students of all levels, from the very beginners to Black Belts, men, women and adolescents. A special class schedule is in place for children of all ages, to get them started on the path of true Martial Arts: discipline, physical and mental health, balance and personal growth.
Although the classes are very strenuous, much like the way they were traditionally taught in Japan, in order to promote mental and physical discipline, there is a very smooth transition from Kihon (Basics) and Kata (Form) to Kumite (Sparring), unlike the traditional workouts, so students can appreciate and enjoy them more. The classes are open to beginners as well as advanced black belts.
About Master Mastuyama
Master Matsuyama started training in Karate at Waseda University in Tokyo in the early 1970s under Master Toshio Watanabe who is the oldest living student of Grandmaster Funakoshi. He is one of the few students who is authorized to teach Shotokan Karate overseas by Master Watanabe.
Master Matsuyama has also trained extensively in Aikido and Mugai-Ryu Iaido, as well as Ryukyu-Kobudo (Okinawan weapons). He has developed a unique training system by using tai sabaki or body-shifting techniques along with the traditional, fast, strong and straight forward Shotokan techniques – smooth yet
0 comments:
Post a Comment