There have been two occasions in the history of the Ryukyu islands  when weapons bans were imposed by government order.  This first happened around 1372 when the Ryukyu islands were unified under the great king Sho Hashi.  Sho Hashi immediately issued an order that possession of  weapons to the general populace was prohibited.  This ushered in an era of relative peace which the islands were to experience over the next two centuries.

In 1609 the islands were attacked by Shimazu samurai from the Satsuma fief of southern Kyushu, Japan.  Although the islanders put up a brave fight the islands eventually fell to the Shimazu.  Again all weapons were banned, and this time to all classes of society.  It is likely that this occupation was the catalyst for the secret introduction of hand to hand fighting methods.  

Prior to this event the Ryukyu islands had been a tributary state of China.  It is therefore quite likely that Chinese methods of fighting or 'Kenpo' - which literally means 'fist method' - would have been introduced to the Okinawans.  The Okinawans already had their own combat system known as Tode - pronounced Toe-Day - and this combined with Kenpo could potentially have seen the birth of Karate.

It is interesting to note that Karate in Japanese was original spelt with characters which translated it as Kara - China, Te - Hand.  This was originally considered to be a mark of respect to China.  

In later years the character used for Kara was changed so that the translation became Kara - Empty, Te -Hand.  Therefore Karate or Karate-do literally now means:

Funakoshi sensei was born in Shuri in 1868.  As a child he was frail and sickly and not long after his birth he was taken to live with his grandparents. 

It was while Funakoshi sensei was first attending primary school that he befriended a classmate whose father would change his life forever.  The boy's father was at that time one of Okinawa's greatest experts in the art of Karate - Sensei Yasutsune Azato.  Funakoshi also had the privilege of studying with another great master, Yasutsune Itosu.

In May 1922 the Department of Education in Okinawa  invited Funakoshi sensei to take part in a demonstration of Japanese martial arts in Tokyo.  Karate at that time was little known outside of Okinawa and Funakoshi sensei jumped at the chance.  He'd planned to return to Okinawa as soon as the demonstration was finished. However, such was the reception of Karate in Japan that he received numerous requests from Japanese masters for demonstrations.  Instead of going home, Funakoshi was to stay for the next 35 years. 

The term Shoto-kan first became recognised around the spring of 1936 when the first ever Karate dojo to be built in Japan was commissioned.  The dojo was located in Zoshigaya, Toshima Ward. 

Shoto was the pen name used by Funakoshi sensei when writing poetry and in Japanese literally means 'pine waves.'  Shotokan when translated simply means 'Hall of Waving Pines.'

Following the creation of Shotokan, Funakoshi sensei became the Chief Instructor of the newly inaugurated Japan Karate Association in 1955.

Funakoshi ssnsei died in April 1957 aged 88, his entire life dedicated to teaching and spreading the word of Karate.  To quote the final paragraph of his book - 'Karate do My Way of Life' written in 1956:

'So Karate-do which, in my childhood, was a clandestine local Okinawan activity, had finally become one of Japan's martial arts before it took wings to America.  Now it is known all over the world.  As I write these notes, I receive requests for information, and for instructors too, from everywhere.  Still astonished by the number of people who have heard about karate, I now realise that once this book is finished I shall have to start a new project - that of sending Japanese experts abroad.'

Since then many great Karate sensei have made the trip from Japan to Great Britain in order to spread the teaching of Shotokan.  

One such master is Eneoda sensei, 8th Dan and Chief Instructor of the Karate Union of Great Britain.

Gichin Funakoshi Sensei

1868 - 1957