History of Traditional Karate
There have been three major factors in the development of karate. First, there was the combination of Chinese martial arts with the indigenous art called Te that had existed since ancient times in Okinawa. Second was opening of trade to China in 1372, where many forms of martial arts was introduced and adapted to the needs of the Okinawan people. The third, during the reign of King Shoshin (1477-1526), the warrior class (samurai) were concentrated in Shuri (then Okinawa’s capitol), and the Order of the Sword Hunt was enforced, banning all weapons. This policy was also enforced after the Ryukyu Invasion by the Satsuma clan in 1609.
Around this time, traditional karate had no ryu (schools) at all. Karate was taught secretly to peasants as a means of self-defense against the marauding Satsuma samurai. Karate techniques were put to test against the sword. Because the samurai fought in groups, karate was developed to fight numerous opponents at one time and was intended to dispose of the opponent the quickest way possible, with one fatal blow. Farm tools were also converted as weapons of self-defense.
After successfully thwarting the Satsuma’s, the styles became more formalized and were divided into major styles: Shuri-te (later known as Shorinji-ryu and Shorin-ryu, etc.), Naha-te (later Goju-ryu, etc.) and Tomari-te (later Matsubayashi-ryu). They were all named after the features of their kata, traditional place-names, the main figure-head, etc. Also there was Nanpa Shorin Ken (from China) called Uechi-ryu.
Today’s concept of ryu (school), do (path or way), or kan (house/clan) was developed at the start of the 20th Century. Okinawan-te was introduced to Japan proper by Gichin Funakoshi, who combined both Shuri-te and Naha-te to form Shotokan. Modern karate has also seen new styles such as Kyokushin, Mas Oyama’s blending of Shotokan with Goju-ryu. Now, there are over 60 styles and associations today. Yet each style shares in its roots the emphasis of the development of body, mind, and character of the practitioner.
Kobudo
The development of karate with weaponry started during the Sanzan (3 Kingdoms) Period: Nanzan (south), Chuzan (Central) and Hokuzan (north) in the Okinawan civil war era in the 11th and 12th Century. Since ordinary martial artists were forbidden to carry swords (only the samurai were allowed to do so), they created deadly weapons styles using ordinary farm tools and fishery equipment. This served to be extraordinarily effective against the Satsuma in the 1600’s. Many styles and schools adopted kobudo into their curriculum. There are many revisions and adaptations to Kobudo, especially since the turn of the century, but Kubudo principles still follow that of karate: the fulfillment of a higher state of being. Two notable figures is Pechin Higa (1790-1870) bodyguard to the king and pioneer of bojutsu and Ufuchiku Kinjo (1841-1926), one of the original masters of the sai-jutsu.