Karate-Dō, "The Way of the Empty Hand," is a path to self development. Karate is best known as a method of self defense, but self defense is only a by-product of true Karate training. Karate-Dō is a martial way or BUDŌ, that leads to the development and coordination of body, mind and spirit. The Japanese characters for BUDŌ are literally translated as a way to stop violence and so, proper tra
ining in Karate-Dō leads to a lifestyle of non-violence through the development of character, harmony, compassion and respect for others. It was first brought to Japan from Okinawa by Gichin Funakoski in 1917 and was brought to America in the late 1950's. Shotokan stresses the maximum development of each technique through constant repetition in order to develop the ability to end any conflict with one blow. Training
Shotokan classes are 1 to 1 1/2 hours in length. After thorough warm ups, class time is divided into three sections. During the first third of the classes, the emphasis is placed on the practice of the basic stances, punches, blocks, strikes and kicks of Shotokan. This training is called KIHON and forms the "vocabulary" of Karate. After Kihon practice, students learn to apply the basic techniques in fighting situations during sparring or Kumite practice. At the beginning of their Karate training, students practice pre-arranged sparring in a safe, controlled fashion. As students advance in rank and ability, pre-arranged sparring becomes more complicated and more closely simulates realistic self defense situations. Eventually, students are introduced to free style sparring. Regardless of the type of sparring, safety is constantly stressed and no contact is allowed. Kumite training could be considered the "prose" of Karate. The final and most important aspect of the karate training is forms practice or Kata. Kata consists of between 22 and 65 movements arranged in specific sequences and they simulate defense against attack from four to eight imaginary opponents. Kata contains many techniques that aren't normally practiced during Kihon or Kumite and so, are a repository of techniques. There are 26 Kata in the Shotokan syllabus. Students learn Kata at the rate of one in every three or four months during the first 2 years of training. Additional Kata are taught as students progress in rank until all 26 are mastered by the rank of the 5th Degree Black Belt. Because Kata are practiced endlessly, the movements of each Kata become second nature to the student. When this level of development is reached. Kata becomes a form of moving meditation. Kata can also be described as the "poetry" of Karate because of it's aesthetic nature. Ranking
Ranking consists of KYU (class) ranks which are those below black belt and DAN (degree) ranks; 1st degree black belt and above. International standards are followed for ranking requirements and eligibility for testing. Kyu Ranks
There are nine kyu ranks. A beginning student is considered "no kyu". After 3-4 months of training, the student may be eligible to test for 8th kyu. If that test is passed, the student is then eligible for testing every 3-4 months until the 1st kyu is reached. After 1st kyu is reached, another year of training is required until the student is eligible to test for 1st Dan.
