02/09/2022
Our word of the month for February is focused on our Dojo’s and Karate’s History! 🥋📚
This week, we will be talking with our students about what Karate is, why it was formed and where it was born!
Karate, more specifically Okinawan Shorin-Ryu Shidokan Karate, was developed in the birthplace of Karate itself, Okinawa.
Okinawa is a small island south of Japan that has been rich in Karatedo and Kobudo expertise since the 1400's. Being so small, Okinawa was later invaded by the armies of Japan in the 1600's and the teaching of karatedo and kobudo was forbidden and only done in secret.
Karate, like its students, held strong and endured and has since been passed down for centuries. With the passing time, Karate's roots expanded and strengthened even more. Branching now into 4 primary forms existing today: Shorin-Ryu, Goju-Ryu, Uechi-Ryu and Matsubayashi-Ryu.
Sensei Seikichi Iha, direct teacher to our very own Sensei Mark, was born in Nishihara, Okinawa in 1932 and lives in Lansing, Michigan to this day. Iha Sensei endured many hardships including the suspension of Karate during war time and struggles of World War 2. Even still, Iha Sensei stayed true to his practice for decades before being sent to the United States to expand the roots of Okinawan Karate even further! Iha Sensei has shared his lifelong passion and teaching of Karate with us and we look forward to every moment we can share it with all of you!
Just like a diamond is formed under pressure, our Karate has been preserved, hardened and made stronger by the adversity it has had to overcome.
