Classical History of Karatedō
1917 Gichin Funakoshi (O' Sensei) introduces
Karate to at the Butokuden in Kyoto.
1922 The Japanese Ministry of Education asked Funakoshi to participate in a demonstration of ancient Japanese martial arts at the Women's Higher Normal School in Tokyo. After the demonstration, Gichin was approached by Jigaro Kano, the founder of judo. He asked Funakoshi to stay
1923 Masutatsu Oyama was born in Gimje, near Gunsan, in what is now South Korea. [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, Courier New]While living at his sister's farm in Manchuria at the age of nine, he began his lifelong journey along the Martial Way when he began studying the southern Chinese form of kempo know as "Eighteen Hands".[/FONT]
1935 While in Japan, Funakoshi wrote the first book ever on karate "Ryukyu Kempo: Karate." The book was designed by Hoan Kosugi, who is also credited with designing the Shotokan tiger. Four years later the book was re-released with the new title "Renten Goshin Karate-jitsu". His next book, "Karate-do Kyohan" was written in 1935. This book is also known as the Master Text.
1935-36 The
dō suffix implies that
karatedō is a path to self knowledge, not just a study of the technical aspects of fighting. Like most martial arts practiced in Japan, karate made its transition from -
jutsu to -
dō around . The "
dō" in "karate-dō" sets it apart from karate "
jutsu", as aikido is distinguished from
aikijutsu, judo from
jujutsu,
iaido from
iaijutsu and
Taido from
Taijutsu. Gichin Funakoshi wanted Karate-do to emphasize harmony between the body, the mind, and soul. Thus the esoteric journey began.
KARATE-DO SHOTOKAI was created. In this organisation Funakoshi Gichin was given the title of Chairman while Yoshitaka received that of Vice-Chairman.
1938 Masutatsu
Oyama at the age of 15, moved to Japan to train as an aviator, and continued his martial arts training by participating in judo and boxing. Shortly afterwards, he began training at the dojo of Gichin Funakoshi, who had brought karate from Okinawa to Japan and developed what is now known as Shotokan Karate.
Mas Oyama's training progressed so rapidly that by the age of 17, he was a Nidan (2nd Dan), and by the age of 20, he was a Yondan (4th Dan) in Shotokan. At this point, Mas Oyama took a serious interest in Judo, and in less than four years he achieved the rank of Yondan in Judo as well
After the end of
World War II,
Oyama studied
Shotokan karate and various other styles of
martial arts, training alone on Mt. Minoubu in
Chiba Prefecture,
Japan.
Traditional History of Karatedō
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, Courier New]
1949 Isao Obata establishes the
Nihon Karate Kyokai, as a means to help
Master Funakoshi in the development of Karate-do. Even though initially the idea was that the association should include all groups, this did not occur. Neither did all of
Gichin Funakoshi's students become part of it, for example
Shigeru Egami and
Genshin Hironishi[/FONT] [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, Courier New]By the end of the 40's and the beginning of the 50's strong friction arises within the NKK due to the
commercialization (fighting sporting events) of Karate-do.
The great masters cut links with the NKK, that finally ends up in the hands of the Takushoku University.[/FONT] [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, Courier New]In 1951 Shotokai reunites, and the association formalizes its existence as an association in 1956. Founders: Gichin Funakoshi, Shigeru Egami and Genshin Hironishi. Objective: to preserve the true Karate-do, without considering it a sport.[/FONT]
1950s,
Mas Oyama began demonstrating his power and skill by fighting bulls. In all, he fought 52 bulls, three of which he killed instantly and 49 of whose horns he took off with shuto (knife hand) strikes. In 1952, Mas Oyama traveled throughout the United States for a year, demonstrating his karate live and on national television. During subsequent years, he took on all challengers, resulting in fights with 270 different people. He defeated the vast majority of his opponents with just one technique. A fight never lasted more than three minutes, and rarely lasted more than a few seconds. Mas Oyama's fighting technique was based on the Samurai warriors' principle of "Ichi geki, hissatsu", or "One strike, certain death". If he got through to you, the fight was over. If he hit you, you broke if you blocked his punch, your arm was broken or dislocated, if you didn't block it, your rib was broken. Because of his strength and skill, he became known as "The Godhand".
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1957 Master Gichin Funakoshi dies. Shotokai organizes the funeral (the NKK does not assist). Gichin Funakoshi's family delivers the legacy of O-sensei's documents, the Shotokan and Shotokai names and his symbol (the tiger) to Shotokai, as were his wishes.[/FONT] [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, Courier New]Shigeru Egami & Genshin Hironishi share the responsibility of directing Shotokai.
Also in 1957, the name "
Kyokushin", or "
Ultimate Truth", was adopted for
Mas Oyama's karate organization, which had 700 members by then, despite the high drop-out rate due to the severity of training. Practitioners of other styles also came to train here for the jis-sen kumite (full contact fighting).
Mas Oyama would observe those from other styles and adopt any techniques that would be useful in a fight.
1938, at the age of 15, Mas Oyama moved to Japan to train as an aviator, and continued his martial arts training by participating in judo and boxing. Shortly afterwards, he began training at the dojo of Gichin Funakoshi, who had brought karate from Okinawa to Japan and developed what is now known as Shotokan Karate. Mas Oyama's training progressed so rapidly that by the age of 17, he was a Nidan (2nd Dan), and by the age of 20, he was a Yondan (4th Dan) in Shotokan. At this point, Mas Oyama took a serious interest in Judo, and in less than four years he achieved the rank of Yondan in Judo as well.
After the end of World War II, Mas Oyama began training under So Nei Chu, one of the highest authorities in Japan of Goju Ryu, an Okinawan karate style. So Nei Chu, renowned for the power of his body as well as his spiritual insight, encouraged Mas Oyama to dedicate his life to the Martial Way. He suggested that Mas Oyama retreat from civilization for three years to train his mind and body without the distractions of the outside world.
Around this time, Mas Oyama also met Eiji Yoshikawa, the author of the novel Musashi, which was based on the life and exploits of Miyamoto Musashi, Japan's most famous Samurai warrior. Both the novel and the author helped to teach him the meaning of Bushido, the Way of the Warrior. That same year, Mas Oyama went to Mt. Minobu in Chiba Prefecture, where Musashi had developed his style of sword fighting. Mas Oyama thought that this would be an appropriate place to begin the rigorous training he had planned for himself. Accompanied by a student, he went into the wilderness there to train, with a friend bringing food supplies to them once a month. After six months of training, his student was unable to handle the solitude and secretly fed during the night, leaving Mas Oyama completely alone to continue his training. After fourteen months of training in the wilderness, his friend informed Mas Oyama that he could no longer provide the monthly supplies of food, and Mas Oyama had to return to civilization.
A few months later, in 1947, Mas Oyama won the karate section of the first Japanese National Martial Arts Championships after World War II. However, still feeling empty for not having completed the three years of solitude, he decided to dedicate his life completely to karate. Once again Mas Oyama left civilization for the wilderness, this time going to Mt. Kiyozumi, also in Chiba Prefecture, which he chose for its spiritually uplifting environment. This time his training was fanatical 12 hours a day, every day, with no rest days, standing under cold buffeting waterfalls, breaking river stones with his hands, using trees as makiwara (striking boards), jumping over rapidly growing flax plants hundreds of times each day. Each day also included a period of study of the ancients classics on the martial arts, Zen, and philosophy. After eighteen months of rigorous training, Mas Oyama returned to civilization fully confident in himself and able to take control of his life.
In the 1950s, Mas Oyama began demonstrating his power and skill by fighting bulls. In all, he fought 52 bulls, three of which he killed instantly and 49 of whose horns he took off with shuto (knife hand) strikes. In 1952, Mas Oyama traveled throughout the United States for a year, demonstrating his karate live and on national television. During subsequent years, he took on all challengers, resulting in fights with 270 different people. He defeated the vast majority of his opponents with just one technique. A fight never lasted more than three minutes, and rarely lasted more than a few seconds. Mas Oyama's fighting technique was based on the Samurai warriors' principle of "Ichi geki, hissatsu", or "One strike, certain death". If he got through to you, the fight was over. If he hit you, you broke if you blocked his punch, your arm was broken or dislocated, if you didn't block it, your rib was broken. Because of his strength and skill, he became known as "The Godhand".
In 1953, Mas Oyama opened his first "dojo" on a grass lot in Tokyo. In 1955, he opened his first real dojo in a former ballet studio behind Rikkyo University. In 1957, the name "Kyokushin", or "Ultimate Truth", was adopted for Mas Oyama's karate organization, which had 700 members by then, despite the high drop-out rate due to the severity of training. Practitioners of other styles also came to train here for the jis-sen kumite (full contact fighting). Mas Oyama would observe those from other styles and adopt any techniques that would be useful in a fight. By doing so, Kyokushin Karate evolved into one of the most formidable style of martial arts in the world. It soon became known as "The Strongest Karate", not only because of the incredible feats of strength and endurance that Mas Oyama performed, but also because of the rigorous requirements of the training and tournaments.
Modern History of Karatedō
1960's to 1970's In order to test his own abilities, Mas Oyama decided to perform a three hundred man kumite (fight) in three days. He chose the strongest students in his dojo to fight him one at a time. After each had a turn, they started from the beginning again until all three hundred fights were completed. Each student had to face Mas Oyama about four times over the three days, though some never made it past the first day due to Oyama's powerful blows. He defeated all of his opponents, never wavering in his resolve, despite the fact that he was injured in the process. Legend has it that Mas Oyama was willing to go for a fourth day, but no opponents were willing or able to do so. [/FONT][FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, Courier New]
1981,
Master Shigeru Egami dies.
Genshin Hironishi continues to direct Shotokai together with his older students.
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1994 Sadly,
Mas Oyama (a non-smoker) died of lung cancer.
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Still have alot to add to this, like the different Ryu schools but I will keep updating it....
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Thanks for the input!
