SKPF SHOTOKAN

KARATE ASSOCIATION

The origins of SHOTOKAN started in OKINAWA,  mainly a farming island of the coast of  JAPAN. The modern form of SHOTOKAN is primarily down to one one man GICHIN FUNAKOSHI although he learned many of his techniques from other masters.  But he was the one that brought SHOTOKAN to mainland Japan ( 1922 ) and eventually to the world. It was before this time that the first ever public demonstration was done  ( 1902 ). By 1913 he had put together the best masters there were around at that time, more notably Gusuku, Mabuni,  Motobu, Kyan, to name a few. These would perform while Funakoshi would narrate until it was his time to demonstrate what was then known has the KATA KOSHOKUN ( now called KANKU DAI )

1921 the crown prince, who eventually became Emperor Hirohito was on the island of Okinawa and went to see a demonstration at the SHURI CASTLE, and it was from this point that SHOTOKAN got recognition and eventually moved to the mainland.

From this point many RYU ( schools ) where formed and 4 became the primary ones, WADO, SHITO, GOJU and of course SHOTOKAN.

FUNAKOSHI later realised that doing KATA all the time wasn’t enough and would soon develop GOHON KUMITE ( 5 step sparring ) which later became the basis for FREE SPARRING. Shortly after this KIHON IPPON KUMITE ( one step sparring ) became a part of the style, and so in 1957 the first ever All Japan Karate-Do championships was held to a very large audience and so forever changed the face of karate, the final dream of a little man from Okinawa called GICHIN FUNAKOSHI.

1961 was the time that karate finally became established in America through probably the best karate man ever born TERUYUKI OKAZAKI. From here it eventually spread over the American Continent and then by HIROKAZU KANAZAWA to Hawaii. There are many splinter groups throughout the world but more notably is the JKA (Japan Karate Association) from this we have the SKI (Shotokan Karate International) founded by KANAZAWA in 1970