Master Gichin Funakoshi
The untimate aim of karate lies not in victory or defeat, but in the perfection of the character of it's participants.
Shotokan karate can trace its origins to Okinawa, a tiny island off Japan's coast, where weaponry had been banned by a succession of feudal lords. Various martial arts styles - called Tote, or Te (meaning hand) - were practiced secretly for generations.
In the late 1800s, Gichin Funakoshi, and honored Okinawa school teacher and poet, fused Tote styles learned from two masters of that time, masters Azato and Itosu. When the martial arts were finally taught openly, Master Funakoshi traveled to Japan to demonstrate what he later called Karate-do, the way of the empty hand, before a Ministry of Education exhibition in 1922. His audience was so impressed that Funakoshi stayed, teaching at universities. Karate became a widely-practiced Japanese martial art, and Funakoshi's style was called Shotokan, meaning Shoto's Hall, after his pen name, Shoto. Shoto means pine waves, referring to wind rippling through trees at Mount Torao.
The designation of karate is equally subtle. In writing kara, Funakoshi chose Japanese characters that, in Zen Buddhist philosophy, mean "to render onself empty." That's when students are open to knowledge.
Today many "styles" of karate exist, with Shotokan generally regarded as the form embodying the most traditional aspects of the martial arts.
The Japan Karate Association was founded in 1955 by Funakoshi and a few of his most dedicated students. The late Master Nakayama, a ninth-degree black belt, was one of these students, and he was Chief Instructor of the JKA from 1957 until his death in 1987. Through his diligent efforts, the JKA has flourished and is now a worldwide organization. The current Chief Instructor is Master Sugiura, also a ninth-degree black belt, who carries on the tradition of karate excellence throughout the world.
The Lang Park Dojo is governed by the Australian Karate Association, which operates under the aegis of the JKA (Japan). Sensei Takahashi, who presides over the Australian division of the JKA, visits regularly to hold seminars and gradings.
Chronology of JKA Karate
1930: Master Funakoshi writes and publishes Karate-Do Kyohan, the first instructional text of Shotokan techniques and forms.
1948: The Japan Karate Association is established with Gichin Funakoshi in place as its first Chief Instructor.
1956: The Japan Karate Association Instructor Training Program is developed with the purpose of standardizing Shotokan techniques and creating official instructors, examiners and later, judges.
1957: The Japan Karate Association is officially sanctioned by the Japanese Ministry of Education. As a result of 3 years of strategic planning and countless mock matches under the provocation and direction of Master Funakoshi's student Masatoshi Nakayama, the first official JKA All-Japan Karate Tournament took place at Tokyo's Metropolitan Gymnasium and was open to the public.
Also this year, the karate community mourns the death of its "Father" and teacher, Master Gichin Funakoshi.
1960: Masatoshi Nakayama is appointed as the successor and 2nd Chief Instructor of the Japan Karate Association. Beginning this year and through the decade, Master Nakayama was responsible for delegating graduates from the instructor training program to Europe, the Americas and finally throughout the world. Many of those instructors still remain in their original destinations teaching and promoting the art of Karate-Do.
1961: 5th All-Japan Karate Championships at which Prince Akihito presided as guest of honour.
1965: Master Nakayama publishes the text Dynamic Karate.
1973: As celebration of the 50th anniversary of karate's arrival to mainland Japan, the first official international JKA tournament is held. It also served as memorial to Master Gichin Funakoshi.
1977: Master Masatoshi Nakayama publishes the first volume in the Best Karate series. Through the next 12 years, successive volumes are published featuring profiles and photographs of the JKA's top instructors demonstrating basic techniques, kata and kumite.
1985: The 1st World Shoto Cup Karate Championships are held in Tokyo, Japan.
1987: Karate-ka throughout the world mourn the passing of innovator and 2nd JKA Chief Instructor, Masatoshi Nakayama.
1988: The 2nd World Shoto Cup Karate Championships are held in Brisbane, Australia.
1990: The 3rd World Shoto Cup Karate Championships are held in Sunderland, England.
1992: The 4th World Shoto Cup Karate Championships are held in Tokyo, Japan.
1993: Motokuni Sugiura is appointed as the 3rd Chief Instructor of the Japan Karate Association.
1994: The 5th World Shoto Cup Karate Championships are held in Philadelphia, USA and official announcement and commencement of World Federation of the JKA.
1996:The 6th World Shoto Cup Karate Championships are held in Tokyo, Japan.
