Profile About Karate
What is Karate?
Karate is an intangible cultural inheritance that represents a unique creativity to the Asian Martial Arts. Though its origin can be traced back to East India in 200-300 BC, the majority of its system was established in China during the next two millenium. The Japanese modification in the 19th century transformed the system from the art of Kang Fu, or 功夫, Tai-Chi Chuan or 太極拳, and other precedent Chinese art forms that varied its name depending upon its time and place.
“Karate”, or 空手 named in Japan for the art now was a complexly reformed Chinese art mixed with a similar system that existed in Okinawa, or 沖縄, an island of 454 square miles at the South West of mainland Japan. Like dance, the art has been practiced as a form of performing arts. However, unlike dance the art inherited actual tactics of the hand-to-hand combat though they were formalized and recreated into aesthetic compositions. The art also inherited ritualistic and ceremonial nature of tradition and discipline that is implicated with the physical confrontations.
Anthropologists often define humans as a peace loving being for nature. Psychologists also refer to the complexities of human anxiety toward the physical confrontation thus to avert its intensity. It appears that human ability to engage in duel confrontation is a learned trait through training rather than by a genetic nature. The art, hence, adopted by the educational institutions to utilize the art as for an educational tool not only for a physical fitness program but also for a form of discipline for youth to cope with the situation.
As for a principle, the art of karate applies only a pair of bare hands and legs because the art was developed at a peculiar social environment where the majority of the people had no access to the arm.
In the beginning there were some sets of composition named KATA , or 形. They are so old thus their creators’ name and nationality are unknown. Practitioners were to drill the choreographed compositions for precision in terms of executing the serial forms of strikes, kicks, joint-lock, grabbing and throws. Due to its nature of movements, every form requires execution in isotonic tension on limbs as well as an aerobic motion. Consequently its drill contributes to the cardiac maintenance, and building up motor skill for both the old and young. For that reason in Okinawa, the art was a part of the physical education program in the various communities.
It was Japanese, in the main land, who developed the dual combative application reviving the formalized tactics in kata into a free sparring form, named kumite, or 自由組手. Eventually Japanese attempted to reform the art into a sport. Like as western fencing, a judging criterion was established by using scoring point. As a sport, Karate became major body of activity in the art after the end of Pacific War.
ORIGIN
Okinawa was also called Ryukyu, or 琉球 and was once a small kingdom free from Japanese and Chinese occupation. Since this small tropical island is located right between Japan and southern part of China, it consequently experienced severe political trauma in its history, especially when a southern end Japanese clan Satsuma, or 薩摩 invaded Okinawa in 1607 and occupied its administration by force. No islanders except the authorized royal class members were allowed to arm in their daily life. Prior to the Satsuma invasion, the islanders had similar experiences by their own King at the end of the Civil War in 1422. In both occasions, the islanders learned to train, in secret, the hand to hand combat tactics which developed into the art of Karate later.
At this time, the art lacked its Chinese sophistication and offered more practical application of the system by using bare hands and legs. For example, the hands were trained on finger’s tip, the knuckle and at both sides and at the tail of the palm by pounding against hard objects daily. Likewise the elbow knuckle, toes and the ridge of the foot were also trained as for to use them like weapons. Japanese instructors now eliminated such an old training system due to its risk to damaging the hands.
At the beginning in Okinawa the system was called ‘Te’, or 手, meaning ‘hand’. The arts of Te, however, appeared to differ its system depending upon geographical locations and instructors. The islanders therefore distinguished its school by identifying a name of city such as Naha-Te, or 那覇手, Shuri-Te, or 首里手, Tomari-Te, or 泊手 and so on. Naha and Tomari were known to be the popular port cities. Shuri once was a capital city where the king resided. Other than that, there was the systems called To-De or Tote that was written as 唐手 of which alternative pronunciation is “Karate”; meaning Chinese hand. Of the local historians appeared to distinguish To-De and Te as for different form. However, Japanese called the art, in general, ‘Karate’ and wrote it 唐手.
During this transitional period of time when the art was becoming more popular in main land Japan, the art was called “Karate Kempou” or 唐手拳法 which meant Chinese Hand Fist System. Later during 1930s Japanese practitioners changed the written characters to 空手. First word “空” means vacant, absent or empty and second word “手” means hand. Its implication is to symbolize a pair of bare hands combat for the sake of self defense against the armed hands. However, it was Japanese political attempt to transform the body of the art with metaphysical insinuation so that the name can eliminate its national identity.
There existed in Japan for fifteen to twenty century an incorporated field of martial arts as for a traditional institution named ‘Budo’, or 武道. Ever since Okinawa was forced to become one of the provinces of Japan in 1871, there had been a political upraising by both the Japanese and the local citizens to promote the art to be recognized in the field of Budo.
Hence, the practitioners of the art started to call it Karate-Do by applying the suffix -do to Karate. “Do” or 道 literally means “way” as for “a way of life.” One of the branch doctrine from Confucianism, or 朱子学 once strongly influenced the Japanese intellects and Samurai class during the feudal time in the tenth century. The concept of -do or way of life came from the doctrine. All of the arts categorized in the Martial Arts, thus, are named with -do, like Judo, Kendo, Aikido and so on.
The Art of Karate-Do, or 空手道 is what the official name was during the 1930’s in the mainland Japan. Traditionally, all the martial arts that were recognized among the field offered to claim their specific name of school or style in order to identify their lineage within the art. Unlike its custom, the art of Karate-Do in Okinawa thus started claim to its name of style such as Goju-Ryu, or 剛柔流, and Shito-Ryu, or 糸東流. Ryu, or 流 literally means stream which indicates lineage of branch. Among the various styles of Karate originally practiced on Okinawa island, Goju-Ryu is known as the earliest institute of Karate that named its school by its specific style.
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ORIGIN OF GOJU-RYU KARATE
Current capital city Naha in Okinawa was a principal port city. It was Shuri where the king presided and was old capital city before a US military base occupied the island.
There were three epochs mentioned with three masters respectively in their evolution in the history of Goju-Ryu school. First was the time when the school was known only as Naha Te of Kanryo Higaonna during 1870s of which time the islanders were forced to surrender their nationality as Japanese. Second was when the school was named Goju-Ryu by the group headed by Chojun Miyagi during 1930s of which time Japan engaged in the Wrold War II. The third and final time period was when the national structure of Goju-Ryu organization was established in mainland Japan by Gogen Yamaguchi during the post war period. The organization has been called Karate-Do Goju-Kai since that time.
Go, or 剛 means “hard” and Ju, or 柔 means soft, thus idiom Goju, or 剛柔 suggest any variation of hard and soft aspect in that school. As for a historical point of view a major body of system was imported from Fukien Province in China. That system called itself one half hard and one soft style in Chinese. The system also called Fukien Crain Chuan, 福建鶴拳 which was branched school from Five Ancestor Chuan 五祖拳.
Kanryo Higaonna, 東恩納 寛量 (1852-1915) may be the earliest master who can be traced back in the history and who founded a background of Goju-Ryu system. The system was called Naha-Te. Prior to Higaonna, there was another master named Seiso Aragaki, 新垣世宗 (1840-1920) recognized as a Naha-Te master. He was known as a master introduced kata Seisan.
ABOUT GOJU-RYU KARATE-DO
空手道剛柔流の起源
In Okinawa, at the beginning of the twentieth century, Karate was taught by the name of the city, such as Shuri 首里, Naha 那覇, and Tomari 泊. Today both Naha-te 那覇手 and Shuri-te 首里手 are the original features of various schools of Karate. The main distinction between these two is that, in general Naha-te emphasizes flexibility in dynamic movement; Shuri-te emphasizes speed in rational movement.
Master Soshu Matsumura，松村宗秀 （1796-1893) in Shuri and Master Kanryo Higaonna，東恩納 寛量 (1853-1915) in Naha were the most distinguished authorities in the early period. Master Chojun Miyagi，宮城長順 (1888-1953) was a successor of Naha-te and later named his style of art Goju-Ryu 剛柔流 (hard and soft.) It was 1929 that Master Miyagi was invited by Gogen Yamaguchi who was then founder and chief instructor of Ritsumeikan 立命館 大学 University Karate Club in Kyoto, Japan. Master Yamaguchi became the successor of Goju-Ryu Karate school in Japan.
PROFILE ABOUT GOJU-KAI KARATE-DO
空手道剛柔会
Goju-Kai Karate-Do was founded by Gogen Yamaguchi，山口剛玄 （1909-1989）in Japan. He is recognized as one of the greatest Karate masters. He was the founder of what might be called modern Karate, an advanced stage which illustrates both a technical and social elevation of the art of Karate. Master Yamaguchi originated “jiyu-kumite”, the sparring aspect of Karate exercise.
In the United States, Gogen Yamaguchi is called “Cat”, though no one knows of the origin of this nickname. In 1969, Master Yamaguchi was honored by Emperor Hirohito of Japan with Blue Ribbon Medal，“ranju-hosho”，藍綬褒章．
GOJU-KAI IN THE UNITED STATES
米国空手道剛柔会
Goju-Kai has been in existence since 1963 as a major division of the International Karate-Do Goju-Kai. Gosen Yamaguchi, 山口剛仙 second son of Gogen Yamaguchi，the first instructor to introduce the complete Goju-Kai program to the United States. During his tenure as Chief Instructor, Gosen Yamaguchi established the first Goju-Kai Karate-Club at San Francisco State College in the summer of 1963.
June 15, 1964, Gosei Yamaguchi 山口剛正(1935- )， first son of Gogen Yamaguchi arrived in San Francisco to assume leadership of the Goju-Kai in the United States from his brother, Gosen. Shortly after Gosei’s arrival Goju-Kai Karate-Do, U.S.A., National Headquarters was formally founded at 3221-22nd Street, San Francisco. In 1967, Karate program at the San Francisco State College became part of the curriculum in the Department of Physical Education. The National Headquarters relocated at 97 Collingwood Street，San Francisco on June 1967．
Due to its multiple facets, the art of Karate may be practiced in various degrees of participation and has value to any individual as a means of maintaining health, developing self-defense or as a sport. For this reason we are confident that the Goju-Kai Karate-Do, U.S.A., National Headquarters will continue to serve in the United States.
WHO’S WHO
KANRYO HIGAONNA 東恩納 寛量
(1853-1915)
According to late Dr. Shiro Hattori, a Japanese linguist Okinawans and Japanese share the same linguistic family lineage. They, however, apparently separated at least two thousand years ago, so the two do not sound like the same language. Both linguistic cultures adapted Chinese characters for writing both family and given name. And yet, the Okinawan pronunciation of their family names is not neccessarily same as the Japanese pronounciation.
For example, the surname 東恩納 can be pronounced “Higashionna” by the Japanese, thus those who have that surname in the current island now pronounce their name “Higashionna.” The prominent historian, Dr. Kanjun Higahionna, claimed his family name should be pronounced “Higashionna.” The historian, in fact, is related to Kanryo Higaonna. Ever since the Japanese government enforced Okinawa to be part of its prefecture in 1872, all the islanders had to speak standardized Japanese as the official language.
There was a time in Okinawa when the same surname was pronounced “Higanuma.” During my childhood, I was more accustomed to calling the Naha Master, Kanryo Higanuma. Neverthless, “Higaonna” was the commonly accepted pronunciation for that surname after his death in 1915. During his time everyone called him “Higanuma.”
Kanryo Higaonna was born March 3, 1853 during the time when Okinawa Island was occupied by the Satsuma Clan 薩摩藩 of Japan. According to the recent study of Iken Tokashiki, President of Okinawa Goju Ryu Tomarite Karate-Do Kyokai, Kanryo Higaonna was born at Nishimura of Naha City as the fourth son of Kanryo Higaonna, 東恩納 関用, the 10th generation of Higaonna family in Haru, 畑. lineage.*
Kanryo Higaonna visited Fuchou, China, 中国福建省福州市 around 1877 for three years. There is an another account in regards to his visit to the city. It is said that he visited the port city in 1873 for fifteen years. Some Martial Arts historians explain his motives of visiting the city was to study the Chinese Martial Arts. Higaonna did, in fact, study a Southern Shaolin Chun style, during his stay in that city. However, his initial reason for visiting China was explained by other historians that it was the result of his political involvements.
In 1868, Japan experienced a major reformation in its history when the Shogun, Tokugawa was over turned by the liberal clans of Emperor Meiji. During the Tokugawa Shogunate era, Okinawa was part of the Satsuma Clan, the south end clan of Japan while the island also maintained their administrative connection with the Chinese government.
The Meiji Reformation brought Japan nationalism. The Meiji government wanted Okinawa as its sole affiliation and wanted the island to discontinue its trade with China. Okinawa, at this time, was divided into two political factions one was pro-Japan and the other was pro-China.
One close associate of Kanryo Higaonna was Lord Yoshimura, 義村御殿 who had an enterprising trade of tea between the city Fuchou and Okinawa. He was a prominent pro-China activist who tried to block the Japanese settlement in Okinawa. According to historians, Higaonna carried a letter of referral for Lord Yoshimura for his trip. Higaonna never explained to anyone about the letter and stowed away with a few companions for China. In the city of Fuchou, there was a consulate of Okinawa called Ryukyu Kan, or 琉球館. Apparently, the Ryukyu Kan represented an Okinawan petition then to the Chinese Government requesting its international pressure against the Japanese occupation of Okinawa. One posibility was that Higaonna was a chosen messanger by the pro-China Okinawa for updating others of the situation on the island.
In 1879, two years after Higaonna’s departure, Okinawa was officially ordered by the Japanese government to become its prefecture with presence of an army of Japanese police and officials. It was an extremely intense period of time for Okinawans so that earlier assumptions that Higaonna left for China for the purpose of inquiring study of Karate was unlikely.
It was said that Higaonna stayed in China for three years. During his stay, he supported himself by making and selling bamboo wares. Also, he had an opportunity to study some of the Chinese Martial Arts in the city. According to Reikichi Ohya**, 大家礼吉, Higaonna was one of those who studied from a Chinese named Wei Shinzan. Wei was the student of Leu Luko who also taught Higaona so-called Fukien Crane Chang, 福建鶴拳. Fukien Crane was a combined school with White Crane of South Shaolin Chang and Four Ancestor Chang, 五祖拳.
In China, there were two counter parted arts of Chang, or fist. One is categorized as Hard style 剛拳, or External style 外家拳. The other is Soft style 柔拳 or Internal style 内家拳. Hard and External style represent Zen Budhist initiated school such as various branches of Shao-lin Chun, 少林拳 and Soft and Internal style represent Yee Chuen, 意拳, Pai Kua Chang, 八卦掌 and Tai Chi Chuen 太極拳.
The Chinese system of fist that Kanryo Higaonna studied from Wei Shinzan and Leu Luko was also known by its name Pan Gainoon, 一半硬半軟 which literally means “one half is hard and other half is soft”. Those kata practiced in the current Goju-Ryu school like Sanchin 三戦, Sanseiru 三十六, Pecchurin 百零八 all originated from that style.
Prior to visiting China, Higaonna studied Naha-te from Seiso Aragaki, 新垣世章(1840-1920) of Kume. Aragaki was well known among Okinawans with his favorite Kata called Seisan, 十三歩. Unlike Shuri-te, Naha-te represents newly inported Chinese forms from Fukien Province of China. After his return from China, Higaonna systemized the Naha-te with comtemparary Chinese art, thus it was called To-te, 唐手 or Chinese Hand.
GOGEN YAMAGUCHI
山口 剛玄
(1909-1989)
Gogen Yamaguchi was born January 20, 1909 at Miyakonojou, Shonai, Miyazaki Prefecture as the third son of Tokutaro. He was named Jitsumi, 実美.
When he was thirteen years of age, he studied Goju-Ryu Karate Kempo with his instructor named Takeo Maruyama 丸田武雄. He studied Law at Kansei University in 1928 and Ritsumeikan University from 1929 to 1937 and received Law Degrees. While studing at the University, he initiated the Karate club and invented its free sparring form. By this time, all karate schools in Okinawa and Japan practiced kata and pre-arranged application exercise and never attempted to practice free form of sparring.
In 1937, he received the name Gogen from Chojun Miyagi and authorized him to promote the school of Goju-Ryu Karate in Japan.
In 1950, he founded the national organization of All Japan Karate-Do Goju-Kai in Tokyo, Japan. Gogen received 10th Degree Black Belt from Chojun Miyagi in 1951.
He was recognized as one of the greatest Karate masters in Japan. He was the founder of what might be called modern Karate, an advanced stage which illustrates both a technical and social elevation of the art of Karate. From a technical point of view, he had unified all Karate exercise by employing an extremly well organized method.
As a result of the introduction of free-style sparring, the art of Karate had become a more active and popular art in Japan as well as in other parts of the world. Although he studied such martial arts as Judo, Kendo, Iaido, Jo-do, and Kusari-gama (art of chain) in his younger days, Karate had from the beginning captured most of his enthusiasm.
In the general development of Karate, Gogen had contributed several distinguished services. First, he formed a group of Asian martial instructors. He then succeeded in bringing seventy Asian instructors to Japan and traveled throughout the country, holding exchange martial arts demonstreations. After the Pacific war, he succeeded in unifing all Karate schools into one union. As a result, the All Japan Karate Federation was established in 1964.
In the United States, people refer to Gogen Yamaguchi as the “Cat.” As a further recognition of merit, he was honored in 1969 by Emperor Hirohito of Japan with Ranju-Hosho, the Blue Ribbon Medal.
GOSEI YAMAGUCHI
山口 剛正
(1935- )
Japanese-American Karate Instructor and author. Founder of Goju-Kai Karate-Do, U.S.A., Norimi Gosei Yamaguchi is the eldest son of Gogen Yamguchi. Under his father’s tutelage he studied Japanese Goju-Ryu, and earned a Judo black belt from the Kodokan. Yamaguchi came to the U.S. in 1964 to replace his brother, Gosen, as director of the Goju-Karate club at San Francisco State College. In 1967 he became one of the first martial arts instructors to serve on the faculty at an American college.
Yamaguchi is noted for his teaching of the phisically and mentally handicapped. In 1972 he was chosen to the Black Belt Hall of Fame; in 1975 he became a member of Who’s Who in the Martial Arts. He is the author of two books: Fundamentals of Goju-Ryu Karate and Goju-Ryu Karate II.
Yamaguchi promoted number of tournaments in the San Francisco area, among them 1966 California Goju-Kai Karate-Do Championships, 1967 North-South California Karate Tournament, 1967 All Goju-Kai Karate-Do Championship, 1968 and 1970 National Goju-Kai Karate-Do Championships, and 1972 AAU National Invitational Karate-Do Championships.
Inserted from MARTIAL ARTS:TRADITIONS, HISTORY, PEOPL p. 396