Karate is an "Empty hand ways". First it was called "chinease hand". It was founded by Bodhidharma who went China from India to preach zen budhism during 5th century. He introduced 18 excercises to his monks, Because he felt that they were physically weak. He also taught some self defence techniques to them. For the self defence, Some of the military leaders and politicians also learned this techniques from Bodhidharma.Step by step iit was molded as a fighting system.

When Japan and China trade relationship, a few chinease went Japan. These chinease, those who know about this fighting system introduced it to Japanease in okinawa in Ryu kyu islands. In 1392 a group of 36 Chinease familiese shifted to Japan for cultural exchange. These, they taught fighting techniques and local techniques also added to it. After some days okinawa followed separate techniques in this fighting system. That time, It was called "te" and "to-te" and then it termed as karate. "Te" means "hands", "to-te" means "chinease hand", "karate" means "empty hand ways". Karate got considerable dignity in this place like Naha-te, shuri-te, tomari-te. These villages followed their own style with new rules and taught katas and fight. Ankoh azato(1827-1906) and Ankoh itosu(1831-1915) did well the styles of Naha-te and Shuri-te. In the school of Ankoh azato and Ankoh itosu, the top expert practisonar like Gichin funakoshi, Kenwa mabuni, Cochin motobu, Kanbun uchi. Ankoh itosu is the father of modern karate. He only found the terms like "hian" or "pinan". Gichin funakoshi joined with Ankoh itosu and some top students started the karate club by the name of "Shotokan". Gichin funakoshi lived in the period 1868-1957. In 1949, Japan karate association was started Gichin funakoshi was the Chief instructor in this association. Then color belts system was also introduced. Finally the art spread all over the world. Every country follow separate style because of their addition local techniques. When gichin funakoshi was developing karate, Chojun miagi introduced Goju-ryu style,Hironori Otsukai introduced Wado ryu style, Kenwa mabuni introduced Shito-ryu style. It is notable one. In the shito-ryu style, fumio demura was the main reason for the popularising the shito-ryu style to all the part of the world. After that, also it was spread all over the world. Now the four main styles are popular in the world.


Karate Ligends

Gichin Funakoshi	Kenwa mabuni	Hironori otsuka	Chojun miyagi

Kenwa mabuni(1889 - 1952) - Founder of Shito ryu karate
Kenwa mabuni was born on november 14, 1889 at okinawa, shuri in japan. Kenwa mabuni was descendant of the famous onikusukuni samurai family. To improve his week body, he joined under the legend master ankoh itosu acadamy and started to learn the art of shuri-te at the age 13. He learned this art with so much interest. After seeing this interest, his close friend Chojun Miyagi introduced him to master Higaonna kanryo who teach the art of naha-te. Kenwa mabuni became expert in this art also. Also he studied from Seisho aragaki and some instructors. He introduced new style of karate namely Shito ryu at 1915. In 1918, Kenwa mabuni was important figure in martial arts field. Then he worked as a police man after complete his higher studies. In 1929, he shifted to osaka permanently an became full time karate instructor. His style originally called Hanko ryu or "Half hard style". He published so many books about the developing style Shito ryu. Then he teached the developed art to police mans. It was teached in schools and colleges after the second world war, with redeveloped karate. Then his new kind of martial art spread all over the japan. The great master died on may 23, 1952.

Hironori Otsuka(1892 - 1982) - Founder of Wado ryu karate
Hironori otsuka was born at lbaraki, Shimodate in japan in the year 1892. His father's name was DR.Tohujiro. He had four children. Otsuka was second child in his family. Hironori otsuka started Jujutsu art with Chojiro ebashi who was his relation. Inspite of his interest, In 1897, his father lead him to the school by the name Shindo yoshin ryu jujutsu. He learned jujutsu from the grand master Shinza buro nakayama in Shindo yoshin ryu jujutsu. In between 1910 to 1917, he studied many forms of jujutsu through wazado university. In 1922, Funakoshi demonstrated several techniques in "Funakoshi karate event" which was held in tokyo. This demonstration made a vital role. It was attracted by Otsuka. So that he started learning karate from him. At his age of 30, he was appointed as an assistant instructor in Funakoshi dojo. Then became the member of Japan martial arts federation. Then he divided from funakoshi and started school by name wado. This school became very famous in japan. In the year 1964, 3 of his seniors students namely Toru Arakawa, Tatsuo Suzuki, Hajime Takashima took this wado art to western countries. By thease students, many wado schools were founded. After that this arts spreaded to many countries. Otsuka continued and teaching wado in japan. Otsuka got his 10th dan black belt(Meijin) from royal family's Higashi No Kuni no Miya, President of the Kokusai Budo Renmei (International Martial Arts Federation). The great legend died in january 29, 1982.

Chojun Miyagi(1888 - 1953) - Founder of Goju ryu karate
Chojun Miyagi was born on april 25, 1883 at naha in okinawa in a wealthy family. He started to learn the art of naha-te at the age of 11 from master Ryuko Aragaki. Then he joined with the master Kanryo Higashionna at the age of 14 and learned the art naha-te with full skill. After the master Kanryo Higashionna past away at 1915, he was gone to fukein province at china. There he learned a branch of chinease boxing the shaolin forms. After few months he returned to his native place started teaching karate to locals from his home. He taught to the police personal the same art naha-te at police acadamy. He sacrifies his own life for this art. In 1929 at okinawa in mainland japan he taight the above art the name Goju ryu. It means "Hard - soft style". For fullfil his dream he travelled so many times to mainland. The imperial Kyoto University, Kansai University and Ritsumei Kan University invited the great master to teach the art. Master Chojun Miyagi worked hard to spread karate in japan. In 1933, Dai nippon Butokukai had recognized the art of karate do. Then the master appointed as a head the branch of okinawa. He invented the form Kata Tensho, Gekisai Dai Ichi and Gekisai Dai Ni in 1940. He died on oct 8, 1953 at okinawa. He was a man of extreamly peace loving and humble.