Shōtōkan-ryū

The shōtōkan-ryū (ja 松涛館流) is a school of Karaté, developed starting from various martial arts by Gichin Funakoshi (1868 - 1957). The school shōtōkan is one of the principal models of karate, the six others being the Shōrin-ryū , the Wadō-ryū , the Shito-ryū , the Gōjū-ryū , the Kyokushinkai , and the Kenpō ).

Origins

In the beginning, Funakoshi practiced the two schools which dominated ( Shorei-ryū and Shorin-ryū ). After a hard practice of these two forms of Karate, Funakoshi managed to develop a new form of Karate-dō, a simpler model, which combined the ideals of Shorei-ryū and Shorin-ryū . Thereafter, this martial art was imported in Okinawa. At the 15th century, Okinawa is under the Chinese authority and the prohibition of the wearing of weapons, pushed the inhabitants to develop an art of combat with naked hand. The karate which he taught with his students reflects the made changes of art by Anko Itosu, including the series of kata of Heian/Pinan. Funakoshi also changed the names of the kata of its program of study, in an effort to make the names “foreign” of Okinawan more pleasant to the taste of the more nationalist Japanese continent, but not only the names, the different form of some kata .

“ On the island bathed by the sun of the south the art of the naked hand fell from the Sky, and that frightens me because it should not die out. Who will want to make it well survive and open out? In front of the blue sky I engage. ” - Gichin Funakoshi

Philosophy

Ceremonial

Virtues and rules

The virtues and the rules are the honor, honesty, courage (the spirit of endurance), sincerity, kindness, the respect and the courtesy. Here rules and fundamental virtues of karate.

Characteristics

The shōtōkan is usually divided into three parts: the kihon or “bases”, the kumite , and the kata (forms or models of the movements). The techniques of shōtōkan in the kihon and the kata are characterized by major and long positions which provide stability, movements powerful and position reinforcing the legs. The force and the power are often shown by means of movements slower and selected. The techniques of kumite reflect these positions and movements on less low level, and are more “free” and flexible. Funakoshi with him even known as that traditional martial arts (such as the sumo, the jujitsu and the kenjutsu) concentrates too their forms on the combat, and it has wanted to return the shōtōkan less centered on the combat and more on health, breathing, the release of energy as well as the control of the body and the spirit.

“the real goal of Karate is not the victory, but the improvement of the character. ” - Gichin Funakoshi

Kihon

The kihon represents the basic techniques in Karaté shōtōkan. It is usually practiced while moving and by carrying out a combination of techniques. The kihon is a central aspect of the shōtōkan. All the Kata are indeed built starting from the kihon . Kihon is also used for the passage of the black belt for the children of less than 18 years (in France), to avoid a confrontation, which normally, takes place against adults. The man who evaluates the person who passes her rank of black belt said a sequence of several blows and positions in Japanese, that this last must carry out in front of him in his entirety and the best possible one.

Kumite

Kata

Kata basic

Ten-No-kata
Taikyoku shodan
Taikyoku nidan
Taikyoku sandan
Heian shodan
Heian nidan
Heian sandan
Heian yodan
Heian godan

Kata advanced

Based-dai
Based-sho
Kanku-dai
Kanku-sho
Tekki shodan
Tekki nidan
Tekki sandan

Kata higher

Chinte
Empi
Gangaku
Gojushiho-dai
Gojushiho-sho
Hangetsu
Ji' in
Jion
Jitte
Meikyo
Nijushiho
Sochin
Unsu
Wankan

Techniques

Positions: Dachi

Fudo Dachi : Balanced position of combat (between Zenkutsu Dachi and Kokutsu Dachi)
Hachiji Dachi: Upright feet pointed towards the outside isolated of the width of the hips
Hangetsu Dachi or Seishan Dachi: Position of the sand glass widened
Heiko Dachi: Upright isolated feet and parallels
Heisoku Dachi: Upright feet one against the other
Kiba Dachi: Position of the rider, weights of the body distributed on the two legs, feet quite parallel
Kokutsu Dachi or Hanmi No Neko Ashi Dachi: Slit postpones 70% of the weight of the body on the back leg, feet with 90° on the same line
Kosa Dachi or Kake Dachi: Position cross feet
Dachi Motor bike: Fundamental position (small Zenkutsu Dachi)
Musubi Dachi: Upright, joined heels, point of the isolated feet
Neko Ashi Dachi: Position of the cat
Moroashi Dachi: Idem that Heiko Dachi, but a foot ahead
Reinoji Dachi: Upright a foot in front of the other forming a L
Sanchin Dachi: Position known as of the “Sand glass” or the 3 centers
Shiko Dachi: Position of the Sumotori
Sochin Dachi: Similar to Kiba Dachi but forming an angle of 45° with the line of attack. The body, turned towards this one, is of 3/4.
Teïji Dachi : Upright a foot in front of the other forming one T
Tsuru Ashi Dachi or Sagi Ashi Dachi: Upright on a leg
Uchi Hachiji Dachi: Feet pointed towards the interior
Zenkutsu Dachi: Slit before: leg before bent, tended back leg, isolated feet of a width of shoulders.

Displacements: Unsoku

Ayumi Aschi or De Aschi: To advance of a step
Hiki Aschi: To move back of a step
Yori Aschi: Not slipped
Tsugi Aschi: Not driven out
Okuri Aschi: Double step
Mawari Aschi: Displacement turning around the foot before
Ushiro Aschi Mawari Aschi: Displacement turning around the foot postpones

Techniques of defense: Uke Wasa

Ashikubi Kake Uke : Technique of picking with ankle to deviate an attack of low leg
Ashibo kake Uke: Technique of picking with the tibia to deviate an attack of low leg
Chudan shuto Uke: Blocking of the external edge of the hand using a circular motion of the interior towards outside to deviate the attack laterally. At the moment impact to use it a vigorous rotary action of the Front armlever. This technique is particularly difficult to carry out while remaining vis-a-vis the adversary and requires a dodging
Chudan Teisho Uke: Blocking at the average level being carried out with the palm of the hand in a broad circular motion of outside towards the interior
Empi Uke: Blocking with the elbow. There exists a variety of techniques using the elbow in a defensive way. Some of enters are natural reflexes like giving a blow of elbow on a kick arriving in the coasts. It is included/understood how much it is difficult to study these techniques in full safety if the level of the practitioners is not very high. One can distinguish three main categories of blockings from this type:

of outside towards the interior
upwards
from top to bottom.

Gedan barai : Low blocking of the front armlever by carrying out an arc of circle which leaves the shoulder opposed to finish opposite the hip. This technique makes it possible to block a kick of face (Mae Geri Chudan)
Gedan Soto Uke: Low blocking of the front armlever of outside towards the interior. Technique used to deviate a kick of face (mae geri)
Gedan Teisho Uke: Blocking on the bottom grade being carried out with the palm of the hand in a broad circular motion of outside towards the interior
Gedan Juji Uke: Idem that technique above but on the bottom grade
Haishu Uke: Blocking using the top of the hand. It is always made in a circular motion energy of the interior towards outside. It can be done either on the level face, or at the average level
Haiwan Nagashi Uke: This scrap-metal requires little force. It consists in deviating with the top of the front armlever a direct technique of fist in direction of the face (Jodan Oï Zuki for example). To make a success of this technique it is absolutely necessary to very early collect the attack in its trajectory and close to the wrist. This traditional technique is characteristic of the kata Tekki
Hiji Uke: Blocking of the elbow
Hittsui Uke: Defense of the knee
Old Jodan Uke: Blocking of the front armlever while going up. One uses in this technique the natural reflex which consists in being protected while raising the arm when one fears a blow coming from top to bottom on the head
Jodan Tate Uke: Blocking of the front armlever which uses a broad circular trajectory of the interior towards outside on the basis of the opposite hip. Blocking is carried out with the part external of the front armlever and the arm is bent. It is a very powerful technique which is very advantageous on a circular attack of foot (mawashi geri)
Jodan Shuto Uke: Blocking on the level face being carried out with the edge of the hand. The trajectory is identical to that of the preceding technique but the arm is tended to the end
Jodan Teisho Uke: Blocking on the level face being carried out with the palm of the hand in a broad circular motion of outside towards the interior
Jodan Juji Uke: Blocking the fronts arms crosseds on the level of the face. It consists in upwards rejecting an attack as in the technique Jodan Age Uke. This technique can as well be made the open hands as closed. In the first case it makes it possible to connect very quickly on a seizure
Jugi Uke: Blocking in cross of the hands
Kakiwake Uke: Blocking carried out simultaneously with the two external edges of the two front armlevers. One draws aside with force of the interior towards outside. This technique is advised on an attempt at double seizure to the collar
Kake Uke: Blocking with a hook
Kakuto Uke: Blocking with the wrist folded
Keito Uke: Blocking with the wrist closed again
Mikazuki Uke: Blocking of the foot while growing
Mikazuki Geri Uke: Sweeping with the plant of the foot in a circular motion while growing interior towards outside. This technique is studied in many katas
Morote Uke: Blocking reinforced by the other hand on the front armlever. The trajectory of blocking is the same one as uchi uke: circular motion of the interior towards outside to deviate the attack laterally. This technique in many kata with the reinforcement on the level of the elbow and closed fist are found. In this last case it does not seem coherent to interpret this form like a reinforcement, which is mechanically not right since the reinforcement can be effective only ready wrist, but rather like a guard or an indication on the possibility of striking fist while blocking
Nami Ashi: Sweeping while going up with the plant of the foot. This technique is characteristic of the kata Tekki Shodan where it is carried out starting from the position Kiba Dachi. The knee is used as pivot and while preserving the center of gravity in this configuration it is necessary to raise the plant of the foot towards the stomach in a circular motion to deviate a low kick upwards (Mae Geri). This technique can also be used as dodges on an attempt of attack or sweeping of the leg
Osae Uke: Blocking with the palm of the hand the top to the bottom where one seeks to deviate the attack towards the ground. This technique resembles much otoshi uke
Otoshi Uke: Blocking with the external edge of the front armlever in a movement top downwards to deviate the attack downwards. This particularly powerful technique is appropriate very well for attacks of arm at the average level and the penetrating kick létéral (Yoko Geri Kekomi)
Seiryuto uke: Blocking with the base of the saber of hand
Sukui Uke: Blocking swept (to collect)
Sokuto Osae Uke: Blocking with the external edge of the foot. This technique which resembles a kick on side on the bottom grade (Kumikiri), makes it possible to fall through an attack of the foot by stopping it from the beginning or to be used as crushing argument by blocking the unfavourable knee thus preventing your opponent to advance
Sokutei Osae Uke: Blocking with the plant of the foot while pushing forwards. This technique makes it possible to fall through an attack of the foot by stopping it from the beginning or to be used as crushing argument by blocking the unfavourable knee thus preventing your opponent to be advanced. This technique, as all those which aim at the lower limbs tend to be neglected in the dojo because they are not usable in competition. However they are techniques easy to implement and to learn while being from a great effectiveness
Soto Uke: Blocking of the front armlever using a circular motion of outside towards the interior to deviate the attack laterally. At the time impact to use it a vigorous rotary action of the front armlever
Touches Shuto Uke: Blocking with the external edge of the hand placed vertically with the tended arm. The hand describe an arc of circle of the interior towards outside
Tekubi Kake Uke: Blocking while hooking with the very folded wrist. This technique is used at the average level. It is necessary to very early establish a contact with the unfavourable wrist then to quickly swivel the wrist, fingers downwards. If the wrist is very mobile on the other hand, the elbow moves very little
Te Nagashi Uke: This technique resembles much blocking soto uke carried out with the palm. But the idea here rather consists in accompanying the attack by deviating it. The attack must pass very close to the warhead
Teisho Uke: Blocking of the palm
Tettsui Uke: Blocking out of hammer
Tsuki Uke: Blocking with the fist
Teisho Awase Uke: Blocking hands open to the bottom grade while pushing towards the ground with the two wrists stuck by forming a fork with the two hands. The palms are directed downwards. This technique is studied in the kata Hangetsu
Uchi Uke: Blocking of the front armlever using a circular motion of the interior towards outside to deviate the attack laterally. At the moment impact to use it a vigorous rotary action of the front armlever
Ude Uke: Blocking with the front armlever

Attacks closed hands

Old zuki: Punch while going up. This technique can also be used as deflecting of a direct attack for then striking the adversary. It is characteristic of the kata Empi.
Awase zuki : Double punch. One strikes here with both fist in a direct way and the same vertical plan. This technique can be carried out either on the spot or in displacement.
Choku zuki : It is the basic punch. It is direct and uses a complete rotation of the wrist is 180°
Fumitsuki: Punch crushing
Gyaku-tsuki: Punch reversed
Haishu-uchi: Reverse of hand
Heiko-tsuki: Parallel punch
Hiraken-tsuki: Punch with phalanges before
Gyaku zuki: Contrary punch with the front leg. In position zenkutsu dachi one strikes fist opposed to the leg which is advanced. The power of this technique lies in the correct use of the rotation of the hips
IP nukite: Prick of a finger
IP: Fist of a finger
Kagi-tsuki: Punch in hook
Kakuto-uchi: The reverse of the wrist
Keito-uchi: (Crete of the cock) fingers and the inch curved towards the interior
Kagi zuki: Punch in hook. One strikes the side opposed to the fist which strikes in a small circular motion
Kizami zuki: Direct punch given of the front fist. In position zenkutsu dachi, directly starting from the guard, one strikes fist before
Heiko zuki: Double punch. One strikes here with both fist in a direct way and on the same horizontal level. This technique can be carried out either on the spot or in displacement
Hasami zuki: Double punch. One strikes here with both fist in a circular way. This technique can be carried out either on the spot or in displacement
Mawashi zuki: Circular punch. It is necessary well to think of turning the fist in end of the road in order to strike with the first two phalanges (kento)
Mawashi-tsuki: Circular punch
Morote-tsuki: Punch doubles
Nakadaka-ken: Fist with a phalange second of the index
Nihon-nukite: Prick with two fingers
Nukite: Prick with hand
Oi-tsuki: Punch by advancing
Otoshi hiji-ate uchi: Blow of elbow to the bottom
Oi zuki: Punch in continuation. One carries out a direct punch combined with a displacement on a step. The position most used for this technique is the zenkutsu dachi. One seeks to use the kinetic energy generated by long displacement to potentiate the striking of the punch
Teisho-tsuki: Punch of the palm of the hand
Tettsui-uchi: Iron hammer
Toho-uchi: (Hirabasami) Hand in mouth of the tiger
Tetsui otoshi: Punch out of hammer in a from top to bottom movement. One finds it as of the kata Heian Shodan
Tetsui hasami uchi: Double punch out of hammer. One can use this technique as well at the high level as average
Touches-tsuki: Direct punch, like the choku zuki, but the rotation of the wrist is only of 90°. The position of the fist is vertical on arrival
Ura-tsuki: Direct punch where any rotation of the wrist is not used. The departure just like the arrival are done in supination
Uraken-uchi: Attacks in reverse of the fist
Ura-tettsui-uchi: Hammer of inch
Uraken uchi: Technique of striking of the reverse of the fist. Just like the other techniques of fists it can be associated with multiple displacements
Uraken shomen uchi: Strike reverse of the fist in an active movement top to the bottom, the fist is then in supination
Yama-tsuki: Double U-shaped punch. The name of this technique comes from the form which the arms and the bust give which resembles the ideogram corresponding to yama which wants to say mountain. This technique of attack is often conceived as an attack and a simultaneous blocking. One finds it in the kata Bassai Dai
Yoko-tsuki: Direct punch on the side. This technique is often carried out starting from the position kiba dachi
Yoko tetsui uchi: Punch out of hammer on the side. This technique is often carried out starting from the position kiba dachi

Attacks open hands

Furi-uchi :Diagonally struck blow upwards, with the hand in saber
Haito-uchi: Saber intern of the hand (side of the inch)
Haito uchi: Technique using the edge interns hand in a circular motion of outside towards the interior
Nukite: Attacks using the point of the fingers. This technique requires a reinforcement of the fingers rather difficult to obtain. However, it can be used on vital points without preliminary hardening. The techniques described in the chapter attacks open hands can be adapted without difficulty to the use of the nukity
Seiryuto-uchi: Edge of the hand and of before arm
Shuto-uchi: External saber of the hand
Soto mawashi shuto uchi attacks: Technique using the external edge of the hand in a broad circular motion of outside towards the interior. The technique finishes the hand in supination. One can vary the form of this attack by using either at the beginning or on arrival a more or less important inflection of the arm as well as a more or less horizontal trajectory
Teisho uchi: Attacks using the palm of the hand. The techniques described in the chapter attacks open hands can be adapted without difficulty to the use of the teisho uchi
Uchi mawashi shuto uchi: Technique using the external edge of the hand in a circular motion of the interior towards outside. The technique finishes the prone hand
Ura haito uchi: Technique using the edge interns hand in a circular motion of the interior towards outside hand in supination
Yonhon-nukite: Prick with four fingers

Attacks of elbows

old Jodan mae empi uchi: Blow of elbow of face by going up
Yoko hiji-ate uchi: Blow of elbow on side
Yoko empi uchi: Blow of side elbow
Mawashi hiji-ate uchi: Circular blow of elbow
Mawashi empi uchi: Circular blow of elbow
Ushiro hiji-ate uchi: Blow of elbow backwards
Touches hiji-ate uchi: Blow of vertical elbow given upwards (of face)
Ushiro empi uchi: Blow of elbow backwards
Otoshi empi uchi: Blow of from top to bottom elbow

Attacks of feet: Keri Wasa

The terms Keage and Kekomi indicate different manners to carry the kick, in a whipped, faster way (Keage) and in a penetrating way, with more force (Kekomi). The majority of the techniques of feet present these various manners of carrying the blow.

To note the word Geri who means foot and Tobi which wants to say to him jumped.

Mae Geri : Kick of face which can be given either with the bowl of the foot, or with the heel or the top of the foot (Kingeri). Some use the spade of the toes to reach vital fists. Exist in the forms Keage and Kekomi

jumped Variante: Tobi Mae Geri
Alternative with the knee: Hiza Mae Geri, while going up with the knee

Yoko Geri: Kick on side using the external edge of the foot or the heel. Exist in the forms Keage and Kekomi

jumped Variante: Tobi Yoko Geri

Mawashi Geri : Circular kick. Surfaces of striking used are the bowl of the foot or the top of the foot, however to use the top of the foot can be more dangerous owing to the fact that this zone is a vital point

reversed Variante: Ura Mawashi Geri, one strikes with the heel by reversing the circular motion of the basic blow
Variante with the knee: Hiza Mawashi Geri
swept and jumped Alternative: Tobi Nagashi Mawashi Geri
Alternative of the interior towards outside: Uchi Mawashi Geri

Ushiro Geri : Direct kick towards the circular back

Alternative: Ushiro Mawashi Geri, back circular blow. Of share its great amplitude this technique generates very a great power
Variante Keage: Ushiro Geri Keage, while going up, very useful when one is seized by behind
circular, swept and jumped Variante: Tobi Nagashi Mawashi Ushiro Geri

Mikazuki Geri : Kick while growing, in a circular motion of outside towards the interior

Alternative from the interior: Uchi Mikazuki Geri, this technique is also studied as a blocking

Fumikiri Geri: Cutting kick
Fumikomi Geri: Kick crushing
Hitsui Geri: Blow of knee
Hiza Geri: Blow of knees carried to the head
Otoshi Geri: From top to bottom kick leg in extension
Kakato Geri: Blow with the heel in a from top to bottom movement
Nidan Geri: Double jumped kick of face. This technique is studied in the kata Kankudai and Gangaku
Nami Gaeshi: Kick in vagueness (movement going up with the plant of the foot)
Kakato Geri: Blow of from top to bottom heel

External bonds

France Shotokan (Shotokan Ohshima)
Swiss Shotokan (Shotokan Ohshima)
France Showakan (JKA Osaka Japan)
shotokolive Shotokan CRSA
Shotokan Monaco
Shoto-kan.com
Shotokan Karate Off America
Canada Shotokan
Sensei Gichin Funakoshi Videos
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