History

The History of Shoto Budo

The development of the Shoto Budo Organisation has been influenced by many martial arts styles and many individuals. However, Karate is clearly one of the main and major influences.

Modern- day karate has undergone a long process with many name changes. The most common lineage comes through Gichin Funakoshi (1868-1957) ,often referred to as the founder of modern day Karate, who attributes Bodhidharma the founder of Zen Buddhism as the source of the art although Bodhidharma would have learned it from some where.

Bodhidharma is thought to have brought the art from India to the Shaolin Temple where the art became popular, it then spread throughout China. The art again spread to Okinawa islands, which was on the main trade routes between China and Japan. The Japanese at some point conquered the islands and outlawed all but the most basic weapons, so the art became very attractive to the island inhabitants.

Eventually Okinawa became an integrated part of Japan and Karate was used as part of a demonstration of the island’s culture during a visit of the Crowned Prince of Japan. This set off an interest in Japanese mainland and Funakoshi who had organised the demonstration went to the mainland to teach the art after he had retired from his job as a primary school teacher. Many people practised with Funakoshi including Mitsusuke Harada and then travelled to different parts of the world passing on their learning to others and so the art has grown particularly since 1950’s.

It should be pointed out that there are many variations of Karate which cannot be denied and as many serious students and masters of the art have added their own variations or ideas to the subject. Indeed both Funakoshi and Harada have studied other things and put their influence into the art, through their students the development will continue and change as the students’ interest and needs also change.

From a behavioural modelling viewpoint this is the reason why Shotobudo have laid out their statement that self defence, health and well being are the building blocks of their organisation. Other organisations are interested in other things such as specific competition rules while others might favour strength or aggression and yet others might favour the pure aesthetics and beauty of the movements. These differences will undoubtedly determine the practice and training that will take place.

Even after arriving on the Japanese mainland Funakoshi was influenced by the other Japanese martial arts. He became friendly with Jigoro Kano who had developed Judo and the grading system was taken from Judo to allow Karate to gain membership of the Budokwai. Other well known martial artists such as Master Hironori Ohtsuka I now known as the Wado-Ryu founder was a renowned Jujitsu master and became a close student and friend of master Funakoshi. These martial artists will have undoubtedly, to some extent, influenced Funakoshi.

Likewise Harada sensei had been impressed by Master Morehei Ushiba of Aikido and also had many friends who practised Judo, Aikido and Kendo as well as Brazilian Capoeira which clearly influenced him. Indeed from the discussions and practices he included into his practices these had a definite influence on him.

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