Development of Karate in Okinawa
It is universally accepted that karate as we know it was developed in Okinawa.
Okinawa is the largest island off the Ryukyu archipelago, a series of 140 mostly uninhabited
islands which stretch from Japan in the north to Taiwan in the south. The origin of the Okinawan people
is obscure. Physically, they most resemble the Japanese, and the Okinawan dialect, called Hogan, is an
archaic form of Japanese. Thus, a prehistoric migration to the Ryukyu Islands from Japan (probably
Japanese fishermen) is a generally accepted theory. However, many Okinawans also show physical
features similar to the peoples of Southeast Asia, the Malay Peninsula, and even Polynesia. And, early
contact with China is now apparent from recent discoveries in Okinawa of Northern Chinese artifacts
which date to the 3rd century, A.D.
The location of Okinawa contributed to a cosmopolitan cultural development unique to the
ancient Orient. It was a natural refuge for travelers endangered or shipwrecked by the storms which
sweep the seas in the area. And, it was a natural port for the transshipping of goods and people among
the cautious Asian trading nations. Regular contact between Japan to the north, China to the west, and
Southeast Asia can be documented as early as the 7th century.
This cultural interchange probably included exposure to the martial arts. There is some
indication that Buddhist monks from China and samurai warriors from Japan introduced, respectively,
their arts of ch’uan fa and jujutsu to Okinawa. Also, Okinawans may have been exposed to Southeast
Asian variations of ch’uan fa, Indonesian kuntow, and an ancient Malayan form known as bersilat.
Although historians cannot reliably document the extent of this exposure, the early multi-national
contacts which Okinawa enjoyed support the theory that the martial arts of many nations were
introduced. Moreover, the traditional dances of Okinawa embody stances and movements which
reflect these martial arts – a fact considered most significant by anthropologists.
In any event, it is well accepted that an organized form of empty-handed fighting existed in
Okinawa prior to the 14th century. This hybrid but distinctly Okinawan style was called tode, or simply
te, and, when it was formally combined with the ch’uan fa of China, it became the art of karate.
Literally, the character which is pronounced “tow” (shown below) in tode refers to the T’ang Dynasty of
China (618 – 906 A.D.). It is, however, freely translated as “China”. Thus, in its later stages of
development, the Okinawan art was tode: “T’ang Hand” or “China Hand”, reflecting the debt which the
Okinawan masters owed to the ancient Chinese art.
In 1372, Okinawa became a tributary of China. The period of the
Ming Dynasty (1368 – 1644) saw the establishment of a permanent Okinawan
settlement in Northern China – at Ch’uan Chou, and the migration of many
Chinese to Okinawa. History has recorded that in 1392, 36 families immigrated
from China to Okinawa for cultural exchange. They settled in Kume village.
Among the 36 families were experts in martial arts who helped solidify the
growth and interest in Chinese kempo in Okinawa. Commercial, cultural, and
political contact with China intensified. Ch’uan fa was “officially” introduced, and Okinawan Ch’uan fa
societies were organized.
It is probable that the ch’uan fa societies on Okinawa were instructed by Chinese Buddhist
missionaries who taught the ancient style of Shaolin, including the I-Chin exercises. Also, they
apparently instilled in their students the philosophical way of Shaolin. Certainly, the legendary
Okinawan masters are attributed with the nonaggressive character and philosophical insight of the
earlier Shaolin szu kempo practitioners, and the offensive use of the art was held in disrepute. Thus, it is
interesting to note that at the very time that Chinese kempo was becoming degraded in the country of
its origin, the transplanted art and its true spirit began to thrive on Okinawa.
By the early part of the 14th century, the island of Okinawa, which had been ruled by several
feudal lords (anji), became divided into three states of Hokuzan (in the north), Chuzan (in the middle),
and Nanzan (in the south). The three kingdoms, as they were known, were united in 1429 under a
leader called Sho Hashi who made his capital at Shuri. In 1470, the Sho Dynasty fell, and a new Sho
Dynasty was established by Sho Shin in 1477. Sho Shin established a Confucian state, put an end to
feudalism, required the anji to live near the castle, and placed a ban on all weapons. This period of
complete control of the citizens of Okinawa became a very important chapter in the development of
both armed and unarmed combat.
In 1609, Okinawa was invaded and conquered by the Satsuma clan of Kyushu, the southernmost
island of Japan. Okinawa was occupied and subjugated. To secure the rule of force, the Japanese
shogun (warlords) prohibited the Okinawan people from bearing or even possessing weapons. This
state of unofficial occupation continued until 1875 when the Ryukyu Islands became an official part of
the Japanese Empire.
Following secret conferences, the ch’uan fa and tode societies of Okinawa banded together in
1629 to form a united front against the Japanese conquerors. The societies went “underground”, and
because their fighting arts were taught in strict secrecy, there is little recod of the development of the
art or of the names of its principal masters. But, it is evident that the corporation of the ch’uan fa and
tode societies led to an integration of the styles. And, it appears that the evolution of the integrated
style was greatly influenced by Okinawans who avidly sought instruction from Chinese masters and who,
in turn, instructed their countrymen. Legends tell of a man named Sakugawa from the Okinawan city of
Shuri who traveled to China in 1724 and returned many years later to become a teaching master of
ch’uan fa in his home city.
It is clear, however, that the period of the Satsuma occupation produced a unique Okinawan
fighting art. It is a combination of the best elements of ch’uan fa and tode. It was originally called
simply te (hand). Three principal schools of te developed in the three principal cities of Okinawa – Shuri,
Tomari, and Naha. The styles of these schools were known as Shuri-te, Tomari-te, and Naha-te.
Ultimately, the Shuri style absorbed the style of Tomari.
Even after the occupation of Okinawa ceased in 1875, the centuries of secrecy and the rivalry of
the Okinawan schools prevented the public demonstration and teaching of karate. However, attitudes
and rivalry ultimately softened. Public demonstrations of karate and the opening of public schools of
karate occurred in the latter parts of the 19th century. In 1904, due to the efforts of Yasatsune “Anko”
Itosu, karate became part of the physical education program in Okinawan public schools. Today, it is
part of the educational system and is a widely practiced art.
The popularization of karate, particularly in Japan, also produced a change in the name of the
art. This popularization coincided with the political and cultural assimilation of Okinawa as part of the
Japanese Empire and with increasing hostilities between the Empire and China. The name “T’ang hand”
or “China hand” was deemed to be inappropriate for what had become an Okinawan-Japanese martial
art. Hence, in 1936, a different character which is translated “empty”, was substituted. This character
(shown below)is pronounced “kara”; thus the literal translation of the Japanese characters for modern
karate is “empty hand”.
Karate in Japan
There is a popular, but mistaken, belief that karate is fundamentally a Japanese martial art. In
fact, the art is not only Okinawan, as we have seen, but was unknown in Japan prior to the 20th century.
The first public demonstration of karate in Japan was by the Okinawan master, Gichin Funakoshi in
1925. Some karate masters are known to have traveled to Japan before Master Funakoshi, but the
earliest date that karate may have been introduced to Japan is generally agreed to be 1904.
The transplanted art developed slowly. By 1928, some Okinawan masters, including Chojun
Miyagi and Choki Motobu, secured teaching positions at Japanese universities and apparently had some
private students also. In1932, a karate department was organized at Kansei University in Osaka, with
Miyagi as its head. Also, Japanese military personnel were instructed in the rudiments of karate.
However, until after World War II, karate was generally limited to the university and military
establishments.
Following World War II, a karate boom occurred. It was introduced as an integral part of
primary and secondary education and a host of private clubs sprung up. New masters developed new
styles, some incorporating the more linear Japanese boxing techniques. And, always the great trader,
Japan exported karate to the Western nations. It is Japan’s role as the principal exporter of karate which
probably explains the popular misconception that the art is essentially Japanese.
Although karate is not Japanese in origin, Japan has made significant contributions to the art
and way of karate. As previously discussed, the Okinawan masters adopted, as part of the discipline of
karate, the philosophical attitude and spirit of Shaolin; the crude aggressiveness to which ch’uan fa was
reduced during the Ming Dynasty was avoided. However the circumstances of karate’s development
during the Satsuma occupation of Okinawa prevented a complete return to the true spirit of Shaolin. In
Japan, the way of Zen Buddhism was and is very strong. And, particularly after the cessation of the
hostilities of World War II, the way of Zen has become an essential part of the way of karate, not
necessarily in a religious sense, but certainly in a philosophical one. Thus, the art is frequently referred
to today as karate-do (the way of empty hand), rather than karate-kempo (empty hand boxing).
This change, or return, of emphasis certainly does not detract from the combat effectiveness of
karate. Indeed, many karate-ka believe that it enhances the effectiveness of the art in so far as the selfcontrol and discipline demanded by karate-do produces a concentration, confidence, and calmness
which makes the karate-kempo especially devastating.
Fir st Pu r p l e T ip
Kihon: (Basics)
Naihanchi Dachi
Kosa Dachi
Haito Uchi (koko shuto)
Write a translation for
each performance skill.
Performance:
Waza
Gokui Waza 1 -7
Animal Forms
Improved performance of
all 3 levels of Animal
Forms
Two-hand Choke 2
Rear Choke
2 minutes
Grab Defenses
Kime Dachi Kumite
Ukemi Waza
Kata Kumite
Jiju Undo
Kata
Improved performance of
all break falls
1 ½ minutes
1 minute
Naihanchi Sho
Knowledge
Where is Okinawa located?
What is Hogan?
Where are the Okinawan people
believed to have originated from?
Why did the geographic location of
Okinawa contribute to the cultural
development of martial arts?
What evidence supports the theory that
Okinawa was a “melting pot” for
martial arts?
What did the Okinawan dances reflect?
What was the name of the Okinawan
art prior to the 14th century?
When the art formally combined with
ch’uan fa of China, what became the
name of the art?
Why did the Okinawans name the art
this?
In 1392, 36 families emigrated from
China to Okinawa. Why is this
important for the development of
karate in Okinawa?
How was Okinawa ruled in the early
part of the 14th century?
What happened in 1429?
What happened in 1470?
What happened in 1477?
What happened in 1609?
What did the shogun prohibit the
Okinawan people from bearing?
How long did this occupation last?
What ended it?
What did the societies of ch’uan fa and
tode do in 1629?
Why is there little record of the
development of the fighting art during
this time?
Who traveled to China in 1724?
What was his purpose?
How was the Satsuma occupation
responsible for the production of the
Okinawan fighting art?
When ch’uan fa and tode combined
together and formed te, what three
principal schools developed?
What are they named after?
Why did it take the Okinawans time to
open karate to the public?
Who fought to put karate in the public
schools physical education program?
What happened to the name of
“karate” in 1936?
What does karate translate to now?
When was the first public
demonstration of karate in Japan?
Who was responsible for that
demonstration?
Why is karate believed by many to have
been originated in Japan?
What did Japan do for the philosophy of
karate?
What is karate-do?
What is karate-kempo?
How does the Shaolin way (karate-do)
improve the effectiveness of combat?
Vocabulary
anji
shogun
taezu naru
tamishiwara
kansetsu waza
shime
makiwara
kamiza
joseki