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| Copyright © 2009 Traditional Karate Online Support. All rights reserved. Terms of Service |
TRADITIONAL KARATE
History and Definition
Although today there are many different Karate sports, originally there was only
one. The first or Traditional Karate (Karate-Do) was the original Karate from
which these later sports borrowed the name “Karate”, as it is commonly and
widely used today.
Karate has its roots in “Tode” – a weaponless self-defense system developed
in Okinawa, influenced by Chinese martial arts with more than two thousand
years of history. In mainland Japan, it was established as a part of “Budo”
(Japanese martial arts) system; “Traditional Karate” therefore is a general
term for Karate that follows
Budo principles.
After World War II, Karate’s value for self defense, physical fitness,
competition, and overall mental and physical development came to be
increasingly recognized. However, as a martial art, it necessitated long and
repeated careful study. Because the practice of Karate soon came to
approach the semblance of a “boom” in popularity, the
requirements of long and repeated careful study came to be overridden by the
demands of today’s world for more rapid results and quicker development.
The result was the emergence of many new sports using the name of Karate.
To avoid confusion with these new sports, the public began distinguishing the
original Karate as “Traditional Karate”.
The international governing body of Traditional Karate is the International
Traditional Karate Federation (ITKF), which is composed of Traditional Karate
national federation from each member country. Each member national
federation is the governing body for Traditional Karate in its respective country.
Worldwide, members of ITKF practice many
different “styles” of Karate (such as Shotokan, Goju-ryu, etc.). These “styles”
are comparable to schools or academies and have their own unique training
systems developed by Karate masters over many centuries. However, even
under the same style, groups affiliated with ITKF pursue Budo Karate while
others not belonging to ITKF practice so called “karate sports” which are
merely punching / kicking games with no Budo principles.
Objectives and Values
The purpose of Traditional Karate is to develop well-balanced mind and body,
through training in fighting techniques. Traditional Karate also shares the
ultimate aim with Budo, which is to cultivate great human character of a higher
class that prevents any violent attack before an actual fight occurs.
Budo originates in the practice of physical fighting; however, it has a significant
effect on the spiritual and physical development of a human since Budo
philosophy and ethics are absolute requirements for the study of techniques
and improvement of skills. Elements such as manners and etiquette were not
adapted from outside elements nor are they independent from the physical
training, but existed within the system since the origin of Budo and were
integrated to the technical improvement.
Seriousness:
Budo training must be done in a serious manner, because its techniques are
derived from severe life-or-death situations, where one must win the fight in
order to survive. This is why Budo practitioners are required to have a serious
mind set. Only in such a condition can one possibly achieve extreme levels of
mind and body far beyond ordinary levels. This is apparent in competitions.
For example, a Kumite (sparring) match is carried out in Ippon-shobu (one
perfect “finishing blow” determines the winner) format. Because only one
definitive technique can conclude a match, competitors are driven to learn the
importance of serious attitude.
Humility:
To achieve a higher level, Budo requires a practitioner to keep a humble mind
and behavior. This allows one to always learn something from anyone. Once
one thinks that he or she is better than others, the possibility of improvement
ceases. This is the basis of the high importance of respecting instructors as
well as training partners in Budo.
Calmness & Discipline:
As already mentioned, the original Budo techniques were designed for the
critical situation where one may or may not survive. Under such a condition, it
is difficult for anybody to keep a calm mind; the ability of clear judgment or
physical reflex slows down, and often one may find himself immobilized due to
nervousness. Therefore keeping a calm mind is a crucial concern in Budo
practice, and this is why a training session begins and ends with a period of
meditation. In addition, Budo’s rigorous and disciplined training makes a
practitioner confident about his techniques and gain
mental stability. According to the recent research by sports psychologists, this
method is recognized as most effective in avoiding mental fluctuation.
Skillfulness:
In Budo, the proper technique and power are generated by skill, rather than
relying only on muscular strength. Techniques are delivered from the center of
the body so that it can utilize a quick and efficient reflex of the entire body. In
the same way, Traditional Karate requires an integrated physical action
controlled by the center of the body, starting from the feet on the floor. Proper
training develops a body with each part moving in proper sequence without
unnecessary moves, and as a result, allows one to build a well-balanced body.
Acknowledging the above described values, it is easy to see why such
physical and
mental training became the basis for the concept of Budo and Traditional
Karate
demanding unlimited seeking of total human development.
Competition
“A Karate contest conducted under the rules of the ITKF must conform to the
definition of Karate. All rules enacted by the ITKF must always be considered
from the standpoint of helping and motivating the participant toward the
perfection of human character through unlimited physical and mental seeking.”
ITKF Constitution
Article 1, Section 1.3
History and Definition
Although today there are many different Karate sports, originally there was only
one. The first or Traditional Karate (Karate-Do) was the original Karate from
which these later sports borrowed the name “Karate”, as it is commonly and
widely used today.
Karate has its roots in “Tode” – a weaponless self-defense system developed
in Okinawa, influenced by Chinese martial arts with more than two thousand
years of history. In mainland Japan, it was established as a part of “Budo”
(Japanese martial arts) system; “Traditional Karate” therefore is a general
term for Karate that follows
Budo principles.
After World War II, Karate’s value for self defense, physical fitness,
competition, and overall mental and physical development came to be
increasingly recognized. However, as a martial art, it necessitated long and
repeated careful study. Because the practice of Karate soon came to
approach the semblance of a “boom” in popularity, the
requirements of long and repeated careful study came to be overridden by the
demands of today’s world for more rapid results and quicker development.
The result was the emergence of many new sports using the name of Karate.
To avoid confusion with these new sports, the public began distinguishing the
original Karate as “Traditional Karate”.
The international governing body of Traditional Karate is the International
Traditional Karate Federation (ITKF), which is composed of Traditional Karate
national federation from each member country. Each member national
federation is the governing body for Traditional Karate in its respective country.
Worldwide, members of ITKF practice many
different “styles” of Karate (such as Shotokan, Goju-ryu, etc.). These “styles”
are comparable to schools or academies and have their own unique training
systems developed by Karate masters over many centuries. However, even
under the same style, groups affiliated with ITKF pursue Budo Karate while
others not belonging to ITKF practice so called “karate sports” which are
merely punching / kicking games with no Budo principles.
Objectives and Values
The purpose of Traditional Karate is to develop well-balanced mind and body,
through training in fighting techniques. Traditional Karate also shares the
ultimate aim with Budo, which is to cultivate great human character of a higher
class that prevents any violent attack before an actual fight occurs.
Budo originates in the practice of physical fighting; however, it has a significant
effect on the spiritual and physical development of a human since Budo
philosophy and ethics are absolute requirements for the study of techniques
and improvement of skills. Elements such as manners and etiquette were not
adapted from outside elements nor are they independent from the physical
training, but existed within the system since the origin of Budo and were
integrated to the technical improvement.
Seriousness:
Budo training must be done in a serious manner, because its techniques are
derived from severe life-or-death situations, where one must win the fight in
order to survive. This is why Budo practitioners are required to have a serious
mind set. Only in such a condition can one possibly achieve extreme levels of
mind and body far beyond ordinary levels. This is apparent in competitions.
For example, a Kumite (sparring) match is carried out in Ippon-shobu (one
perfect “finishing blow” determines the winner) format. Because only one
definitive technique can conclude a match, competitors are driven to learn the
importance of serious attitude.
Humility:
To achieve a higher level, Budo requires a practitioner to keep a humble mind
and behavior. This allows one to always learn something from anyone. Once
one thinks that he or she is better than others, the possibility of improvement
ceases. This is the basis of the high importance of respecting instructors as
well as training partners in Budo.
Calmness & Discipline:
As already mentioned, the original Budo techniques were designed for the
critical situation where one may or may not survive. Under such a condition, it
is difficult for anybody to keep a calm mind; the ability of clear judgment or
physical reflex slows down, and often one may find himself immobilized due to
nervousness. Therefore keeping a calm mind is a crucial concern in Budo
practice, and this is why a training session begins and ends with a period of
meditation. In addition, Budo’s rigorous and disciplined training makes a
practitioner confident about his techniques and gain
mental stability. According to the recent research by sports psychologists, this
method is recognized as most effective in avoiding mental fluctuation.
Skillfulness:
In Budo, the proper technique and power are generated by skill, rather than
relying only on muscular strength. Techniques are delivered from the center of
the body so that it can utilize a quick and efficient reflex of the entire body. In
the same way, Traditional Karate requires an integrated physical action
controlled by the center of the body, starting from the feet on the floor. Proper
training develops a body with each part moving in proper sequence without
unnecessary moves, and as a result, allows one to build a well-balanced body.
Acknowledging the above described values, it is easy to see why such
physical and
mental training became the basis for the concept of Budo and Traditional
Karate
demanding unlimited seeking of total human development.
Competition
“A Karate contest conducted under the rules of the ITKF must conform to the
definition of Karate. All rules enacted by the ITKF must always be considered
from the standpoint of helping and motivating the participant toward the
perfection of human character through unlimited physical and mental seeking.”
ITKF Constitution
Article 1, Section 1.3
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