Key Individuals In The Development Of Karate

By Leigh Metopher


As one of the world's most widely known and practiced martial arts, karate teaches many key skills of self-defense. While striking and punching tend to be the most common techniques, many varieties of karate also focus on knee and elbow strikes, kicking, grapping and even joint locks. This sport developed from ancient martial arts brought from China to the islands of Okinawa many hundreds of years ago.

Gichin Funakoshi is considered as one of the main fathers of karate and the developer of one of the martial arts' most prominent styles, which is Shotokan karate. A native of Okinawa, Funakoshi is responsible for bringing karate to the attention of those in mainland Japan. In fact, he opened Tokyo's first karate school in 1939, and these schools typically are just called a dojo.

Another person who helped spread karate throughout Japan was Anko Itosu. Not surprisingly, he too is from Okinawa. He penned the "Ten Precepts of Karate," which described in detail the techniques of karate as well as underlining its importance. This paper was presented to the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of War, and the officials were quite enthusiastic about Itosu's writing and began encouraging karate training throughout the country.

Robert Trias is notable in the world of karate as he was the first person to open a dojo in the United States. Trias served in the Navy during World War II and was stationed in the Solomon Islands. A champion boxer, he drew the attention of a Buddhist missionary who began instructing Trias in karate. When Trias returned to his home in Arizona, he began teaching karate in his backyard and eventually opened his dojo in 1946. Two years later, he founded the United States Karate Association.

There are, of course, many other individuals who are important practitioners of karate. Some developed different types of karate and others helped spread the art's popularity around the world. Karate skills can be important techniques in the arsenal of an MMA fighter, as well. UFC champion Lyoto Machida, for example, holds a black belt in Shotokan karate as well as Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

For those who wish to find a San Marcos karate school, karate classes in Encinitas or a San Marcos karate school, Team Mai offers classes for all levels of children and teens. In addition to teaching the skills of karate, your child's training also will focus on building confidence and self-esteem, learning respect for oneself and others and improving self-discipline.




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