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 History of Karate According to Ed Parker
(From Infinite Insights Book One)
The exact history of Karate has been lost in the antiquity of time, and consequently no definite date can be established as to when it actually began. Many of the records that exist today re obscure and incorrect. We cannot tell how many writings have been destroyed or how many developments have never been recorded. Nor can we ascertain the truthfulness of the existing records. Bits of information seem to indicate that Karate, as it is known today, may have been practiced in India and China as long as five thousand years ago. Writings on turtle shells tell us that the Chinese did in fact practice the Art as far back 21 BC.
Although its true origin is obscure a popular story that prevails gives credit to the Indian Priest Daurma or Bodhidharma in about 525. AD. However, other great men such as Hua T'o (190-265 AD) a brilliant doctor and Yuen Fei a popular general (who lived during the Sung Dynasty 960-1279 AD) were considered the forefathers of modern day Karate. Karate originated as Kenpo meaning fist law (a term used by the Okinawans to describe the Chinese system). From China it crossed over to Okinawa where, known as "te", it consisted primarily of blows, chops and rips with the hand and fingers.
In 1923 the Okinawans changed the oriental character of Karate which was then Chinese to that of a Japanese character. Thus the meaning changed from "hands of China" to "empty hand". This change assertedly brought about a deeper meaning in which the spiritual overcame the physical.
From Okinawa two experts Kenwa Mabuni and Gigen Funakoshi lifted Karate's veil of secrecy in 1916 to introduce their techniques to Japan. Their aim was not to promote Karate as a Martial Artists but as a sport throughout Japan.
Long before the Art was ever introduced to Okinawa many styles of the Art existed in China. Each style or system was noted for at least one distinct feat such as the development of the tiger claw, butterfly kick, panther punch, etc. In addition, many members of various systems guarded their secret ways of training. Among the systems of Southern China stemming from the Shaolin or Shorinji temple the most well known were the following five; namely, Hung, Liu, Ts'ai or Choy in Cantonese, Li and Mo. There are other Cantonese as well as northern systems. The northern styles placed great emphasis on floor rolling, use of the feet and jumping movements. Because of this, not much emphasis was placed on strong stances. The southern styles placed great emphasis on stance work as well as hand work.
There are basically five known styles in Okinawa - Kobayashi-ryu, Shoriji-ryu, Shito-ryu, Goju-ryu and Uechi-ryu.
In the last five decades since the Japanese took it up, the techniques have been modified so that they too claim styles of their own such as Shoto-Kan, Shudo-Kan, Waddo-ryu, Chitose-ryu and others.
More to follow
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