Shotokai

Shotokai (松濤會 Shōtōkai?) is the organisation formed in 1936 by some of the senior karateka (practitioners of karate) of Gichin Funakoshi to teach karate. The organization still exists and promotes a style of karate that adheres to Funakoshi's teachings, in particular the notion that competition is contrary to the essence of karate. Nowadays, the name also designates a formal style and technique.


Origins

Historically, neither Shotokai nor Shotokan were in fact "styles" of karate. "Shotokai" was just the name of the association launched by some of Funakoshi's students, and "Shotokan" the name of its Dojo, "Shoto" being the pseudonym by which Funakoshi used to sign his poems. The name derives from "Shoto", the pen name of Funakoshi, literally translated as "pine leaves", and "Kai" meaning "group", therefore "Shoto's group".

At Funakoshi's death in 1957, his students split into several factions: on one side of a particular group there was an already known JKA (Japan Karate Association), known widely as practicing "Shotokan", and on another, the Shotokai Association. One of the stumbling blocks between the two groups was the question of whether competitions were to be introduced or not.

Although Shotokai was originally the name of an association, it defined its own style when Shigeru Egami defined the broad outlines of the new way of practising that he developed after having, in a number of tests, discovered the inefficiency of the karate method at that time.

After years of research, Egami found an efficient way of striking by executing the movement in a relaxed state of mind and body. This is the basis of Shotokai. It focuses on suppleness and relaxation, as opposed to tenseness that generates force. Elaborating this basic idea, he suggested new forms of techniques and a new way of practising.

Egami always kept the Shotokai group out of the sport Karate movement. Master Egami wrote: "First of all, we must practise Karate like a combat technique and then, with time and experience, we will be able to understand a certain state of soul and will be able to open ourselves to the horizons of 'jita-ittai' (the union of one with the other) which lay beyond fighting. This is the principle of coexistence which enables us to live together in prosperity." (Source, mainly: KDSE Europe)


Master instructors

Gigō Funakoshi (1906–1945), Gichin's third son, also known as Yoshitaka Funakoshi or Waka Sensei (the young master), developed most of the technique and style. He died of tuberculosis.

Shigeru Egami (1912–1981), one of Gichin's most talented students, took over Nihon Karate-do Shoto-kai together with Motonobu Hironishi and developed the art even further, making it what it is today. Shigeru Egami was the chief instructor and president of the Shotokai until his death.

Motonobu Hironishi (1913–1999) studied under Gichin and Yoshitaka, together with his close friend Shigeru Egami. After Shigeru Egami's death, he became president of the Shotokai.

Jotaro Takagi (1927–) has been the chairman of the Shotokai in Tokyo since 1995.

Mitsusuke Harada (1928–) studied under Gichin and Yoshitaka Funakoshi, and most importantly under Egami in the early 1950s, with whom he practiced seven days a week for 18 months. He received his fifth dan by mail order in 1955, the only surviving instructor with that honour. He still teaches to this day, mostly in Europe.

Tetsuji Murakami


The style

Shotokai Karate differs much from Shotokan in that it rejects competition altogether, feeling that it compromises Karate itself. Kata are generally the same as other forms of karate, although Shotokai often emphasizes smooth flowing movements rather than the sharp snappy movements of other styles. Kumite (sparring) in some Shotokai schools is practiced with full strength attacks, and is tightly controlled in terms of who is attacking and defending and the attacks that can be performed in order to reduce the chance of injury.


Organizations
AKSER (Association Karate-Do Shotokai Egamiryu)
Karate Do Shotokai
Karate Do Shotokai Europe (KDSE)
Murakami-Kai
Nihon Karate-do Shotokai
Shin-do Shotokai
Scuola Shotokai Italia (SSI)
Shotokai Karate Budo (SKB)


mrzelo me da prevodim

nego, sta vi mislite o ovom stilu? ja sam pogledala nekoliko snimaka na netu i iskreno, ne svidja mi se, previse je fluidan, pogotovo oni pokreti kukovima, deluju mi bas neprirodno (i fensi xD), takodje, stavovi su bas duboki, a o udarcima da ne govorim.... ne deluje mi bas nesto prakticno

evo nekih snimaka
http://www.bathkarate.co.uk/Bath_Tiger-Kai/Kata.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HHjgnZHZ5E
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BEyER4wmSyo

Super je post