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How to Tie a Karate Belt (Obi)
Shorinkan Karate History
Japanese Glossary

How to Tie a Karate Belt (Obi)

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Your Belt should look like this when its done.

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Shorinkan Karate History

Karate, as we know it today, originated on the Ryukyu Archipelago, more commonly known as the Island of Okinawa, (Birthplace of Karate), Japan. The major sites were the villages of Naha, Shuri and Tomari.

Takahara (1683-1760)
Kusanku
Sakugawa Kanga "Tode" (1733-1815) "father of Okinawan karate"
Matsumura Sokon "Bushi" (1796-1893)
Itosu Yasutsune "Anko" (1830-1915)
Chibana Chosin "Hanshi no Sogo" (1886-1969)
Nakazato Shugoro "Hanshi JuDan" (1921- )

The traditional Kata (forms) have been handed down from instructor to student. To quote Chibana Sensei,"Karate is teaching Kata (form) we have taken from forefathers without changing it at all." There are 15 traditional Katas and in Kobudo (Okinawan Art of Weaponry) there are 6 weapons with individual Katas for each weapon.

Okinawan Karate dates to the sixth century when Bodhidharma's (Daruma), born in India, travels took him to China where he settled at a Shao-lin (Shorin in Japanese) Monastery. The introduction of ch-uan-fa ("fist way") occurred in the late 1300's with the expansion of trade and cultural exchanges between Okinawa and China. Evidence suggests that te ("hands"), in fact, was indigenous to Okinawa, (the birthplace of Karate), developing in the villages of Shuri, Naha and Tomari. Thus begins the lineage of Shorin-Ryu Kobayashi Karate from the Shuri-te system.

TAKAHARA, Peichin (1683-1760)
was revered as a great warrior and is attributed to have been the first to explain the aspects or principles of the word do ("way"). These principals are: 1) ijo, the way-compassion, humility and love. 2) katsu, the laws-complete understanding of all techniques and forms of karate, and 3) fo dedication seriousness of karate that must be understood not only in practice, but in actual combat. The collective translation is: "One's duty to himself and his fellow man." Most importantly, he was the first teacher of SAKUGAWA, Kanga "Tode" who was to become known as the "father of Okinawan karate."

KUSANKU, (AKA: Kung Syanag, Koso Kun)
is a Chinese diplomatic title. This emissary was a military official, who traveled to Okinawa, as documented in 1761. He instructed "Tode" after the death of TAKAHARA, SAKUGAWA's first instructor. KUSANKU's name is associated with several katas in the Shorin-Ryu styles.

SAKUGAWA, Kanga (1733-1815)
"Tode" meaning "karate," was a nickname given to him by his eminent instructor TAKAHARA. Known as the "father of Okinawan karate," SAKUGAWA traveled to China to study the fighting arts. During this time he is attributed for combining the Chinese art of ch-uan fa and the Okinawan art of tode ("Chinese hand or empty hand"), forming Okinawa-te ("Okinawa hand") which would become the foundation for Shuri-te. He passed down Kusanku, which is said to be one of Okinawa's oldest katas. Furthermore, he developed a bo kata, Sakugawa no Kon.

MATSUMURA, Sokon (1796-1893)
"Bushi" ("Warrior") it is acknowledged, began his training at an early age under the tutelage of SAKUGAWA, "Tode" and made several trips to China to further study the fighting arts. He is credited, by several sources, for making the most singular contribution, katas, to the development of Okinawan karate. The Shuri-te system of katas that are still practiced today in the Kobayashi Shorin-Ryu system are Naihanchi I-III, Passai Dai, Chinto & Gojushiho.

ITOSU, Yasutsune (1830-1915)
 "Anko" ("Iron Horse") trained under MATSUMURA, Sokon and is credited for introducing the Pinans ("Peaceful Mind") I-V Katas to the Okinawan public schools in 1901. He is also credited for Kusanku Sho and Passai Sho. Some of the most important modern day instructors that trained directly under him were: CHIBANA, Chosin, FUNAKOSHI, Gichin, KYAN, Chotoku, MABUNI, Kenwa to name just a few.

CHIBANA, Chosin "Hanshi no Sogo" (1887-1969)
was one of Itosu's top students. CHIBANA Sensei was the first to differentiate his system of karate from others by naming it Kobayashi-ryu ("young forest" style), in 1930, instead of Shuri-te or by his own name (e.g. Chibana-te) as had been done in the past within the Shorin-ryu systems. This decision was brought on by the growth and development of te, not only on Okinawa, but also with the foresight of international introduction. CHIBANA Sensei was one of the founding committee members of karate masters in 1936 that agreed karate should be translated as "empty hand." 

In addition, he was awarded the Fourth Order of Merit from the Emperor of Japan, in 1969, for his life long contributions to the martial arts. It is attributed by some sources that he passed down the Kusanku Dai and Gojushiho katas. CHIBANA Sensei's most influential student of the modern day is Hanshi JuDan NAKAZATO, Shugoro, to whom CHIBANA Sensei presented his personal black belt, which was a great honor and tribute to NAKAZATO Sensei's devotion and martial arts skills.

NAKAZATO, Shugoro "Hanshi JuDan" (1921 - Present)
Hanshi JuDan NAKAZATO has spent most of his life in the martial arts and in 1967, after nearly twenty years of training, was awarded 9th Dan by his eminent instructor CHIBANA Choshin. Upon CHIBANA Sensei's death in 1969, NAKAZATO Sensei became the president of the Okinawan Shorin-Ryu * ShorinKan Karate-do Kyokai and was promoted to 10thDan in 1980. NAKAZATO Sensei is one of the most influential living karate Grand Masters in Okinawa and travels many times a year to promote the traditional Okinawan Shorin-Ryu * ShorinKan Karate (Kobayashi-ryu) system. 

Hanshi JunDan headed the Okinawan karate delegation and was asked to give a special performance at the 1996 Olympic Games held in Atlanta, Georgia. Most recently in May 1999, he led an Okinawan seminar delegation of Grand Masters to the United States promoting The 1st Okinawa Traditional Karatedo & Kobudo World Tournament. In addition, Hanshi JuDan NAKAZATO is credited for the introduction of the Gorin kata. 

In August 2000, the Okinawan Prefecture Board of Education bestowed upon Hanshi NAKAZATO the title of "Kenmukei Bunkazi" - Intangible Cultural Asset. In addition, on November 4, 2007, the Japanese Prime Minister under the hand of the Emperor of Japan awarded Nakazato Sensei the "Order of the Rising Sun with Gold and Silver Rays" - Asahi Soukou sho.  



Japanese Glossary

-A-

Age tsuki - rising punch

Age uke - rising block

Anata wa - and you?

Antei - balance

Arigato gozaimasu - thank you

Ashi - leg

Ashi baral - leg sweep

Atama - head

Ato de - Later

-B-

Bo - Six foot staff (Weapon)

Bojutsu - Art of the Bo

Bunkai - The application of a move in a kata

Bushi - Warrior

Bushido - Way of the warrior

-C-

Chudan - Middle area

Chudan uke - Middle block

-D-

Dachi - Stance

Dai (Dai Ichi) - Number

Dai (Passai Dia) - Greater, major

Dai sempai - Most senior student

Dan - Black belt rank

Deashibarai - Forward foot sweep

Denwa - Telephone

Do - The way or path

Doita shimashite - You are welcome

Dojo - Place to train

Domo arigato gozaimasu - Thank you very much

Dozo - Please

-E-

Ee-EH, wah-KAH-ree-mah-sehn - No, I do not understand

Ee-KEE-mah-shoh - Let's go

Eku - Oar (Weapon)

Empi - Elbow

-F-

Fukyu - Fundamental, basic

Fumi komi - Stomping (kick)

-G-

Gedan - Lower area

Gedan uke - Lower block

Genki desu - I am fine

Geri - Kick

Gi - Karate uniform

Go - Hard or #5

Gyaku tsuki - Reverse punch

-H-

Hachiji dachi - Open stance

Hai - Yes

Haishu - Back of hand

Haisoku - Instep of foot

Haito - Ridge of hand

Hajime - Begin

Hanshi - Grand Master

Hara - Abdomen, center of Ki

Hayaku - Quickly

Heiko dachi - Parallel stance

Heisoku dachi - Closed foot stance

Hidari - Left

Hiji - Elbow

Hiji - Elbow smash

Hiza - Knee

-I-

Ikaga desu ka - How are you

Ima - Now

Ippon ken - One knuckle fist

Itchoku sen - Straight line

-J-

Jiyu kumite - Free style sparring

Jo - Four foot staff

Jodan - Upper area

Jodan uke - Upper block

Ju - Soft or the #10

Judan - 10th Degree Black Belt

Jutsu - Art

-K-

Kakato - Heel of foot

Kake geri - Hook kick

Kama - Sickle (Weapon)

Kamae - Fighting stance

Kansetsu - Knuckles

Kao - Face

Kara - Empty

Karate - Empty hand

Karate do - The way of the empty hand

Kata - Predetermined form

Keage - Snap (kick)

Keiko - Practice drill

Kekomi - Thrust (kick)

Ki - Spirit

Kiai - Spirit shout

Kiba dachi - Horse riding stance

Kihon - Basic

Kime - Focus

Kimochi - Attitude

Kin geri - Groin kick

Kiotsuke - Attention

Kobudo - Ancient martial ways

Kobujutsu - Art of ancient weapons

Kohai - Junior

Kokegi - Attacher

Koko - Here

Kokoro - Mind, heart, spirit, feeling

Kokutsu dachi - Back stance

Konban wa - Good evening

Konnichi wa - Good afternoon, hello

Koroshi waza - Killing technique

Kosa dachi - Cross-legged stance

Koshi - Hips, ball of foot

Kudasai - Please, give me the favor of

Kumite - Practice fighting

Kuzushi - Leverage

Kyobu - Chest

Kyoshi - Karate master title (7th & 8th Degree)

Kyu - Non black belt rank

Kyushu jutsu - The art of striking vital points

-M-

Ma - Distance

Maai - Individual distance

Mae - Front

Mae geri - Front kick

Makiwara - Punching board

Massugu - Straight

Matte - Wait

Mawashi geri - Round house kick

Mawate - Turn

Migi - Right

Migikae tsuki - Jab punch

Mikazuki geri - Crescent kick

Modotte - Return to ready position

MOH ee-chee-doh, oh-NEH-gah-ee shee-mahs? - Could you repeat it please?

Mokuso - Quiet meditation

Mokuso owari - Meditation over

Morote uke - Augmented block

Mudansha - Kyu rank holder

Mushubi dachi - Open foot, attention stance

Mutskasaee - Difficult

-N-

Nage waza - Throwing technique

Nagore - Deep breathing

Naihanchi dachi - Iron horse stance

Naisan - Man, Women, boy or girl

Nan-jee-dehs-ka? - What time is it?

Narra be nassai - Line up

Neko ashi dachi - Cat leg stance

Nidan geri - Double kick

Nihongo - Japanese language

Nuhite - Spear hand

Nunchaku - Flail (Weapon)

-O-

O-hayo gozaimas - Good morning

O-negai shimasu - Teach me, please

O-yasami nasai - Good night

Obi - Belt

Ot tsuki - Lunge punch

Owari mastah - Over, finished

-R-

Rei - Bow, courtesy

Renshi - Highest teacher

Renshu - To study

Ryu - School or system, way

Ryukyu - The archipelago, known as Okinawa

-S-

Sai - Truncheon (Weapon)

Sanchin dachi - Hour glass stance

Sashi buri desu ne - Long time no see

Sayonara - Good bye

Seiken - Forefist

Seiken tsuki - Straight punch

Seiza - Formal sitting posture

Sempai - Senior student

Senaka - Back of body

Sensei - Teacher, Instructor

Shiai - Match, contest

Shihan - Master instructor

Shiko dachi - Split or square stance

Shin ken - Serious

Sho - Small, minor

Shomei - Front central area of dojo

Shomen - Front

Shomen ni rei - Bow to the front

Shurey no kuni - The country that keeps respect (On our patch)

Shuto - Knife hand

Soto uke - Outside middle block

-T-

Tabemono - Food

Tai - Body

Tai sabaki - Body shifting

Takai - Expensive

Talso - Exercise

Tameshi wara - Breaking

Tatami - Straw floor mat

Tate - Standing, vertical

Tate tsuki - Vertical fist punch

Te - Hand

Teisho - Palm heel

Tettsui - Hammer fist

Tobi geri - Jump kick

Tonfa - Handle (Weapon)

Tsuki - Punch

Tsuyoki - Strong spirit

Tuite waza - Grappling hand technique

-U-

Uchi - Strike

Uchi uke - Inside middle block

Ude - Arm

Uke - Defender, block

Ura tsuki - Inverted punch

Uraken - Back fist

Ushiro geri - Back kick

-W-

Wah-KAH-ree mahs KAH? - Do you understand?

Waza - Technique

-w-

word - definition

-Y-

Yakusoku kumite - Predetermined sparring

Yame - Stop

Yasashee - Easy

Yasui - Cheap

Yasunde - Relax

Yoi - Ready

Yoko - Side

Yoko geri - Side kick

 


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