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Shotokan Karate
“A Brief History”

Gichin Funakoshi 1868-1957
The founder of Shotokan Karate

Gichin Funakoshi - Shotokan Karate

Gichin Funakoshi was born in 1868 on the Island of Okinawa, which is situated between Japan and Taiwan off the Chinese Coast.

At the age of 11 he was introduced to two similar styles of martial arts.  From Master Azato & Master Itosu he was taught Shuri-Te (Shorin-Ryu) and from Kanryo Higaonna (sometimes spelled Higashionna) he learnt Naha-Te (Shorei-Ryu). As an adult he became a school teacher. He continued his martial arts which he called Karate Do (The way of the empty hand). He also wrote poetry that he signed with his pen name “Shoto” (Pine Waves).

Funakoshi Sensei is believed to have introduced Karate to Japan around 1917, when he was asked to perform his martial art at a Physical Education Exhibition sponsored by the Ministry of Education. He travelled to Japan twice more giving demonstrations of his art. The third

occasion being a special performance for the Emperor. Following this he stayed in Japan, slowly building up a following that led to the opening of his first Dojo. The students named this Shotokan, Shoto after his pen name and Kan meaning house/building.

Shotokan = “The house of the Waving Pines”

Shotokan - Japan Karate Association (JKA)

During an air raid in World War 2 the Shotokan Dojo was destroyed, after the war the students regrouped and in 1949 the Japan Karate Association was established and Funokoshi Sensei was appointed chief instructor.

In 1957 the Ministry of Education gave official recognition to the JKA, shortly after this Master Funokoshi died at the age of 89.

When one of the most respected Sensei’s Masatoshi Nakayama was appointed chief instructor, the standards of training in Kihon, Kata,and Kumite were established, and competitions were also introduced.  This caused the first split in the JKA, as the old Shotokai groups under Isao Obata, Genshin Hironishi and Shigeru Egami did not approve of competition Kumite. They left and formed the Karate-do Shotokai who still claim to be the true successors of Gichin Funakoshi.

Shotokan instructors were sent to Europe to demonstrate their art, there were four in the team which originally toured, and after the tour Sensei Keinosuke Enoeda and Sensei Hirokazu Kanazawa remained in England with Sensei Taji Kase  moving to France and Sensei Hiroshi Shirai settling in Italy.

Following Nakayama’s death the JKA still thrived but many of the senior instructors left to form their own organisations.

JKA - Karate Union of Great Britain (KUGB)

In 1965 Sensei Enoeda found himself teaching full time at the Red Triangle Dojo in Liverpool, In 1966 the KUGB was formed and in 1968 he became chief instructor to the KUGB, and so began a long standing association between these two organisations.

In 2003 Sensei Enoeda sadly passed away, leaving his Hakama (formal dress) and Black Belt to Sensei Andy Sherry, signifying that he considered Andy his successor. The JKA could not accept that a westerner could take over and so they tried to appoint Sensei Ohta.  In doing so they forced the KUGB to respect Enoeda Sensei’s last wishes, unfortunately this meant leaving  the JKA organisation.
Note that when Funakoshi Sensei (an Okinawan) died, they appointed Nakayama Sensei (a Japanese), if we are following tradition they should have appointed another Okinawan.
 
The result of this was a split within the KUGB with most clubs staying with the KUGB under Sensei Sherry (7th Dan), and a small portion moving with Sensei Ohta (6th Dan), who formed a new organisation called JKA-England (JKA-E).

KUGB - Leeds Shotokan Karate Club

Leeds Shotokan Karate was established over 40 yrs ago. Through out that time LSKC has produce many students who have gone on to represent there country at International level and indeed becoming Karate Champions at regional, national and international events. The club has had various venues during its time around Leeds and its present locations are at LAWNSWOOD HIGH SCHOOL and the ROUNDHEGIANS SPORTS CLUB.

LAWNSWOOD HIGH SCHOOL

ROUNDHEGIANS SPORTS CLUB

Sensei Ronnie Wade 4th Dan was the original instructor when the club was formed. He himself went on to become an International competitor.

When Sensie Wade gave up the task of chief  instructor at the LSKC, one his students Bob Rhodes took over as club instructor. Sensei Rhodes 7th Dan or Bob as he is fondly known by his students ran the club with a firm hand and continued to produce many excellent karatekas and  many of whom went on to become national and international competitors. Bob won medals both at national and international level.

He was part of the Leeds team that won the KUGB national team championship back in 1973 and also a member of the British National Squad that won the World Championship in Los Angeles. He has continued his Karate career, becoming an international referee and is now a senior instructor within the KUGB. His sensational ability of application of kata (form) is well known through-out the karate world.

Sensei Rhodes decided to move on to pastures new and left to the running of the club to its present instructor Sensei Randolph Williams 6th Dan. Like the other instructors before him, Sensei Williams was also KUGB and British International, winning medals at national and international level.

As a member of the KUGB team, he has won several European Team gold medals and was also member of the squad that won the World Championship gold  against Japan in 1990 , 4 times KUGB Shotokan Cup individual champ, at the age of 40yrs old after winning the National Individual Kumite Championship decided to retire from competition and concentrate on the running the club.

Most recent members of Leeds Shotokan Karate who have gone on to become regional, national and international competitors is Nick Heald who has just received his 6th Dan and Mathew Price 5th Dan, both have gone  on to form the LKA.

Leeds Shotokan Karate Club has been one of the most successful club in the country over the years, many times winning regional and national championships in both individual and team events.

The club has produced junior members that are now part of the KUGB national Squad. There is also number of students who have won medals at regional and national championships.

Members start at the age 5yrs and above, men, women and children are welcome to take part at any of our training sessions. Everyone train together, and is a very friendly environment to train in, and with hard work and determination everyone can achieve that coveted Black belt.

Leeds Shotokan Karate Club has very high standards and its instructors are CRB checked.