What is Karate?

At the Shotokan Times, there was quite an article that broke down just what Shotokan Karate consists of. Below is the table of contents. The full post may be read here.

Shotokan Karate: The Fine Martial Arts

Table of Contents

• What is Shotokan Karate? A Definition
• Where does Shotokan Karate come from? A Brief History
  • Gichin Funakoshi: Founding Father of Shotokan Karate
  • Further Development of Shotokan Karate on Mainland Japan
• What does “Shotokan” mean?
• The Three Parts of Shotokan Karate: Kihon, Kata, Kumite
  • What is Kihon? The Basics And Foundation of Karate
    • Two Ways to Train Kihon: Kamae and Jiyu Kamae
    • How Does a Kihon session Takes Place?
    • What Are the Important Physical Aspects of Kihon?
    • What Are the Important Mental Aspects of Kihon?
    • What Is the Role of an Instructor During Kihon?
  • What is Kata? The Fight Against Imaginary Opponents
    • Why are Kata Stylized?
    • Embusen: The Fingeprint of A Kata
    • What Kata Shotokan Karate consists of?
    • Heian Katas
    • Tekki Katas
    • Bassai Katas
    • Kanku Katas
    • Gojushiho Katas
    • Ji-Katas
    • Katas Without A Direct Relationship
    • Bunkai
  • What is Kumite? The Fight Against Real Opponents
    • A Brief History of Shotokan Kumite
    • The Importance of Yoshitaka Funakoshi For Kumite
    • Masatoshi Nakayama Developed Tournament Kumite
    • Gohon Kumite
    • Sanbon Kumite
    • Kihon Ippon Kumite
    • Jiyu Ippon Kumite
    • Happo Kumite
    • Randori
    • Jiyu Kumite
    • Goshin-Jutsu
• Shotokan Karate as Budo
  • Budo and Do
  • Spirit
  • Guiding Principles of Shotokan
    • Dojo Kun
    • Niju Kun: The 20 Precepts of Karate
    • The First 10 Precepts of Shotokan Karate
    • The Second 10 Precepts of Shotokan Karate
• The Landscape of Shotokan Karate Associations
  • The Stratification of Shotokan Associations
  • The Present Field of Shotokan Associations
• Book Recommendations
  • Introduction to Shotokan Karate
  • History of Shotokan
  • Kihon
  • Kata
  • Kumite
  • Philosophy of Shotokan Karate
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What is Shotokan Karate? A Definition

Shotokan (松濤館) is a Japanese martial arts. It belongs to the fighting and self-defense system Karate (空手). Karate itself has been developed on the islands of Okinawa. 

According to the famous karate blogger, Jesse Enkamp, Shotokan is the “world´s most popular style” of Karate.

Shotokan Karate comprises a wide range of techniques like:

• Keri-waza (kicks),
• Uchi-waza (punches), and
• Uke-waza (blocks).

Karateka execute all techniques from a variety of stances called tachi waza. Fighting on the ground and the application of an elaborated set of tosses and throws like in Judo or Wrestling is not part of the style. Shotokanka prefer to face opponents in a standing position.