Styles
Shotokan
The most practised style in the world, created by Gichin Funakoshi. Long stances, linear techniques and power.
- Founder
- Gichin Funakoshi
- Founded
- 1936
- Origin
- Okinawa / Tóquio, Japão
History
Gichin Funakoshi brought karate from Okinawa to mainland Japan in 1922 and founded the Shotokan dojo in 1936. "Shoto" was his pen name as a poet, meaning "pine waves"; "kan" means house. The style became the foundation of modern karate and the gateway to the sport almost everywhere - Mozambique included.
Principles
- Long, low stances that build stability and power
- Linear, direct techniques executed with kime (absolute focus)
- Kihon, kata and kumite as three inseparable pillars of training
- Karate ni sente nashi - there is no first attack in karate