Karate is not an original Japanese martial art. It traces back to the Ryukyu Kingdom, now known as Okinawa, Japan. If the two preceding sentences may sound contradictory, I'll clarify: They are not. Let's see!
A bit of history
To fully grasp what I'm trying to convey, the reader must travel back in time again. By understanding the origins and the unique form of Okinawan Karate, we can make a practical distinction between the original art still practiced on that small island in the Pacific and the version that has spread worldwide as a sport.
It's crucial to consider that Okinawa was a separate political entity from Japan. Until 1870, it belonged to the Ryukyu Kingdom, encompassing a whole archipelago of islands [1].
During a period of Okinawa's history, it was considered a tributary state to China [2]. The political and cultural relations between Okinawa and China lasted for nearly 530 years, from 1340 to 1866 (spanning the invasion of Okinawa by the Japanese Satsuma Clan in 1609) [2]. This intricate relationship with China was pivotal in developing a unique form of self-defense in Okinawa. Though written records on the subject are extremely rare [3] it is a consensus among Okinawa's great senseis and historians that there existed an ancient form of self-defense known as Ti, which emphasized techniques with closed fists (Heishu waza) [1,2].
* Primitive: it is said of the originating; of the initial form; of that which came first, of the ancestral."original
Beyond direct trade links with China, Okinawa's importance for international commerce in that region is also known [3], it served as a hub and departure point for vessels in commercial routes to Taiwan and Japan. Consequently, Okinawa received a large number of foreigners, mainly Chinese [2]. Many Okinawans also traveled from their homeland to other countries for political or commercial missions. This cultural exchange was a significant factor in the rich blend of cultures in Okinawa. One consequence of this cultural fusion was the diffusion of the Chinese Kempo techniques on the island.
Over time, elements of Chinese Kempo were incorporated into Ti, giving rise to a unique system of personal defense known as Todi (唐手 or Tuudii), which can be translated as "Chinese Hands."
This mixed system, Todi, places great emphasis on the practice of Kata, which in turn requires bunkai (analysis) and Kumite. It also pays considerable attention to the physical conditioning of the practitioner. The centrality of Kata is striking in this system, making Kumite a training element where the techniques from Katas (analyzed in bunkai) are applied. Here, the strict connection between Kata and Kumite via Bunkai is evident, a hallmark of the ancestry of what we now call Karate - 空手.
It is crucial to note that originally, Te and later Todi were practiced as applied forms of real personal defense. In those times, what was practiced was a system of self-defense. One can easily imagine the necessity of this in an area with a significant flow of people and goods, like ancient Okinawa, or for sailors on vessels carrying valuable cargo.
Effects of a War
World War II is a milestone in Okinawa's history and, therefore, in the history of Karate. American forces invaded the island in April 1945, leading to a brutal battle lasting nearly three months until definitive American control was established in June of that year. Okinawa was devastated. Valuable lives were lost, including those of practitioners and senseis of Tode, and many records of this art were also lost.
The losses of the Second World War had a notable impact on Tode. On the other hand, the outcome of the war would lead to a reformulation of Tode due to the new needs of the post-war era. From this point in history, Karate spread around the world [1], primarily through its practice by members of the American occupying forces, and later by its inclusion as a martial art in the Dai Nippon Butoku Kai, giving a Japanese identity to Okinawa's self-defense art. Here, Karate began to be recognized as a martial art of 'Japanese' nationality.
Karate underwent a transformation, abandoning or concealing lethal techniques and others such as ground fighting, joint locks, throws, and immobilizations. This made it possible to systematize it as a sport and promote its popularity.
Sport practice, in turn, implies the need to prioritize the use of techniques with lower lethality and potential for damage. The real adversary now becomes a sports opponent whose physical condition and health must, obviously, be preserved.
Thus, basic principles of Okinawan Karate are altered, like shortening the time of confrontation to a fixed-duration sports match of three minutes. Karate, once an applied self-defense art, transforms into a sport resembling fencing, with the goal of accumulating the most points to win a match.
In sport Karate, kata is modified to prioritize aesthetic elements that can be scored in competitions, often at the expense of the techniques contained within it. Kata and bunkai are no longer the central axes of training, and the original purpose of kumite changes.
In our view, there is no doubt that today the term Karate is applied to two distinct approaches. One is the form that, even after the effects of World War II, tried to remain as close as possible to its ancestral practice in Okinawa and is currently being considered for inclusion on the UNESCO list of intangible cultural heritage. The other is the derivative form that incorporated modifications and innovations and spread worldwide as a competitive sport, culminating in its inclusion as an Olympic sport in 2020.
Although both forms bear the same designation - Karate - they can be considered as two distinct arts. This has happened before, as Kano J. Sensei intentionally did with Judo in relation to Ju-Jutsu.
It is important for the reader to understand that this is not a judgment based on which one is better, or which one is good and which one is bad. We simply need to understand the distinction to decide which one suits you better. These are two distinct approaches: one that is still practiced in Okinawa and can be considered a repository of an ancestral self-defense system, and the other, the form derived from it.
Todi!
Cited References
1 - Nagamine, S. 1998. The Essence of Okinawan Karate-do. Tuttle Publishing 273p.
2 - Hiagaonna, M. 1985. Traditional Karate-DO - Okinawa Goju Ryu Vol. 1 Fundamental Techniques. Sugawara Martial Arts Institute 169 p.
3 - Budd, K & Hokama, T. 2019. Peaceful Warrior: Okinawa Karate: the original MMA. Hurst Goju Ryu & International Kenshikai Organisation 331p.
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