Karate-do is a Japanese form of unarmed combat, its literal translation means ‘way of the empty hand’.

There are many types of fighting arts which originated in the orient some of which have a history being over 2000 years old.

The island of Okinawa, which lies between mainland Japan and Formosa, for various historical and geographical reasons came into contact with many of these arts, China was especially influential in the development of self defence in Okinawa.

Many techniques were taken from the Chinese styles and were incorporated into the self defence system native to Okinawa. In 1609 the Japanese invaded Okinawa and banned the use and the carrying of all weapons.

The warrior class now had to train themselves using and improving the ancient techniques of unarmed combat. Secrecy was of the utmost importance as the punishment for even practicing a martial art was very severe.

Training would be done at night while the oppressors slept, the practitioners would train in their sleeping garments, which could possibly be the predecessor to the modern karate suit (gi).

There are many styles of karate all of which are welcome in the TOKUSHIMA BUDO COUNCIL.

The Director for Karate Sensei Keith Prole is graded in the style of SHOTOKAN.

The Shotokan system was founded by sensei FUNAKOSHI GICHIN.

The late master was born in Shuri Okinawa in 1868 as a young boy he trained in the styles of shuri-te and naha-te it was from the joining of these two styles that shotokan would be born.

The late master wrote a lot of poetry and the word Shotokan is derived from the master’s pen name of Shoto combined with the word Kan, which is the word for school.

Today Shotokan applies to the type of karate as originally taught by master Funakoshi. SENSEI FUNAKOSHI GICHIN passed away in 1957 at the age of 88.

At the TOKUSHIMA BUDO COUNCIL we strive to follow in the footsteps of the masters