Karate History: Possible Origins of Karate

Trenton B. Young

Student UTSA
Nidan Shotokan Karate Do
Nidan Goju Ryu Karate Do
Karate History: Possible Origins of Karate

When we consider how karate was introduced to Okinawa, we have various opinions, most without any concrete historical evidence.

Opinions of Chojun Miyagi’s
Chojun Miyagi believed that there was no correct conclusion on the matter of where karate came from. He listed three main opinions starting with “Thirty-six Chinese Immigrants.”

In 1392 (Ming dynasty in China), thirty six Chinese Immigrants came to Okinawa from Fujian province. At that time karate was introduced to Okinawa by Chinese immigrants from Fujian province.

Next is “Oshima Notes”.

In 1762, the merchant ship of the Ryukyu (Okinawa) Kingdom was caught in a heavy storm on the way to Satsuma (now Kagoshima prefecture), and cast ashore on the coast of Oshima, Tosa (now Kochi prefecture). Shiohira Pechin, a high rank official of the ship was an intellectual who lived in Oshima. Tobe wrote down Shiohira’s interesting stories about the Ryukyu Kingdom. His notes were called “Oshima Notes”. The 3rd volume of “Oshima notes” says “Koshankun, a kungfu warrior, came from China to Okinawa bringing his disciples with him.” According to the Notes, at that time people called martial arts “Kumiaijutsu” instead of karate. These notes are the most reliable literature on karate.

Third is “Importation in Keicho Period”.

In 1609 (14tht year of Keicho period), the Shimazu clan of Satsuma (Kagoshima) invaded the Ryukyu Kingdom, and they prohibited possessing weapons by people of Ryukyu. Some believe that karate was created spontaneously due to the cruel oppression by Satsuma. The others insist that karate was not a domestic creation but what was imported from China. I think it is reasonable to consider that karate was a fusion of martial arts from China and “Te”, a native martial art which had already existed, so karate was developed remarkably and even today it is still improved rationally and developed.



We have a few different opinions on origin of karate, but they are popular misconceptions and not worth listening.

Opinions of Mabuni Kenwa

In 1934, Mabuni stated his opinion on the development of karate from his work, Free Offence and Defence: the Art of Self-Protection Karate Kenpo. He said that:

The source of boxing is the ancient Shaolinmonastery at Mount Sung in China’s Honan Province. Shaolin is the historical monastery where the famous Bodhidharma used to meditate facing a wall for no less than nice years. In those days the brave monk, who appeared from India, developed and taught the form “eighteen patterns” as a hygienic method. He did this because, as a result of excessive spiritual practice, the monks had fallen into an unhealthy condition.

In Mabuni’s eyes, this marked the beginning of karate.

Opinions Gathered by Harry Cook from Unknown Sources

Because of Okinawa’s trade with China, Korea, and other small Asian countries at that time, the Okinawan’s were either established small villages at the port of other countries, or delegates from other countries who wouldestablish temporary residencies near Okinawan ports. These ports usually thrived in education, art, and the possible exchanging of home grown martial arts techniques.

The first and most important point to make is that Okinawa karate is not simply Chinese Boxing performed by Okinawans. While Chinese systems supplied a great deal of theoretical information as well as actual technical input, the Okinawans also drew on other methods either developed bythemselves or derived from non-Chinese sources. Whatever systems of Chinese martial arts were learned by Okinawans to whatever level of skill, they were not passed on unchanged by the teachers. It is impossible to find Chinese styles taught in Okinawa unchanged.


These are the opinions and statements that usually accompany the explanation of where martial arts and karate came from. However, we do know that modern day karate started on the island of Okinawa, and much influence in the world of karate comes from the culture of Japan.


Bibliography

Harry, Cook. Shotokan Karate: A Precise History.  First Edition, 2001. pg 7.

Miyagi, Chojun. Historical Outline of Karate-Do, Martial Arts of Ryukyu. Translated by
Sanzinsoo.http://seinenkai.com/articles/sanzinsoo/outline.html.

Wittwer, Henning. Fighting Arts Magazine: Bodhidharma, Shaolin and Chinese Boxing in the Eyes of Japan’s Karate Pioneers. pg 56.