Many Okinawans traveled to China to learn about the Chinese methods
of fighting and then would return to Okinawa and combine their new
learning with the existing Okinawan fighting Arts. This method
became the basis for many styles which exist today. Any time a
person studies more than one style, becomes skilled enough to teach,
and begins to teach a combination of those styles; he has the
dilemma of what name to call his teachings. To be totally correct he
cannot call his methods by the name of only one of the styles he is
combining, but must create a new name.
Shorei came from Hsing Yi and Kosho Karate Kempo of Shuri-Te. Hsing
Yi was a combination of six Chinese arts, three hard or external and
three soft or internal. Kosho Karate Kempo or Shuri-Te was the
existing Okinawan art taught by Choki Motobu.
According to legend, the evolution of Karate began over a thousand
years ago, possibly as early as the 5th century B.C. when
Bodhidharma, a Buddhist Monk arrived in Shaolin-si, China from India
and taught Zen Buddhism. He also introduced a set of exercises
designed to strengthen the mind and body. Bodhidharma's teachings
later became the basis for the majority of Chinese martial arts. In
truth, the origins of Karate appear to be somewhat obscure and
little is known about the early development of Karate until it
appeared in Okinawa. Sometime between the years 1784 and 1903, the
term karate replaced that of Te. This new name reflected the
synthesis of the native Okinawan martial arts of Te with the
influence of the Chinese Martial Arts the Okinawans had been exposed
to.
Martial Arts are needed by young
people more today than ever before. It seems as if discipline is
more relaxed in schools and in homes. Listen to Sensei Al Brown's
commentary.
Click here.
