Stages in the karate evolution
The Okinawan Ancient Martial Art has passed through several developmental stages accordingly to several environmental factors: geopolitics, economic, cultural and social factors as well as the changing security constraints throughout history.
- Official/Military/Security stage - Ryukyū-di
- First Civilian stage - Okinawan-te (Okinawan Karate)
- Scound civilian stage – Karate
- Modern Karate
Official/Military/Security stage - Ryukyū-di
The first stage belongs to the official security/military professional circle.
In the subsequent stages, the local martial arts moved to the civil circle and there too, fundamental changes were made.
Due to its geographical location and extensive bilateral ties, Ryukyū Kingdom played a major regional intermediary in the trade relations among the kingdoms such as China, Japan, Korea, Siam and many others.
In the 12th-15th centuries, Anji/Aji (Feudal Lord) began to build fortresses throughout Ryukyū kingdom. The territorial disputes ended with the reunification of the kingdom by King Shō Hashi 尚巴志 who established a central government in 1429. He set up the “Chikosai”, police force. [
Some sources note that the policeman "Ufuchiku" was equipped with “Sai”].
In addition Special Forces were set up, including educated officials from upper classes. They were responsible for the security of important personalities, the royal family, key places, diplomatic and trade envoys locally and overseas.
Combat skills were both with weapons and empty-handed. It is important to note that during this period, the preoccupation with bare-hands-combat as well as weapons were together and not split as it is today. There were no styles or schools at that time, and the practice was done within internal professional security frameworks. This is the stage before the Meiji Restoration in 1868.
Influences on local combat were mainly from China and Japan. Ryukyūan delegations visited in China mainly in two locations, one in Fujian/South China, where the commerce was conducted. Warehouses, dwellings and various facilities were built where the merchants and members of the delegation were resided. The second place the delegations approached with small diplomatic group was Beijing. Of course, the security arrangements were coordinated between the Chinese security forces and Ryukyū. In addition in the 14th century, the famous Chinese settlement, Kumumura (Kuninda) was established in Ryukyū, which provided a great source of knowledge in many fields, including combat skills.
Japanese influence was somewhat different beginning in the seventeenth century, when the Satsuma took over the islands, and even more intensified in the following century. There are historical records attesting to the security arrangements for merchant ships and diplomatic missions sent by the Kingdom of Ryukyū. There are also official documents and written testimonies that include information on the security arrangements in the islands, including warehouses location of weapons. The weapons included helmets, shields, bayonets, grenades, swords and even gunpowder. We also know that in the 18th century the Satsuma was an important source of information for the local samurai (unlike the Japanese Samurai) who engaged with security. They have learned sword art at the Jigen-ryū School. The most famous persona of which is directly related to Karate is Bushi Matsumura Sokon. It is an excellent example of the external influences on the local combat. As we know, Matsumura Sokon also served as the king's security guard and in the course of his duties he also visited Fujian and Beijing. He created a methodical, technical and ethical framework in order to pass the knowledge on to the next generation.
Matsumura Sokon represents an important crossroad of the transition from the official security/military cycle to the civil circle.
Note that unlike the modern Iai- dō, Koryū Iai-jutsu also includes empty-handed combat skills (Koryū-jujutsu is significantly different than modern Jujutsu).
These skills were added and adapted to the unique local combat, Ryukyū-di/Ryukyū-kobudo.
So we witness to two important facts:
One is the external influences on local combat, with a unique development stemming from a pragmatic cultural perception as well as from the specific local needs and the environmental conditions/constraints.
Another significant fact is the bond between weapons and bare-hands. In fact, these two skills developed and were essentially one combat-system/martial-art, and were used by the same Security Personnel.
More about the historical and practical connection between Karate and Kobudo in the
following article.
Okinawan-te
The next stage took place after the Meiji Restoration towards the end of the 19th century. This is an important stage in which the local fighting moves from the official professional circle to the civil circle. The kingdom of Ryukyū ceased to exist, the needs changed and the local martial arts underwent a significant transformation and adapted itself to this era. I call this stage: Okinawan-te, which was the stage in which martial arts were practiced, and some of the famous teachers visited southern China, mainly in Fujian, where martial arts were tool for physical and mental strengthening and self-defence on a personal level. Martial arts at this time were still held dynamic characteristics and intensity. There was still no defined school and no categorization of styles or kata, although it was the beginning of a parallel development process, usually with information sharing among teachers in Okinawa.
Karate
The third stage took place at the beginning of the 20th century, when the Okinawan-te adapted itself to the environmental and social conditions that were created by the intense Japanese mobility process. Okinawan-te received the official Japanese orientated name: “Karate” 空手 with the suffix "Dō" 道. The name indeed reflects the rapid Japanezation process that the Okinawan society underwent during this period. Various styles are created, Dojō (s) were opened and Karate entered into the education system to prepare and strengthen the new generation physically and mentally. Karate became popular and an inseparable part of the Okinawan culture. Again methods are changed significantly. The pace becomes less dynamic and more systematic. Karate undergoes a process of classification and significant changes in the atmosphere, style, technique, kata and the applicative content. The differentiation between Shorin-ryu小林流 (Shuri-te) and Shorei-ryu 昭霊流 (Naha-te) and between the school s was growing.
Teachers and important figures such as Nakasone Genwa and Mabuni Kenwa have even warned about this phenomenon, in a book published in 1938, Kobo Kenpo Karate-do Nyumon, Mabuni claims that the Okinawan martial art was only partially presented in Tokyo. He further adds that this fact creates a lack of awareness of the original character of the Okinawan karate and warns against misunderstanding and misuse, pointing to inaccuracies that may mislead and route to a technical and methodological misconception.
Modern Karate
The fourth stage began after World War II, when modern karate gained momentum. In Japan karate was given a rigid structural character. After the karate has slipped into the Western world, karate has become athletic and competitive. Environment factors, needs and goals have changed. Karate had to attract an audience in order to become popular, hence to adapt itself again to the new era. Karate should now look more symmetrical (e.g. start and end kata in the same place), look “nicer” in motion like dance or gymnastics, to challenge virtuosity and to go through standardization. Basic motifs such as the production of power have been abandoned in favor of the new achievements and goals.
Each stage in the development of karate is significant because of the fundamental changes that characterized the process of evolution of the ancient Ryukyū-di, which became Okinawan-te and then changed to Karate. These changes are not only cosmetic, but also expressed practically in all aspects. Okinawan Karate is fundamentally different from modern karate physical, mental, methodical, internal body mechanics and power production, concept, ethics and atmosphere.
The historical and practical processes of karate development are explained in detail and depth in the book: Karate Uchina-Di 沖 縄 縄: The evolution of karate. The book thoroughly explores the development of karate from various aspects: history, methodology, culture, philosophy, ethics, heritage, military and civil circles. The book separates legends and narratives from reality, discusses the various sources, analyzes, offers explanations and stretches clear lines about the changes that led to the Okinawan fighting for Karate.
The book is available for purchase on Amazon.
Itzik Cohen
29/11/2018
Additional info
Back to Articles List