History of Karate
(Japanese
version) Although we
know that Karate (Kara-empty, Te-hand) is a Japanese Art of self-defense, If we
were to trace its origin, we will find out that this art is descendant of the
Chinese art of Kempo. Since Okinawa was in constant contact with both China and
Japan, this art of self-defense was imported along with many other cultures of
china. Okinawa took great interest in the art that they combined it with their
native form of hand to hand fighting to produce Okinawa-Te (Okinawa-hand). When
the famous King Hashi of Okinawa of the Sho Dynasty succeeded in uniting Ryu
Kyu Island into one kingdom, in which Okinawa is a part, he banned all weapons
to ensure his rule and to discourage any by his successors for another two hundred
(200) years. As a result, this empty handed art of self-defense called
Okinawa-Te underwent a tremendous development. In 1869, a boy was born in shuri Okinawa who, at the age of 11, began studying this art under two top masters of the art. In time, he became an expert in his own right and was credited as the man who introduced Karate to Japan. This man was Funakoshi Gichin, the founder of the present day KARATE. However, there was a true champion in
Okinawa whose every name chills all Martial arts practitioners. This man was
Chuko Mabuto, who proclaimed himself to be 11th degree blackbelt and
the greatest fighter in this planet. He stands 7 feet 4 inches, a very strong
man and was indeed undefeated in the whole island of Okinawa. He was a man who
vows to no one nor has he the patience to wait. Due to his mountainous and huge
built, he mastered only the Nai Han Chin forms, which is suited for heavy and
slow moving people. He mastered it in such a way that it became a part of him.
This was the very reason why Nai Han Chin forms became so famous that
practically all-authentic karate schools in the world now universally adapt it. Chuko Mabuto was noted to be ruthless,
cruel and shows no mercy in the field of combat. He has very peculiar
characteristics. He takes no order from any man. He was a peasant and an
illiterate man. He was not chosen by the Okinawan Government to introduce
Okinawa-Te to Japan because of his personal background and temper. The elders
and the Government Officials feared that the Japanese will surely shoot him if
he were sent to Japan. As a matter of fact Chuko Mabuto died a crazy man. Funakoshi Gichin was chosen by the
government officials to go to Japan because he way very educated man and
schoolmaster. |