Martial Arts With Master Toshi
Weekly classes
Mondays, Wednesdays & Saturdays
All Ages & Experience Levels Welcome!
The History of Karate
With Master Toshi
Karate is a Japanese term which translates into βempty handβ (Kara = empty and Te = hand). It is a weaponless martial art passed down through history from the island of Okinawa, which is located south of Japan. It was here in Okinawa during the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries that farmers developed a martial art utilizing their hands and the few farming tools that they possessed.
The martial arts of Okinawa continued to develop through time, and in the early part of this century Gichen Funakoshi - known as the father of modern Karate - migrated to Tokyo, Japan from Okinawa. He founded Shotokan Karate which is the basic foundation of hard style Karate known in Japan today.
The four major styles of Karate in Japan include Shotokan, Wado-Ryu, Shito-Ryu (these are are hard styles), and Goju-Ryu (a soft style).
The style of Karate that Master Toshi will be teaching is an eclectic style of the three hard styles as they are all very similar. His knowledge & training in these styles is extensive and he has a lifetime of practice with the senior members of these styles. His background also includes knowledge from Korean and Chinese martial artists!