KARATE
True origins of karate could be found in the ancient China
Really many centuries ago the SHAOLIN (the young forest) monastery was born there
Shaolin Kung-Fu (Shaolin Ssu) was born there
Martial arts chinese schools were in touch with archipelago of Ryu Kyu islands' ones
Okinawa, the biggest island of archipelago, was between China and Japan
When the archipelago was composed by independent reigns, Chuzan sovereign SHOASHI managed to submit Nanzan and Okuzan reigns
To avoid uprisings of subjected people he proclamed in 1492 an edict forbidding each citizen to hold weapons
This edict was renewed two centuries later by japanese invaders of Satsuma clan (each village could hold 1 knife, bound to the center of the main square)
And in this time TO TE (Chinese Hand) fighting tecnique was born; since this time many masters had their individual way of teaching
Two important styles were SHORIN and SHOREI; the first was derived from SHAOLIN style and it was based on quick tecniques; the second was more founded on slow but strong movements and breathing had a main rule
The real karate diffusion had begun in 1922, when in Okinawa GICHIN FUNAKOSHI showed a demonstration of his art in front of crown prince; Funakoshi founded the SHOTOKAN karate style (a Shorin style)
One of his students, HIRONORI OTSUKA, founded the style I practise, the WADO RYU (Way of peace); it has now higher positions than Shotokan ones, since Funakoshi's son lowered all Shotokan positions
Other main styles are GO JU RYU (by CHOJUN MIYAGI; it has a strong chinese influence, generally apt to strong muscles) and SHITO RYU (a style based on both SHORIN and SHOREI schools, founded by MABUNI, student of masters ITOSU, of Shorin school, and HIGAHONNA, of Shorei school)
Funakoshi, following the council of JIGORO KANO (founder of JUDO KODOKAN) and NAKAYAMA HAKUDO (famous KENDO master), stayed in Japan in order to teach his style; he had to do many works since life was hard; he changed the "Chinese" karate definition in "Bare" (considering his Zen mentality this term was very important)
Finally in 1941 FUNAKOSHI, after a life full of efforts could see KARATE recognized between Japanese Martial Arts
Today there are hundreds of different karate styles
Even if Gichin Funakoshi told: "Karate is an unique reality and styles are just an illusion: styles don't exist, just KARATE exists"