Shotokan History

O' Sensei Gichin Funakoshi

O’ Sensei Gichin Funakoshi

Shotokan is a style of karate brought to Japan by O’ Sensei Gichin Funakoshi.  He is known as the father of modern karate.  Funakoshi was a teacher from Okinawa and a student of several karate and kobudo styles.  You can see the elements of Shorei-ryu, Shorin-ryu, and Kobudo in its movements.  Training is usually divided into kihon (basics), kata (forms), and kumite (sparring).  Shotokan can be recognized by its deep stances, strong basics, fluid kata, and its fast kumite.

Funakoshi was a great philosopher as well as a great technician.  He established the Twenty Precepts of Karate and the Dojo Kun.  These principles are based on Bushido and Zen, and form the guiding principles to practice the art.  Funakoshi wrote: “The ultimate aim of Karate lies not in victory or defeat, but in the perfection of the character of the participant.”

In 1924, Funakoshi adopted the coloured belt ranking system and gi of Judo and awarded the first Shodans in the system to Tokuda, Hironori Ōtsuka, Akiba, Shimizu, Hirose, Makoto Gima, and Shinyō Kasuya.  To improve and expand karate in America, Funakoshi sent Masatoshi Nakayama, Hidetaka Nishiyama, and Tsutomu Ohshima overseas.

Master Hideteka Nishiyama

Master Hideteka Nishiyama

Students of Funakoshi, including the late Master Hidetaka Nishiyama, helped establish the Japan Karate Association in 1949.  Nishiyama was appointed to the JKA Board of Directors in 1951.  He was responsible for the JKA’s training program for instructors, which he continued to oversee until the late 1950s.  By 1955 the JKA honbu dojo was built in Tokyo.

In 1960, Nishiyama published his first book, Karate: The Art of Empty-Hand Fighting.  This book has been recognized as one of definitive texts on Shotokan karate, selling over 300,000 copies.  In 1961 he moved to the United States and founded the All American Karate Federation (AAKF).  In 1974 he became Executive Director for the International Amateur Karate Federation.  In 1985 the IAKF became the International Traditional Karate Federation (ITKF) and Nishiyama was its first president.

Through the ITKF Nishiyama Sensei was able to keep the budo aspect of karate in competition.  He made a profound distinction between traditional karate and sport.  Conventional rules changed the spirit of karate: to defeat your opponent, rather than act in self-defense.  Traditional karate rules were formed utilizing the practice of “Shiai”, where practitioners test and learn from each other.  The traditional karate rules require that each technique is demonstrated with enough power to deliver a “finishing blow”, but with enough control not to injure the opponent.  These standards are not required in other sports.  Keeping this aspect in competition allows for the training methods taught in the dojo to be carried over into competition.  Master Nishiyama was able to create new tournament categories using this philosophy, such as en-bu, fuku-go, and kogo-kumite.

Master Masami Tsuruoka

Master Masami Tsuruoka

Shotokan was brought to Newfoundland in the ’70s by the late Master Masami Tsuruoka.  Tsuruoka was a student of Master Tsuyoshi Chitose, founder of the Chito-Ryu style of karate.  He recieved his shodan from Master Chitose in 1949.  Tsuruoka opened Canada’s first karate dojo in Toronto in 1958 and organized Canada’s first karate tournament in 1962.  He was a founding member of the National Karate Association, which formed in 1964. In 1965, Tsuruoka sensei received his 5th Dan from Master Chitose. After running the Chito-ryu Karate Association since 1962, Master Tsuruoka created his own organization Tsuruoka Karate-Do Federation in 1974.  On May 27, 1998 Master Tsuruoka received the Order of Ontario from Lieutenant Governor, Hilary Weston.  Today, Sensei Wing Au 7th Dan is the head of Tsuruoka Karate-Do Newfoundland.

Sensei Joe Gillies

Sensei Joe Gillies

Under the guidance of Master Tsuruoka, Sensei Joe Gillies started the Newfoundland Karate Association in 1978.  At this time, the NKA was the organizing body for Karate in Newfoundland and Labrador in Canada, and the sport-governing institution for Karate in that province.  The NKA spent 15 years (1970-1985) following the teachings of Master Tsuruoka.  The NKA spent another 15 years (1985-2000) following the teachings of the late Master Hidetaka Nishiyama, one of O’Sensei’s direct students.

Sensei Bruce Lee, Wayne Lee, Ern Howell, Paul Bell, and David Bell

Senseis Bruce Lee, Wayne Lee, Ern Howell, Paul Bell, and David Bell 7th Dan

In 2001, the NKA left Master Nishiyama’s organization.  The NKA continued on their own.  In 2007, the five NKA Senseis Bruce Lee, Wayne Lee, Ern Howell, Paul Bell, and David Bell, were awarded 6th Dan by Master Tsuruoka.  The NKA have taught thousands of students, hosted many tournaments, and promoted many students to black level and beyond.  The NKA is now an independent organization that holds its own seminars and awards its own ranks.

Sensei Michelle Critch 4th Dan

Sensei Michelle Critch 4th Dan

Today, Sensei Michelle Critch, 4th Dan, is the technical director and head coach for Nishiyama karate in Newfoundland.  After the departure of the NKA, Sensei Critch continued with the International Traditional Karate Federation under the direction of Sensei Rick Jorgenson, 7th Dan, chairman, and technical director.  In 2014, there was an organizational change within the ITKF and the World Traditional Karate-Do Federation was formed.  Now, under the direction of Sensei Avi Rokah, 8th Dan, the tradition of Nishiyama karate in Newfoundland continues!  Sonya Piercey, senpai for Sensei Critch, had the privilege of becoming the first Shodan in Canada under the WTKF.  Miss Sonya was graded on May 4, 2014 in Lewisporte, NL by Sensei Marik Minarik, 6th Dan and technical director for both Traditional Karate-Do Institute Canada and the National Traditional Karate Federation Canada.  In 2022, a new organization was created, The World Budo Karate Association.  The WBKA is a non-political, neutral and non-profit organization.