British Shotokan Karate Institute UK

What is Karate? The subject is much too broad for the scope of this website, but our links page leads to some comprehensive sources of information. It must be borne in mind that opinions vary greatly on just about every aspect of karate. Many sources of information will claim to know all the answers. But how can a beginner know if he is getting 'real' karate training? Serious and regular training is probably the best way to answer your own questions about karate. However, research through books, the internet, and any other sources of information you can find can be invaluable. Absorb as many different opinions as you can find, and consult you instructor or develop your own ideas as to what is 'right' or 'wrong'. Sometimes there is more than one right answer.

A word of caution

Some organisations claim to teach Shotokan Karate, when in fact their karate has drifted far away from the traditional Shotokan style. When you begin to learn karate, make sure that you establish your instructor's qualifications. Take opportunities to train with other dojo, and work out for yourself what style of teaching suits your needs the best. Beware of dojo that discourage their members from training at other clubs. Are they afraid that you may find out that their knowledge is limited, or abilities doubtful?

A major goal of the BSKI is to go back to the original teachings of Nakayama Sensei, who was Gichin Funakoshi’s most loyal student and head of the famous Japan Karate Association (JKA) of old. It would be very hard to follow the Shotokan of Gichin Funakoshi today, though the basic principles are the same. Nakayama Sensei moved the system on, making it the most popular dynamic style in the world. Unfortunately, in the early days of Shotokan coming to the west, techniques were changed in order to make them easier for the westerner to understand, with a view to teaching the correct form of the techniques once an understanding had been gained. This was a grave mistake, as in many cases the techniques were never corrected, and karate-ka ‘perfected’ various ‘training’ techniques. Through the years as Shotokan grew and more senior instructors emerged, the original techniques of Shotokan seemed to have been forgotten or in some cases never learned in the first place. An example is found in the use of basic blocks. Some instructors just do not understand the technical use or the application, such as their use in attacking or defending. Another example is the use of front stance, in its narrow form (not shoulder width apart), which is very prominent in Nakayama’s kata. For certain kata movements, Nakayama taught to pivot on the heels - for example, when moving from kiba dachi to zenkutsu dachi – a technique alien to some senior instructors today

What is karate?