Dojo Handbook | Fields' United House of Karate

A Brief History of Karate

Karate traces its ancient roots to northern China some 1400 years ago among the Shoalin monks training in Zen Buddhism under Bodhidharma, who went there from India. This ‘Shaolin Boxing’ spread throughout China and extended to Japan and Okinawa as Buddhism and trade routes expanded.

Shotokan Karate was developed and popularized by Master Gichin Funakoshi. Born in 1868 in Shuri, Okinawa, young Funakoshi secretly studied Shorei-ryu under Yasutsune Azato and later Shorin-ryu under Yasutsune Itosu, a friend of Azato’s.

Mastering and combining these two styles, Funakoshi began teaching what was then called ‘Okinawa-Te’. He later coined his style ‘Karate-Do,’ meaning “the way of the empty hand.”

In 1922 Funakoshi was invited to demonstrate Karate in Tokyo, Japan at the First National Athletic Exhibition hosted by the Ministry of Education of Japan. This began the introduction of Karate into the educational curriculum of Japan.

After teaching in several places including an artists’ guild and Takushoku University, Funakoshi’s students erected the first free standing dojo. This dojo was named ‘Shotokan’ after Funakoshi’s pen name, ‘Shoto,’ which means ‘pine waves,’ and ‘Kan,’ meaning ‘house’. Funakoshi’s style of Karate also took this name among his students after his death.

In 1948 Funakoshi established the Japan Karate Association as a means of promoting and further developing the art of Karate. He remained the head of the JKA until his death in 1957.

Nakayama was a senior student of the JKA and took over after Funakoshi’s death. He oversaw substantial, world-wide expansion of Shotokan including its introduction to the United States. Nakayama led the JKA until his death in 1974.

Twenty Precepts of Karate

Do not forget that karate-do begins and ends with rei.
There is no first strike in karate.
Karate stands on the side of justice.
First know yourself, then know others.
Mentality over technique.
The mind must be set free.
Calamity springs from carelessness.
Karate goes beyond the dojo.
Karate is a lifelong pursuit.
Apply the way of karate to all things. Therein lies its beauty.
Karate is like boiling water: without heat, it returns to its tepid state..
Do not think of winning. Think, rather, of not losing.
Make adjustments according to your opponent.
The outcome of a battle depends on how one handles emptiness and fullness (weakness and strength).
Think of your opponent’s hands and feet as swords.
When you step beyond your own gate, you face a million enemies.
Kamae (ready stance) is for beginners; later, one stands in shizentai (natural stance).
Perform kata exactly; actual combat is another matter.
Do not forget the employment or withdrawal of power, the extension or contraction of the body, the swift or leisurely application of technique.
Be constantly mindful, diligent, and resourceful in your pursuit of the Way.

Dojo Kun: The Shotokan Creed

Seek Perfection of Character

Be Faithful

Endeavor

Respect Others

Refrain from Violent Behavior

Japanese Counting

List of Kata – Translations

Heian Shodan — Peaceful Mind, Number One
Heian Nidan — Peaceful Mind, Number Two
Heian Sandan — Peaceful Mind, Number Three
Heian Yondan — Peaceful Mind, Number Four
Heian Godan — Peaceful Mind, Number Five

Jutte — Ten Hands

Empi — Flying Swallow

Onique

Tekki Shodan — Iron Horse Riding, Number One
Tekki Nidan — Iron Horse Riding, Number Two
Tekki Sandan — Iron Horse Riding, Number Three

Sanchin — Three Battles

Bassai Dai — To Penetrate a Fortress

Kanku Dai (Kwanku) — To Look at the Sky

Taikyoku shodan — First Cause, Number One
Taikyoku Nidan — First Cause, Number Two
Taikyoku Sandan — First Cause, Number Three

Jion — Temple Bells

Unsu — Cloud Hands

Gankaku — Crane on a Rock

Hangetsu — Crescent Moon

Common Japanese Terminology

Karate-Do — Way of the Empty Hand
Shotokan — House of Shoto
Shoto — Pine Waves (Funakoshi’s Pen Name)

Judo — Gentle Way
Aikido — Way of the Harmonized Spirit
Kobudo — Way of the Weapon
Shihan — Teacher of Teachers
Sensei — Teacher
Sempai — Senior Student/Big Brother
Karateka — Karate Student

Dojo — Training Hall
Gi — Training Uniform
Obi — Belt

Kata — Prearranged sequences of techniques simulating a combat situation
Kihon — Floor Movement
Kumite — Sparring

Kiai — Death Shout
Rei — Bow
Haijime — Begin
Yame — Stop
Yoi — Ready/Attention
Mo Ichi Do — One More Time

Hachi Dachi — Formal Attention/Ready Stance
Heisoku Dachi — Feet Together Stance
Kiba Dachi — Horse Riding Stance
Zenkutsu Dachi — Forward Natural Stance
Kokutsu Dachi — Back Stance
Nekoashi Dachi — Cat Leg Stance
Fudo Dachi — Immovable Stance
Seiza — Kneel

Arigato — Thank You
Hai — Yes
Oss — Well Done
Do Itashimashite — You’re Welcome

Dojo Rules

> No food allowed in the dojo.
> Bring own water bottle or sport drink to class.
> Use the restroom before class begins.
> No jewelry is to be worn during class.

(flat wedding bands excepted)

> Full uniforms are to be worn at all times.
> No horse playing in the dojo.
> No sparring or grappling without supervision.
> Fingernails and toenails are to be trimmed at all times.
> Long hair is to be tied back.
> Reasonable hygiene is to be maintained at all times.
> Equipment bags are to be kept off the main floor.
> No foul language is to be used in the dojo.

(including taking the Lord’s Name in vain).

Dojo Etiquette

> Karateka are to bow entering and exiting the dojo.
> Belts are to be taken off before leaving dojo.
> Belts are not to be dropped on the floor.
> Belts are not to be washed.
> Uniforms are to be clean and free of wrinkles.
> Karateka are to face away from the class to adjust their uniforms.
> Karateka are to adjust their uniforms only at breaks in the training session, never during floor movement or kata.
> Karateka are to address black belts as “Sensei”.
> Karateka are to address brown belts as “Sempai”.
> Shoes are to be removed and placed out of the way before stepping onto the main floor.
> Karateka are not to sit down during the training session unless instructed to do so.
> Karateka are not to leave the dojo during class without expressed permission from Sensei.
> It is the responsibility of the Green Belt ranks to clean the dojo floor each day.
> Karateka arriving late or out of uniform are to line up in the back of the class.

Free Sparring Rules

> Full Sparring Gear Must be Worn
> Only Light to Medium Contact is to be Used
> No Face Contact
> No Kicks or Strikes Below the Belt

(Ankle to Ankle Sweeps are Permitted)

> No Uncontrolled Techniques
> No Blind Techniques
> No Knee or Elbow Strikes
> No Grabbing the Leg
> No Ground Fighting
> No Joint-Lock or Joint-Manipulation Techniques
> Jacket Grabs are Permitted Only with One-Second Follow-Ups
> Matches are Won by First to Three Points or the Most in 2 Minutes
> Point Targets are:

– Front Torso

– Ribs

– Head (Except Face)

– Kidneys (Only for Adult Black Belts)

Financial & Community Policies

> To maintain Fields’ UHK’s fiscal responsibility, monthly tuition payments are non-refundable and are due on the first (1^st) of each month. A $15 late fee will be incurred after the fifth (5^th) of each month unless other arrangements are mutually agreed upon.

> To maintain safety, reputation, and confidence of integrity at Fields’ UHK, parents are not to drop children off and leave unless there is another parent present who will be staying through the duration of the training session. Parents are not to leave at the end of class if there are children waiting to be picked up and no other adults are present.

> To maintain up-to-date communication at Fields’ UHK, karateka and parents are encouraged to…

– Sign up for text updates by texting @WRKarate to 81010

– Sign up for email updates by sending an email to WRKarate@mail.remind.com

– Join the Fields’ UHK Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/FieldsKarate

– Visit frequently the Fields’ UHK website at www.FieldsKarate.com

Required Equipment

> Karate Uniform (Gi) – By Yellow Belt

> Personal Sparring Gear – By Blue Belt

– Head Gear

– Mouth Piece

– Gloves

– Boots

– Athletic Cup (Boys & Men Only)

Recommended Resources

Books

> Karate-Do Kyohan by Gichin Funakoshi

> Karate-Do: My Way of Life by Gichin Funakoshi

Gear

You are encouraged to support our dojo by buying your gear at Fields’ Karate. We stock or can order gear from the suppliers listed below. Browse the links below and see Sensei Sid to place an order.

> Century Martial Arts

> Macho Martial Arts

> Asian World of Martial Arts