Boddhidharma (Japanese-Darama Taishi; Chinese – Ta’mo)

The legend of Boddhidharma took place in the 6th century. It was said that a Buddhist monk, (said to be born in Congee-Veram near Madras, in Southern India) traveled by foot from India, crossing the Himalayas to China to preach Buddhism. He arrived at the Capital City of Chin-Lung where he met Emperor Wu.

In his discussions with Emperor Wu, they differed on the method of achieving enlightenment (Nirvana). This infuriated the emperor whereby Boddhidharma was banished to the temple at Shaolin-shu.

Upon his arrival at the temple, he found that the monks there were physically weak thus preventing them from being able to defend themselves against bandits and robbers who often raided the temple.

In order to strengthen the monks, Boddhidharma taught them a series of exercises and martial arts techniques based on the books Hsuein-sui-ching and I-chin-ching. These books dealt with a compilation of Indian self-defense techniques in existence for more than 3,000 years. The techniques learned from these books were later to be known as Shaolin-Shu fighting which was eventually exported to Okinawa.

Okinawa - the birthplace of Karatedo

During the 7th to 8th century, Ming Dynasty trade flourished between China and Okinawa (740 miles east of China). It is said that this trade relationships between the two kingdoms enabled the Chinese martial arts to develop along side with an indigenous Okinawan martial art called “te”. In spite of the fact that practice of martial arts was banned in Okinawa by Kin Soshin in 1492 and later again by the invading Satsuma Clan in 1609, the development of karate was still pursued through closely guarded secret practices.

Through the years “te” continued to develop. The development of karate in Okinawa in the 19th century gravitated into its three major cities where distinct styles of that time developed. Naha-te originated by Kanryo Higaonna had two famous students: Chojun Miyagi (founder of Goju) and Kenwa Mabuni (founder of Shitoryu). These two masters strongly influenced the spread of their respective styles to Japan mainland. Shurite was said to be started by Sokon Matsumura. Among his more famous students were Ankoh Itosu and Ankoh Asato who were both teachers of Funakoshi Gichin (Shotokan). Kenwa Mabuni (Shitoryu) was also a student of Itosu. Another famous student of Itosu was Choshin Chibana who founded Shorinryu. Tomari-te had two famous masters: Kishin Teruya and Karyuu Uku. But the one who is known to have propagated it was their student, Kosaku Matsumora and later his student Kotathu Iha.

It should be noted that although Ankoh Itosu has been known to be a student of Matsumura Sokon (Shurite), he also took lessons under Nagahama (Naha-te) and Gusukuma (Tomari-te).

In mainland Japan, karate was introduced by Gichin Funakoshi (Shotokan) in 1922. He was later followed in 1928 by Chogun Miyagi (Gojuryu) and Kenwa Mabuni (Shitoryu). Later on, Hironori Otsuka, a student of Funakoshi Gichin, founded Wadoryu in Japan mainland. Otsuka also studied under Kenwa Mabuni and Choki Motobu.

From then on karate has flourished to become the world’s most popular martial art.