FREE! Click here to Join FunTrivia. Thousands of games, quizzes, and lots more!
Quiz about Shotokan Karate History
Quiz about Shotokan Karate History

Shotokan Karate History Trivia Quiz


Shotokan is one of the most popular karate styles in the world. Test your knowledge on the history of this style of karate.

A multiple-choice quiz by NewBudo. Estimated time: 5 mins.
  1. Home
  2. »
  3. Quizzes
  4. »
  5. Sports Trivia
  6. »
  7. Martial Arts
  8. »
  9. Karate

Author
NewBudo
Time
5 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
362,921
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Tough
Avg Score
6 / 10
Plays
195
- -
Question 1 of 10
1. Who is known as the founder of Shotokan karate? He is also known as "The Father of Modern Karate". Hint


Question 2 of 10
2. The Japan Karate Association (JKA) is one of the biggest and well known Shotokan karate organizations in the world. Who was the first Chief Instructor of the JKA in Japan? Hint


Question 3 of 10
3. In what year was the Japan Karate Association established? Hint


Question 4 of 10
4. Hirokazu Kanazawa is a well known Shotokan karate master. Which well known international Shotokan karate organization did he establish in 1977? Hint


Question 5 of 10
5. Who was the winner of the kumite championship at the first JKA Open Tournament, which was held in 1957? Hint


Question 6 of 10
6. Keinosuke Enoeda was Chief Instructor of the Karate Union of Great Britain (KUGB) until his death in 2003. His nickname was "Tora". What does "Tora" mean? Hint


Question 7 of 10
7. Within Shotokan karate we find the five Heian kata. These kata were originally known as the Pinan kata but were later renamed by Gichin Funakoshi. Who is credited as being the creator of the five Pinan/Heian kata? Hint


Question 8 of 10
8. What does the term "Shotokan" mean? Hint


Question 9 of 10
9. Karate developed around three main areas on Okinawa. These areas were known as Naha, Shuri and Tomari. The three main systems of karate which developed on Okinawa took their names from these areas: Naha-te, Shuri-te and Tomari-te. Which one of these three had the biggest influence on the development of Shotokan karate? Hint


Question 10 of 10
10. How many kata were included in the original JKA syllabus by Masatoshi Nakayama? Hint



(Optional) Create a Free FunTrivia ID to save the points you are about to earn:

arrow Select a User ID:
arrow Choose a Password:
arrow Your Email:




Most Recent Scores
Sep 18 2024 : Guest 139: 4/10
Sep 02 2024 : Milikia: 6/10

Score Distribution

quiz
Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. Who is known as the founder of Shotokan karate? He is also known as "The Father of Modern Karate".

Answer: Gichin Funakoshi

Funakoshi Sensei is credited as being the founder of the Shotokan style of karate although he himself was never in favor of classifying karate into "styles". Kenwa Mabuni was the founder of Shito-Ryu karate, Choki Motobu was the founder of Motobu-Ryu and Chojin Miyagi was the founder of Goju-Ryu karate.
2. The Japan Karate Association (JKA) is one of the biggest and well known Shotokan karate organizations in the world. Who was the first Chief Instructor of the JKA in Japan?

Answer: Masatoshi Nakayama

Masatoshi Nakayama was a prominent student of Gichin Funakoshi. He was also responsible for many of the changes which were made to the original karate which Funakoshi taught on mainlamd Japan. At the time of the formation of the JKA, Funakoshi was 80 years old and held a position equivalent to emeritus chief instructor. Nakayama was designated as chief instructor. Isao Obata and Hidetaka Nishiyama were also two very prominent Shotokan karateka who were also involved with establishing the JKA.
3. In what year was the Japan Karate Association established?

Answer: 1949

The JKA was formed on 27 May 1949 by senior Shotokan students who trained under Gichin Funakoshi. Among these were Masatoshi Nakayama, Isao Obata and Hidetaka Nishiyama.
4. Hirokazu Kanazawa is a well known Shotokan karate master. Which well known international Shotokan karate organization did he establish in 1977?

Answer: Shotokan Karate-Do International Federation (SKIF)

Kanazawa left the JKA in 1977 to form the Shotokan Karate-Do International Federation (SKIF). The SKIF maintained Shotokan karate as its core but also introduced elements of Tai Chi Chuan into its training.
5. Who was the winner of the kumite championship at the first JKA Open Tournament, which was held in 1957?

Answer: Hirokazu Kanazawa

Kanazawa won the kumite event with a broken hand! He was promoted to 10th Dan in 2000.
6. Keinosuke Enoeda was Chief Instructor of the Karate Union of Great Britain (KUGB) until his death in 2003. His nickname was "Tora". What does "Tora" mean?

Answer: Tiger

Enoeda won the JKA All Japan Championship in 1963 after defeating another well known karateka, Hiroshi Shirai, in the final. He earned the nickname "Tora", or Tiger, after Nakayama described his fighting ability.
7. Within Shotokan karate we find the five Heian kata. These kata were originally known as the Pinan kata but were later renamed by Gichin Funakoshi. Who is credited as being the creator of the five Pinan/Heian kata?

Answer: Anko Itosu

The original Pinan kata were created on Okinawa by Anko Itosu, one of Funakoshi's teachers on Okinawa. These kata were introduced into the Okinawan school system during the early 1900s and later into the Japanese school system after being renamed "Heian" by Funakoshi. Pinan (Okinawan dialect) and Heian (Japanese language) both have the same meaning.

The most commonly accepted interpretation is "Peaceful Mind" or "Peaceful and Calm". However, some people believe this is an error in translation and that it actually means "Free from harm" or "Safe from harm".
8. What does the term "Shotokan" mean?

Answer: Shoto's Hall or Place

Funakoshi himself never gave a name to his martial art, prefering to refer to it simply as "karate". "Shoto" was Funakoshi's pen-name which he used to sign poetry and letters. in 1936 he built his first official dojo which was known as "Shotokan" meaning "Place or Hall of Shoto". The word "Shoto" means "pine-waves" and "kan" means "hall" or "place".
9. Karate developed around three main areas on Okinawa. These areas were known as Naha, Shuri and Tomari. The three main systems of karate which developed on Okinawa took their names from these areas: Naha-te, Shuri-te and Tomari-te. Which one of these three had the biggest influence on the development of Shotokan karate?

Answer: Shuri-te

Gichin Funakoshi, founder of Shotokan karate, was a student of Anko Itosu on Okinawa. Itosu was a master of Shuri-te. The karate which Funakoshi demonstrated on mainland Japan was in essence still pure Shuri-te. He simply referred to it as "karate" though. Technical changes to the original Shuri-te were mostly made by students of Funakoshi.

He himself changed the names of many of the original Okinawan kata to make it more acceptable to the Japanese.
10. How many kata were included in the original JKA syllabus by Masatoshi Nakayama?

Answer: 27

The original list of 27 kata are: Taikyoku Shodan; Heian 1-5; Tekki 1-3; Jion; Bassai Dai; Enpi; Kanku Dai; Hangetsu; Jitte; Gankaku; Nijushiho; Chinte; Sochin; Meikyo; Unsu; Bassai Sho; Kanku Sho; Wankan; Gojushiho Sho; Gojushiho Dai and Ji'in.
Source: Author NewBudo

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor stuthehistoryguy before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.
10/31/2024, Copyright 2024 FunTrivia, Inc. - Report an Error / Contact Us