Shotokan Karate History Trivia Quiz

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.

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.

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.

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.

Answer: Hirokazu Kanazawa

Kanazawa won the kumite event with a broken hand! He was promoted to 10th Dan in 2000.

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.

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".

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".

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.

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.