Is Shotokan Karate and Okinawan Karate the same thing.?

Answer 1

Here is a long history with dates of Karates foundations, this focuses on Shotokan and Goju Ryu which have many tyied in backgrounds.

1888 (Meiji 21-25)

April 25 - Chojun Miyagi is born in Higashi-Machi (Naha-shi) Okinawa. His original birth name was Matsu Miyagi, Matsu meaning Pine Tree.
1898

Higa Seiko, founder of Shodokan Gojuryu was born on November 8, 1889, in Higashi-Machi district of Naha - Okinawa. Higa Seiko originally trained with Kanryo Higaonna and following the latter’s death, continued training under Chojun Miyagi. Higa Seiko was the first student to teach Gojuryu at a branch Dojo, although he did so without permission from Miyagi. It is believed that he would have been the original successor to Chojun Miyagi Sensei.
1909
Jitsumi [Gogen] Yamaguchi was born on January 20, 1909 in Miyakonojo, Shonai near Kagoshima city in the Miyazaki Prefecture, Kyushu - Japan, The third son of Tokutaro and Yoshimatsu Yamaguchi. Yamaguchi Sensei is also founder of the All Japan Karate do Association Gojukai, a Japanese Organization teaching Gojuryu. It is primarily through Yamaguchi Sensei that Gojuryu was introduced to the world.
1916
Chojun Miyagi Sensei returned to Okinawa at this time. [This is an approximate recorded time based on Taisho 5 period].

Chojun Miyagi Sensei begins teaching Kempo at his backyard Dojo.
1917 - Miyagi Sensei became successor of Naha-Te at the same time Funakoshi Gichin was asked to demonstrate Okinawa-Te before the Dai Nippon Butokukai at the Butokuden. Karate [as Tou-te] makes its first public demonstration outside of Okinawa in Kyoto - Japan.
1918 - Chojun Miyagi Sensei formed the Ryukyu Tou-te Kenkyu-Kai [Tou-te: which means China Hand] to ensure the preservation of Karate do as an Okinawa treasure. The Club was established in Asahigoaka, Wakasa-cho, and Naha-Shi. The co-founders were Chojun Miyagi Sensei, Hanashiro Chomo, Motobu Choyo and Kenwa Mabuni.
1921 - Chojun Miyagi and Gichin Funakoshi demonstrate Tou-te [soon to be called Karate and after being recognized by the Butokukai will be called Karate do] in Tokyo. March 10th - Miyagi Sensei [Naha Te] and Funakoshi Sensei [Shuri Te] demonstrate Tou-te to Prince Hirohito [who would later become Emperor of Japan - WWII], whom visited at the Prefecture Teachers College Okinawa before touring European. The Crown Prince never stopped talking of the impressive demonstration during his entire trip to Europe. So Goju and Shotokan have a common history with Miyagi and Funokoshi and were demonstrated to the Price soon to be the last Emperor of Japan. In fact it was asked of Funokoshi to train the Royal Guard’s a more aggressive form of Shotokan and that is where Shotokai comes from. It is Shotokan with more emphasis on protecting the Emperor of Japan in mind.
1923
Funakoshi Gichin Sensei returns to Tokyo and works as both a school-teacher and opens a Karate do institute and naming it the Shotokan [Pine waves house]. This later became the name of his style.
1924
September 18 - Gichin Funakoshi [founder Shotokan Karate do] and Hironishi Ohtsuka [founder of Wadoryu Karate do] approached Yasuhiro Konishi [Ryobukai - Shindo Jinenryu Karate do] requesting permission to use his training hall for teaching Karate do [at the time, Yasuhiro Konishi Sensei was only teaching Kendo and Jujutsu]. This request notes the first official Toute club at any University of mainland Japan.
1929 - Gogen Yamaguchi Sensei and friend Jitsuei Yogi write to Chojun Miyagi inviting him to Japan. Gogen Yamaguchi Sensei later received introduced [1931] to Chojun Miyagi by Jitsuei Yogi [September 27, 1912 - November 1997] for direct study.
1930 - Chojun Miyagi Sensei named Karate do Division Chairman of the Okinawa Prefecture Athletic Association.

Chojun Miyagi Sensei received an invitation to demonstrate at the All Japan Martial Arts Demonstration to be held on May 5, 1930.

Chojun Miyagi submits the name "Gojuryu" to the Dai Nippon Butokukai in Kyoto for official recognition as a Budo art [Karate do]. This is the officially recorded year Chojun Miyagi Sensei becomes the first to give his style of Karate do a formal name, calling it Gojuryu [See also 1927!]

November - Karate do is officially recognized by the Okinawa Gymnastics association and is further recommended.

Gogen Yamaguchi Sensei and Jitsuei Yogi Sensei establish Ritsumeikan Dai Gaku Karate Kenkyu Kai a school based Gojuryu Karate do however currently still primarily known as Toute.

A Gojuryu Karate do Club is established at Kansai University in Osaka as well as at the Osaka Medical University, Osaka Medical College and the Kansai Graduate School.
1931 - According to Gogen Yamaguchi in his autobiography, this is the year that Jitsuei Yogi Sensei [September 27, 1912 - November 1997] introduced Gogen Yamaguchi Sensei to Chojun Miyagi [although he was first invited in 1929] for direct study.
1933 - Chojun Miyagi Sensei was appointed Chief of Karate do for the Okinawa branch of the Dai Nippon Butokukai. The Dai Nippon Butokukai awarded Chojun Miyagi the title of Kyoshigo [Shihan-Kyoshi], 2nd highest title.
1934 - Dated March 23rd - Chojun Miyagi Sensei issues his "Karate do Gaisetsu" [Outline on Karate do]. This is also the year that Peter Urban is born founding father of East Coast USA Gojuryu in 1959. Peter is someone I believe we all know, at least I know him directly from Sensei Lenchus I assume you know him much better than I.
1936 -
Karate do is recognized as an official Budo by the Okinawa Ken Taiyuku Kyokai Karatebu.

1945 Tada Seigo Sensei establishes Nihon Gojuryu Karatedo Shikai, Nihon Seigo-Kan Karatedo Shikai, and Nihon Seigo-Kan In Kyoto City. While Gogen Yamaguchi is separated from his family and forced to gather in Shotoku Camp in Nekka Province [Manchuko] and taken prisoner by the G.P.U. [Gossudarstvennoye Politicheskoye Upravleniye / Obyedinennoye], a strong national division of the Russian Police. Family members [non-government commissioned] are allowed to return Japan.
Shinzato Sensei was Miyagi Sensei's chosen successor to Gojuryu. It is accepted by all that Shinzato Sensei was Miyagi's best student. Shinzato Sensei died in 1945 during the "Battle of Okinawa" in WWII.
1949
Gogen Yamaguchi opens a Dojo in the Taito ward of Asakusa, then part of Nihonzatsumi now known as Tokyo.

May - The followers of Gichin Funakoshi form the Nihon Karatedo Kyokai translated as the Japan Karatedo Association.
1950 May - Gogen Yamaguchi Sensei officially reorganized and formed the All Japan Karatedo Gojukai in Tokyo (the original JKF Gojukai). 30,000 members are contacted throughout the country to help 'set up shop'.
1952 Chojun Miyagi Sensei is named "Chairman" of the "Gojuryu Advancement Society".
1953 [Showa 28]

October 8th - Miyagi Sensei dies never having named a successor or given anyone an official Black Belt. Some say he told the students of the garden Dojo and his wife, which Ei'Ichi Miyazato was to be Chief. However, Miyagi Sensei's death came early and unexpected; therefore he had not yet prepared for the future of Gojuryu and had never officially appointed a successor.

November - Senior students of Miyagi Sensei meet at the house of Genkai Nakaima. Those present include Seiko Kina, Meitoku Yagi, Jitsue Yogi, Ei'ichi Miyazato and Koshin Iha.

Upon the death Chojun Miyagi, Meitoku Yagi Sensei assumes the position of "Chairman" of the Gojuryu Advancement Society". A position vacated by the death of Chojun Miyagi Sensei.

Seikichi Toguchi Sensei creates Shoreikan Gojuryu Karatedo club and becomes a permanent member of the Gojuryu Karatedo Advancement Society.

Yutaka Ishikawa Sensei begins studying Gojuryu Karatedo.

The present day 'Dai Nippon Butoku Kai' was reestablished with a new charter and the new philosophical vision. The Late Kumao Ohno Sensei was instrumental in this process as the vice chair. The Honorable Jigo Higashi Fushimi, the supreme abbot of Shorenin Temple in Kyoto, a brother to Empress of Emperor Hirohito became the chairman of the new society.

December 1953 - Eichi Miyazato Sensei began teaching at Chojun Miyagi Sensei's Garden Dojo (Tsuboya, Naha City).

Ei'ichi Miyazato Sensei would later assume Miyagi Sensei's teaching role at the Naha Police Academy.
1962

Gosen Yamaguchi Sensei, son of Gogen Yamaguchi Sensei, introduced Gojukai in San Francisco, at the University of San Francisco.
1964

May 1st - Japan Karate Federation established with Gogen Yamaguchi as a senior co-founder. The first joint demonstration of the federation is held at the Tokyo Budokan where Gogen Yamaguchi performs Superinpei.

April - Shozo Ujita Sensei accedes to President of Wakayama Karatedo Federation.

June 15 - Gosei Yamaguchi arrives in San Francisco, California - and joins his brothers Goshi and Gosen.
1973

April - Gogen Yamaguchi Sensei opens the world's first karate college [an experimental concept]. This unique and experimental concept includes instruction in:
• Wado-Ryu; Hinori Otsuka
• Shito-Ryu; Manzo Iwata
• Rembukan; Hiroyasu Tamae
• Gojuryu; Goshi Yamaguchi
• Ryukyu Kobudo; Motokasu Inoue
• Yoga; Gogen Yamaguchi.
Gogen Yamaguchi Sensei resigns from his position as President of the Japan Karatedo Federation Gojukai (JKF Gojukai). He maintains his positions of leadership in his organizations the All Japan Karatedo Gojukai Association [JKGA] and his fledgling organization the International Karatedo Gojukai Association [IKGA].
1989

Gogen Yamaguchi Sensei died on May 20th of this year. His oldest son, Gosei Yamaguchi oversees Gojukai USA, and Goshi Yamaguchi Sensei [Yamaguchi's youngest son] oversees the All Japan Karatedo Gojukai [JKGA] and International Karatedo Gojukai [IKGA].

1990 June 10th - Litigation begins over official register of the JKA marking the beginning of two associations both claiming legal rights of the JKA.


So all forms of Karate date back to Okinawa, they were the ones who adapted chinese martial arts into okinawan style. Okinawa is closer to mainland China than Japan mainland is so it first was introduced to MA by the chinese, hence Okinawan Kenpo is a direct off branch of Chinese 5 animal styles, where SHotokan and Goju Ryu are not, they are linear by nature and not circular. SO in a way yes all Karate comes from Okinawa, but not ALL of todays Dojos thats say Okinawan Karate means that it is Shotokan, it could be that, Goju Ryu, Kenpo or a few other styles.

I hope the history of Shotokan and Goju Ryu helped, this was in my thesis I wrote for my Sandan last year. I have much more literature on Shotokan and its lineage and history.

I will personally meet O'Sensei Kenjiro Kawanabe this June for his 50th anniversary for his Dojo, he is a direct student of Gichin Funikoshi and trained at the Waseda University set up by Master Funokoshi. Kawanabe trained my Sensei, an american Marine in the late 40's just after the war and was a founding father of american karate along with Ed Parker, Lapuppet, Aaron Banks and more. I am 3rd generation Shotokan and know my history and lineage well. I may be promoted to Sandan from O'sensei Kawanabe this June as well, giving me rank with his school and of course my teachers school which trained under him. Guess it will make me 2nd generation if he promotes me and trains me. Sorry for such a long answer. I dont care about the points, but I wanted you to know the history of Okinawan Karate.

Answer 2

Originally all karate comes from Okinawa. Shotokan is a type of karate that Gichin Funakoshi took to Japan. There it was named Shotokan by his students. Funakoshi himself did not wish to have a name. He thought that separated the arts when we should be striving to unify them. The name Shotokan means " Shoto's house". "Shoto" means whispering pine waves which is Funakoshi's poetry writing name.
Now a days most of the Shotokan dojo's I know are forms of Shotokan that came from Funakoshi's Japanese students. The art they brought out of Japan was made generic so it could be widely taught in the school systems.
An Okinawan influenced dojo of karate tends to have a different flavor than the Japanese inspired dojo. The Okinawn styles seem to be more kung-fu like. Lower, wider stances. a mix of fast and slow techniques. More hard and soft techniques mixed. The fully Japanese influenced dojo seems to be very linear and hard style.

Answer 3

Yes and no, and we don't need a book!

Okinawan Karate was taken to Japan by a number of teachers in the 1930's, the primary one being Gichin Funakoshi. There it was modified to fit the Japanese needs.

The kata of the two styles are easily identifiable as having the same origins. The biggest difference is the stances, Shotokan going into a lot wider and lower stances then one finds in the Okinawan styles.

Answer 4

"Karate" is a japanese word, in Korea and China martial arts go by different names. Shotokan is the main source for Japanese and Korean karate, almost all systems from those two countries have a strong connection to Shotokan.

Okinawan karate started from Chinese systems. This means their stances are usually shallower and their techniques more conservative. Most Okinawan systems have left their Chinese roots and conformed to Japanese karate guidelines (mostly due to Japanese control over the Okinawan islands).

Take Uechi Ryu for example, Kanbun Uechi brought Pangainoon a Chinese system to his home in Okinawa and since then it has spread across the world. Despite its popularity it still holds its very strong roots in Sanchin Kata and Sanchin Stance.

As with any style or dojo, the best path to take is to do a little background research and make sure you know what you're getting into.

If you are looking for a specific style, Okinawa's Uechi Ryu would be my suggestion to anyone. It doesn't require you to be an olympic athlete but it teaches disipline, body mechanics and real-world skills.

Answer 5

Yes there are Shorin Ryu styles of Okinawin Karate that are very similar to Shotokan Karate. Shotokan was founded in Japan by Gichin Funakoshi who was Okinawin. Master Funakoshi changed things quite a bit to appeal to mainstream Japan. The belt ranking system was taken from Judo.

Now Okinawin Kempo Karate is very different from Shotokan. It is more similar to chinese Kempo than Shotokan Karate or any other linear style of karate.

Answer 6

It sounds to me like fenriswulf answered your question pretty accurately. I am suprised to see someone gave it a thumbs down, actually I am suprised to see so many thumbs down. must be one guy who voted for himself and put everyone else down.

Shotokan was taught by Funokoshi before 1940, he opened the Waseda University in the 40's. Funokoshi created two forms of his style, one was Shotokan and the other Shotokai. the main diferance is that Shotokai does focus more on lethal blows and attacks and less on kata than shotokan does. Shotokan was for the general masses, where SHotokai was purely for the Royal Imperial Gaurds to protect the Emporer.

Miyagi was just as influential at that time with the spreading of Martial Arts to mainland Japan as Funokoshi was. Funokoshi is known as the father or modern traditional Karate.

Dont vote for me, vote for that fenris guy, i checked his history and its accurate as hell, he knows what he is talking about. Id give him the thumbs up and pick him if i had asked the question.

Answer 7

Similar. Okinawans typically use more horse stances & more hand techniques. Shotokan uses about equal amount of hand & foot techniques.

Answer 8

Yes , Gichin Funakoshi learned the three ryu's of the time and from that created shotokan karate do . He started teaching in mainland japan in th 1940's .

Answer 9

all karate comes from okinowa.including the mighty undeafeatable mother of all martial arts the only system that is,nt crap and the only 1 that works (TADA) TKD! hahahahahahahalollol.

Answer 10

very similar... same art diffrent ryu