The utopians more preveggenti could never have imagined the effect that would have on dō men of the twentieth century all over the world. And in all likelihood they would be horrified to see what is happening today in the name of the austere Eastern philosophy.
The growing aversion of representatives of conservative classics against the noisy progressivism, sciorinato by practitioners of modern disciplines is very clear. This aversion means resistance to change unwanted. The reaction of conservatives is to deliberately hide their disciplines to society, but to leave them to decay through neglect, as are accused by the progressives. One thing to do, reasonable and acceptable, is to give a new old ideas spread, which justifies the notion of progress. In any period of history, however, is still relatively easy to be progressive, because the side of conservatives often requires considerable reflection and a strong determination. Since the Conservatives must continually up the current fashion and the general, they have developed a spirit of firmness which is reflected in their adherence to the classics.
The representatives of conservative classics say that the idea of creating the modern disciplines from ancient traditions is a process that must be adjusted with great care. While criticizing those who follow the trend of the modern age to seek the easy way in life, they recognize the fact that it is hard to escape from one's own age, go ahead and at the same time maintain control over universal truth. Such a process of advancement is not the same actions of those advocates of modern, even if acting in good faith, when they create modern disciplines, usually end up with the arbitrary make compromises that have very little value from the point of view authenticity, and even less respect for tradition. In these cases, the tradition is used to improve your personal prestige, or to give an exaggerated and imaginary value to the systems created.
The modern disciplines thrive sull'irrequietezza people belonging to the modern world, and that moves back and forth from one place to another. The modern Japanese budo was transplanted in the West where, with regard to the workout, the distinction between means and ends is rarely acknowledged, much less appreciated. Westerners looking for material progress. Progress toward what? When disciplines in modern technical efficiency is met from, what else need? When the impulse to culminates in universal brotherhood and cooperation among men, which should serve the purpose budo modern? If this is the aim of egocentric individualism budo exponents of modern quell'avanzamento really find where they both boast? It may be that modern disciplines are still too young for any critical final, but the words of Okakura are once more appropriate: "The mechanism of competition requires the monotony of fashion instead of the variety of life. It venerates what is economic rather than what is beautiful, while the race and the struggle of modern life not grant alcun'opportunità leisure necessary for the realisation of ideals. "

The styles of karate
Survey historical, sociological, environmental, technical and philosophical sports
Released suddenly in the limelight around the sixties, on the rediscovery of eastern mysticism by the so-called Beat Generation-and a part of Western intellectuals prizadeta dall'inaridirsi certain issues and certain areas of their loved ones, has experienced a karate dizzying success throughout the world. In just twenty years of practice in broad daylight, karate grew, it was organized, has become almost as mass sport. But today is likely to die of gigantism. Many interests are born around it, why deny it, leading to divisions repetition, creation of new groups, with the most diverse interests. Why such a stagnation in modern karate, especially after World Paris in 1972? What are the causes of such proliferation of schools and organisations that could lead inevitably to the tomb while young karate?
These are questions that many karateka, particularly after the first few months of initiation, when we start to put their nose out of the gym and look around, ask each and run to their instructor, which is not always aware of the exact times and ways the development of karate, I firmly believe that the reasons are two (major, of course, because certainly there are more): first, natural character, the second of purely economic nature (which then determines the political-sports) . I put the first place that natural, because it seems to me more suited to the origins and nature of karate. In Asia with the word kung fu (forerunner of karate) are all methods of struggle that use bare hands and feet to defend themselves (in addition to a whole range of weapons which are not improper, we are talking). I remember that in Bangkok riuscimmo to visit a school where kung fu taught in a Chinese rifugiatosi Siam with his whole clan after the Red Army statement in China, who taught the style of his family, that is the style who had taught his father, who had learned from his father and so on up to going back in time and more than three hundred years. Each clan, in the China (but also in the not too old) was "their" style of kung fu and stories of violent struggles between clans and clan (advertised by the famous film) are very true. The kung fu or karate as it were certain that a baggage technician, at some point in the life of a karateka becomes personal, individual. That is fit certain techniques, certain movements, certain strategies to their psycho-physical capacity, its morphological. It is undeniable that if they are blocked in also and I can not kick above the ankle's opponent, I will simply have certainly miss my time in an attempt to perform the wonderful ura-mawashi geri jodan if you never succeed. Rather have to concentrate my efforts to refine those techniques that are more congenial to me that in the case of our assumed karateka may be those of the upper limbs.
Not to mention that in the same style almost never fail to find two teachers who run in the same way any same technique. Take for example two teachers who all karateka Italians know Shirai and Kase. Too different are their physical structures because of the teacher maegeri Shirai is equal to that of teacher Kase, obvious. Examples of this type may be Galore, but I think it is unnecessary so obvious is the truth. The second reason is equally obvious, but nobody honestly admit ever podoben sacrosanct truth. A teacher creates strong students, send them around to make proselytes, opens new dojo, you create a small organization. The small organization becomes gradually a large organisation with a market of karategi, bags, badges, books, etc.. Etc.. Will begin to send abroad some teacher who spreads style learned from his master remaining linked to the issue of dan and diplomas recognized only by the organisation in the motherland, and so forth. This is the story of Jka, for example. Well so another "clan" (basically because although in fact the clan as "relatives" is gone, today is the organization that holds together their followers) with the birth inevitable antagonism, envy and all that they entail. While in Judo, similarly divided into many different schools origin, the State has intervened (to put modern) to impose a unit of methods - despite the known differences between red and white ... --, Karate was born divided, has been developed without coralità of intent was already spread abroad with large vertical cracks that have undermined the same future. The karate in the world is divided by the fault of the Japanese I am firmly convinced! All their beghe, all their hatred, all their problems will have reserved equal peers in Europe, America, Asia, in the entire world. If the Japanese karate was joined believe that many problems do not exist anymore. But in fact, just the Japanese are not united (and do not want to join), and this determines the resulting atomization of karate. Not only young Japanese masters, specially sent abroad to spread the style learned at home, now refuse their own masters, their old organizations. They acquired a Western mentality, and low subordinabile subject, and have created their own styles (the case of Sankukai and Yoseikan Budo referred speak). In short: the situation is tragic and I think risanabile unlikely, unless someone from outside of our world (I mean the world of karate, not a Martian!) - More government, Coni for Italy, etc. This in the world. , to all those rinsavire -. But that is soon, because the sick ... It is almost moribund.

The origins
Do not want to dwell rifacendovi the history of karate by Bodhidharma. Start from capture historical karate that comes into Japan from RyuKyu, specifically the island of Okinawa. In this part of Asia existed until the end of the last century (and to my knowledge still exist) two schools that emerged clearly on the other: the Shuri-Te and Naha-T and named the two main cities of the island, precisely Naha, the capital, and Shuri, a major commercial center. The Shuri-T was developed especially in the province of Shuri (the city of Funakoshi Gichin) and Tomari, while the Naha-T in the province. The Shuri-Te was also called Shorin-Ryu (school), while the Naha-T was called Sho-Rei-Ryu. Since its origins, then, two groups, two (different) technical baggage with their characteristics. The shorin was a style whose favourite rapid movements, as opposed to shorei that enfatizzava movement slower, but run more contraction and power. The shorin is divided into two schools, Goju-Ryu and Uechi-Ryu. From a combination of elements shorin and thus saw the shorei of Gichin Funakoshi Shotokan. Shoto was the nickname by which this kind and well educated school teacher was known for his love of a poet of nature time and kan is the Japanese term for "room", "fitness". So is the Shotokan style that Gichin Funakoshi taught in his gym in Tokyo.
Contemporary of Funakoshi, all okinawensi, were the masters Chojun Miyagi, which perfected the style goju ryu and Kenwa Mabuni, the school shito, very close to Shotokan and which apparently does not exist a photo throughout the West. These three were the first masters of advisers-T in Japan.
The first half of the twentieth century
Funakoshi made several visits to Japan between 1915 and 1923, again for the diffondervi karate. Finally it was decided in 1923, urged by many proselytes, to remain in Tokyo to treat closely the development of his style just introduced. In 1926, given the rising success of karate, his friend, Kenwa Mabuni, arrives in Japan determined to diffondervi his school. He will stop in the city of Osaka that even today is the center of Japanese shito ryu. Good last Chojun Miyagi, in 1930 travels in the South of Japan (obviously because there was Funakoshi in the north and centre Mabuni), which is on the island of Kyushu, diffondervi the goju ryu. Note just like these three characters, although the same island, have not quite followed the example of Judo that in those years, Professor Kano, was consolidating its units that had goal entering the Olympics in judo, and consequently led to the divisions that have occurred within the respective nascent organizations.
The events that led to the Second World War helped to overshadow the karate for almost twenty years. Gichin Funakoshi was decidedly unfortunate. In 1923 Tokyo was almost completely razed to the ground by a terrible earthquake and also his dojo at Keio University. Then, when Tokyo began to revive, around the'30s, Japan began its imperialist adventure and immediately after the war that ended, as we all know, with the American intervention of General Mc Arthur bandì that for the six years of his Government practice of martial arts throughout Japan. Indeed so, he failed, when he was in the middle of physical and intellectual vigor, I set up an organisation itself, a continuing. Being very famous in Tokyo, obvious that almost all karateka who started practicing karate or before the war or immediately after, I have come in contact. That goes for Mabuni in Osaka and Miyagi in Kyushu. Here, indeed, in 1931 came the crucial meeting for the subsequent development of gojo ryu between Miyagi and Yamaguchi. Funakoshi as students had the largest names of the karate world today: Egammi, Hironishi, Obata for shotokai; Otsuka for wado ryu; Nakayama, Kanazawa, Nishiyama for the Shotokan; Oyama for kyokushinkai ...
Mabuni, shito ryu step hands with the son and Masters as Ha-Hayashi and Mauro Ivata; Miyagi the above Yamaguchi. Around 1950, almost all in extreme poverty, these three pioneers of Japanese karate are advanced age, a passage from the tomb. In their eyes, karate rifiorendo goes. But they can not enjoy the fruits of many years of work. The fate befferà them again, and this time for good. In 1953 Miyagi dies, Mabuni had just preceded them and Funakoshi reach within a few years. Indeed She Will Die in 1957 to almost ninety years of age. The karate, if nothing else, had helped campare long.
The second half of the twentieth century: the modern era
It was mentioned in H. Otsuka, a pupil of Funakoshi. This expert-ju jitsuka, skilful physio-therapist, after studying five years of karate Funakoshi, he decided to leave and establish their own school called Wado Ryu, the path of peace, which today seems that Japan is the first place numbers of affiliates (almost three hundred thousand).
Funakoshi or, rather, some of its influential and older students, in 1952 founded the Nihon Karate Kyokai (ie The Japanese Karate Association - Jka), but in 1956 he detaches it to the business address that this organization goes and taking bases Shotokai (Jju stands for Association) and less professional brings forward the letter to the teachings of the venerable old man.
Yamaguchi, a graduate in law, assisted by his sons, after Mc Arthur manages to set up the third Japanese organization for gyms number of subsidiaries and associates (two hundred thousand).
But Yamaguchi suffers the same division for a first work of Masutatsu Oyama, in possession of 7 ° dan, after its successful American turnée in which he had performed his tremendous strength to break the horns well 53 bulls and killing three (at least so he says), he puts himself in the kyokushinkai its founding, a style that places at the base of his karate physical preparation. Then, more close to us, by another division of the Master G. Yamamoto, 8 ° dan, who together with the teacher Yabe, 7 ° dan, based Iko (Interational karate organization) we have a representative in Italy . The shito ryu of Mabuni results from the shokukai her womb (the way of all - the scientific karate) teacher Tani in 196. This new style of karate is the result of an examination of karate computer. Adopt the basic positions of the highest Shotokan, introduces the "shock" that hit hip frustato push from the plant foot on the ground, abolishes de facto circular techniques and limits the coups to a karate.
In Europe, the shokukai teacher Tani is released by Nanbu teacher who was the shito-ryu, but if that was detached following Tani. Soon, however, the same Nanbu realize that dell'inaridirsi karate and in turn leaves the teacher Tani to found what is a symbiosis and at the same time a summary of all its experiences budoka: sankukai.
The wado ryu not be less than other styles. Apparently it is not divided, but it is factual. Only in Europe the group wado ryu going head to Suzuki should not be in agreement with what is headed to Mochizuki. The same Mochizuki, son of art, Paris now to all intents and purposes, said teacher for having created and athletes as Sauvin Gruss (today respectively technical director and coach of the French Federation), tends to separate from wado-ryu list to start a new style, to their organization, with branches throughout the whole world, French (former colonies and protectorates) and not (see Italy), which is called Yoseikan budo. As already Nanbu, Mochizuki believes that the karate practiced today is increasingly detaching from its origins and which, to save it, I need to go back. His style includes the study, as well as techniques of judo and aikido, including nunchaku, tonfa, you know, etc.., All that is the kobudo weapons.
Of the most famous styles, the shotokai, along with kyokushinkai, now seem without cracks. However it must be said that the official shotokai does not want to stand competitions: emphasizes the spiritual side of karate rather than physical; leaves ample freedom to its practitioners to interpret the kata trusting the talents of natural interpretation of kata. At position is located opposite the kyokushinkai that while supporting the meetings Zen, karate is a brutally physical. Breaking tables of wood, stones and tiles (and who knows what else yet) are passages peri his followers. The jiyu kumite must be done without protections; strike does not apply to face with fists, but is permitted ko obtained with techniques foot (face and body) or Punch (body only). The kyokushinkai is outside Wuko and Fajko. Plan each year its national championship which is also open to foreigners (affiliates) becomes, in practice, a kind of world championship of Kyokushinkai. One of the tests that Oyama ago to support its agonists is consistent to meet 100 other karateka (in combat arbitration) without interruption. Steve Arneil, 6 ° dan kyokushinkai and coach of the English national champion world is one of the few Westerners who have supported such a test. He then fought for two hours and thirty minutes without stopping.
Measurement technical short analysis
After more than thirty years as a professional, I have gained some experience that allows me to recognize, almost at a glance, what kind of a practice style. There are subtleties, but in the sports competition are extremely important to try to guess in advance how to behave and how to attack the enemy that you face. These small differences in approach (that determine a different guard free karateka a karateka) are among other disappearing for the most contact, for the most possibilities for exchanging experiences that the current karateka have against those of my time. The goju ryu prefers the position neki-ashidachi which can work with the forward leg (maegeri-mawashi-geri) and gyakutsuki pulled with a quick move forward in senkutsu. The weakness of this position is that it is waiting, and then tends to suffer an attack rather than take the initiative first. The shokukai, suddenly become fashionable a few years ago, is noted for a rather high zenkutsu dachi, where the weight of the body was brought on accentuatamente leg forward. This position determined (for the next leg folded very) fast attack possibility is that calcium tsuki (with the leg behind). The Shotokan and wado ryu essentially not very different, although those of wado ryu were generally more mobile. The Shotokan adopts positions wide and low, stable, which can parare and fight back strongly, usually for direct lines. In Europe, except in Sicily with the teacher Mitsuya, shito ryu is almost absent. But in 1968 in America and in Mexico, I met the world champion, the young Murakami (then 2 ° dan) and, as I have already had occasion to say, shito ryu and Shotokan are very similar in the.
But it's no surprise. Teachers and Igaonna Itosu of Okinawa (shorin schools and shorei) were the masters of both Funakoshi and Mabuni and Miyagi.
Of athletes kyokushinkai I met only French Setroux (formerly sample of France) in'72 World beat Ennio Falsoni. Setroux But, as all the old guard transalpine, was no longer a pure kyokushinkai having experience in the karate. He had studied it with Nanbu, with Kase, with Oshima, Mochisuki, etc.., Not to say that he too suffered the charm of a stimulant Valera, who had combined in karate also his experiences in judo.
So much for the sports aspect of karate.
It 'obvious that where styles differ most is not in the competition, regulated and universally accepted (with the exception of kyokushinkai), but under the basic techniques, ie kihon, especially in the kata , as well as in the educational system generally well understood.
Under the kihon, Shotokan style, and wado shoto ryu prefer the zenkutsu, kokutsu and kiba dachi; goju ryu the shiko in neko ashi-dachi; sankukai the zenkutsu and shiko-dachi; the kyokushinkai zenkutsu and nekoachi-dachi, etc.. But beyond the prevalence of certain positions compared to the others it must be said that all styles include the same, identical positions. Qeusto It is a fact. All styles provide the same techniques and parades attack: mean age, soto, uchi, gedan uke; shuto, tetsui, riken uchi; mae, yojo, mawashi, ushiro geri, etc.. What is different is that these techniques are all taken at various locations and, what more diversified, with the use of different body. In shotokai will bring tsuki with nocca out of the middle (mò of ippon ke); kenzutsu it is overly broad, sank a type fencing, which forces the long karteka in an uncomfortable position before, and then precarious, unstable . In addition, the forward foot is turned outward to avoid, the proponents argue the Italian shotokai to rotate the foot in the next move forward. The recent publication of the leaders of shotokai, master Shigeru Egami, confirms this. But the old photos and books Funakoshi himself and other, which is "the father of modern karate," a position that does not exist, indeed Funakoshi tended to run a high zenkutsu dachi that, contrary to current used in Shotokan and shotokai not disturbed by the physiological column lumbar vertebral level. For this irrational use of the body, many of the old guard Shotokan suffer from back pain, not to speak of scricchiolii joints of the legs and arms. The goju ryu however, from this point of view, is much more rational because constantly through breathing heavy call ibuki, tends to bring in the basin axis with the column make doing the same movement postero-anterior (inversely to zenkutsu dachi obliges dragging column moving antero-posterior). The shokukai and sankukai born to purely scientific experience, tend to avoid, with their high positions, just in incurring these errors that, in addition to being harmful (in the long run) for students (causing lordosi accentuated, and ligaments menischi damaged) limit the speed of both lateral movements forwards and backwards.
The wado ryu, born of the mind of a physio-therapist, limits damages for avoiding example of techniques such as yokogeri run in the manner of Shotokan for instance. The football side of wado ryu is a real maegeri pulled sideways. There is a coup pulled with sokuto foot, but only at the level gedan, respecting the natural opening Natural femoral that exceeds 45 °, implies an unnatural movement of the head of the femur, affecting all the ligaments Natural and that in the end of a career in sport can lead the inevitable arthritis.
There is to say, however, the experience (having done training with nearly all teachers in vogue today) that none of the styles taken into consideration gives the perfect setting basic quell'ottimo sense of balance, the ability to achieve maximum kime as Shotokan.
This style (and this is only my personal opinion) is the one that better than anyone can "set" properly a karateka. Today I think it is useful to a certain level, after which it is a good move styles softer, more agile, faster, like the sankukai. Making (as just one example) can reverse what it is harmful because the sankukai is suitable for karateka who already have the ability to muscle contraction and expansion, which already have the ability to deliberately lose the balance in certain actions because they know Then again now ...
Obviously, I repeat, these are just personal considerations. But if all karateka the piantassero to bring blinkers on and begin to look at what's good in other styles (and there is always something good) I believe that many frictions arising from believing style practiced "perfect" disappear. You get to say that ... Play the same music.
Organization of karate
At this point I feel that we can be interested to know how they live, that is, as these styles are organized. Then think of doing what welcome offering an overview of the organization together, Japanese karate first, then European and Italian and world economy.
In opening said the proliferation of organizations after World'72. Here's why.
Until 1972, during the World in Paris, there was only one organization World kartae, Wuko that, with regard to Europe, the affiliate had Uek (hence the Fik Italian), the All America karate federation of Nishiyama ( Shotokan Jka) and Fajko (Japan Federation of all karate-do organizations). In Paris the Japanese, defeated by England and inevitably put out of the repechage in turn because England was beaten by Italy, is believed robbed of, they say, unabashedly hostile and negative. The Japan exercised its resounding protest renouncing to participate in individual days later. The consequences of this act were not long to be felt. Many attributed this defeat was the Jka that had virtually its best team (which had deservedly won the Japanese selections) with Oishi, Iida, Yohara, Tanaka and Tabata. Nakayama was remitted to Fajko (Why had ordered not to participate in individual) and away from any Federal Office for a year and a half. The Jka, a strong technical-organizational both in Japan and in Europe (in the meantime Fesika Dr Zoja gave life to the third federation called All Europe Shotokan Karate Federation) and America (with Nishiyama), did not suffer the affront and is not considered guilty. So, thanks to pressure the concerned Zoja and Fesika - true pillar of the European Union - decided the big step: cutting off Fajko by none other than (the federation that had so painstakingly assembled in 1964 all styles under the same flag) and founded the International amateur karate federation together with Aekf (renamed for the quota need Europena amateur karate federation) and the All America Nishiyama they landed from Wuko. The rest is recent history. Currently there is only one body worldwide: Wkf, which today brings together the most style. The Wuko after the last World Long Beach, is a disaster from the point of view technical-organizational. All have complained of the world (hence the launch took the full European contact through nine events Valera). Today we look at the world of the 2008 Tokyo this year with great hopes and also with great apprehension. Why is the great card to finally bring the karate a sport and then to the Olympic Games.
What are the various organisations meanwhile style? There are certain events to wait for Tokyo. Meanwhile tend, by walking through the old strategy centrifuge, to organize well both nationally and at the international level. "Make sure a roof - seem to say different wado ryu, shito ryu, etc. - then we will see".
So each group is organized their own championship of the world (style) od'Europa (style) awaiting better days. Unfortunately, this andazzo who we call him is just the karate that atomizzato, dispersed, in danger of dying suffocating, torn by issues destructive.

(This article was translated by a machine translation software and not by one person)