Origins of Goju-Ryu Karate
Unarmed combat was born long before history itself is known, so the art's oldest origins are poorly defined, often hidden in the folklore of a variety of cultures around the world. Various forms of unarmed combat were practiced in India, China, Formosa and Okinawa, south of Japan. In Okinawa, "empty-handed" fighting, at one time, was practiced in secret because of the influence of Japanese feudal lords who had conquered the island and, therefore, prohibited their subordinates from carrying weapons. This act of banning weapons caused many of the peoples to start practicing forms of unarmed combat in secret. From there, the martial art Karate was born.
INDIA
Based on the heightening of the instinct of self-defense, the different forms of struggle became, for the most part, part of the culture, especially of the peoples of Central Asia, as in Egypt and Turkey. It is believed that the principles of Asian martial arts first emerged in Turkey and India. We know today that the history of karate can be examined and understood in India, about two thousand years before the Christian era, India was the birthplace of a martial art called Sanskrit, Vajramushti. Evidence seems to indicate that it was generally practiced by the Kshatriya, who were the warrior class of the time, and can be compared to the Japanese Samurai and medieval knights of Europe. The third son of King Sugandha of southern India is said to have been a member of the Kshatriya of the warrior class. However, after a few years he was led by the little Buddhist spirit to the south of the province of Madres. He received his religious training from the Dhyna by Master Prajnatara. Under the master's guidance, the boy grew up to be a very wise man. He advanced his knowledge in the Dhyana way and in the practice of Buddhism, becoming known as Bodhidharma.
CHINA
After the death of his masters, Bodhidharma traveled to China, his life centered around the Shaolin temple and monastery located in Hunan Province. Tradition indicates that on top of the physical condition of the monks, Bodhidharma instructed them in physical exercise, conditioning their bodies and their minds. The exercise was called, "Eighteen Hands of Lo-Han". This also includes breathing exercises; it was known that this physical activity was a means of hygiene of the body. Eventually the monks began to study animals and form exercises that resembled their fighting ways, and it later emerges as Chuan-Fa, "the art of the fist". It is important to note that the main reasons for practicing the martial art were physical conditioning and self-defense. During the Sui period (589-618), bandits began to invade monasteries for the purpose of stealing food or anything of value. At this time the monks, in order to protect their lives and their monasteries, utilized their art of Chuan-Fa and defeated the bandits. The reputation of the monks caused the spread of Shaolin struggles, many Buddhists came to study the art with the monks. Today there are hundreds of styles, and of course the philosophy has changed quite a bit, depending on the personality of the great masters of the styles. In 1609 the art was brought to Okinawa where it underwent many changes and later became known as Karate.
OKINAWA
Between the 13th and 14th centuries, in the Ryukyu archipelago – whose main island was Okinawa, the pioneers of the Tode were the Heimin (peasants). In this period, they used rudimentary techniques (which they just called Te) to defend themselves from the Okinawan warrior class, the Peichin. From the 17th century onwards, the Peichin appropriated the technique of Te, giving it the name To-de. From the 15th century onwards, the Okinawan warrior class, the peichin, decided to improve their fighting techniques to contain the peasant revolts of that period. It is possible to say, therefore, that it was the members of the warrior caste of Okinawa who carried out the development of what would come to be called Karate-do.
An important name in Tode's history was Ryosho Tobe who wrote the Oshima Notes. In these notes, Tobe transcribed Kushanku and Kumiaijutsu, techniques which gave rise to modern Katas (Kushanku, Kosokun or Kanku). With that, he left one of the few records of the practices of the pioneers of the art of the “Chinese Hand”: Kanga Sakugawa, Kung Sian Chun, Chatan Yara and Kishin Teruya.
It was in the 19th century the beginning of the training of great masters who would take the modern Tode to Mainland Japan. Until then, Tode was secretly passed on to a firstborn (Ishi-soden). Sanga Sakugawa, Sokon Matsumura and others improved Te from the knowledge of Wu-shu (war techniques) they brought from China, thus formulating Tode. In particular, Tode was practiced in three cities of Okinawa: Shuri, Naha and Tomari where, then, the Shuri-te, Naha-te and Tomari-te lines were developed. With the ban on Isshi-soden, Anko Itosu formulated the “Ten Articles on Tode” introducing “primitive Karate” into the educational system of the time, making it possible to teach this art in schools in Okinawa.
Later, after Emperor Hirohito's visit to Okinawa, the opportunity arises to present Tode in mainland Japan (at the 1st National Athletic Exhibition in 1921). Gichin Funakoshi, who had received an education in the Chinese classics (Daikyo, Chukyo and Shokyo) and a formal education that included Japanese etiquette, was chosen to bring Tode to Japan. This event started the transition from the “Chinese Hands” to the “Way of the Hands of the Void”. of martial arts. Consequently, Okinawans continued to practice their martial arts in secret.
Origins of Goju-Ryu Karate
Three centuries later a martial art of its own character becomes Okinawa te.
In which in the future it is divided into three main styles:
Shuri you are influenced by the harsh techniques of Kempo and characterized by an offensive attitude. Naha-te influenced by the gentler techniques of Kempo including the control of 'ki' and breathing. It was characterized by a more defensive attitude.
I will become influenced by the hard and soft techniques of Kempo. Shuri-te and Tomari-te come together to form Shorin-ryu, which over the years has become several different styles.
Naha-te becomes the well-known Goju-ryu (hard and soft style) that has remained unified to this day.