Karate is a martial art, or fighting method, involving a variety of techniques including blocks, strikes, evasions, throws, and joint manipulations. Karate practice is divided into three aspects: kihon (basics), kata (forms), and kumite (sparring). The word Karate is a combination of two Japanese characters: kara, meaning empty, and te, meaning hand thus, Karate means "empty hand." Adding the suffix "-do" (pronounced"doe"), meaning "way," i.e., Karate-do, implies Karate as a total way of life that goes well beyond the self defense applications. In traditional Karate-do, we always keep in mind that the true opponent is one's self. Shidokan literally translates as " Followers of the way of Bushido". This style of Karate is unique in that it is very balanced both for Karate in its purest form (katas) and also for full contact sport. There is an emphasis on real or functional Karate techniques.

Click here for more on the history of Shidokan Karate.

Shidokan is a style of fighting that draws on both the lower and upper body techniques. Shidokan provides a full body workout, because those are the muscles used in workout and training. The connection between the mind and the body leads to the development of a strong spirit. For people of all age groups Shidokan provides the discipline, control and training to unify the whole person. With dedication to the principles of Shidokan you can achieve a mind body union, a true vital state of calm.

At AKA, we pay particular attention to Oyo Bunkai, which is the study of techiques in kata (similar to Bunkai but including follow-ups). Bunkai is the term used to describe the actual application of the techniques practised in the kata. Oyo is the term for applications that also come from the kata, but are not necessarily duplicated purely as they are within the form. Without a clear understanding of the applications of a kata, it is merely a sequence of movements with no meaning. In order to fully appreciate the teachings of a particular form, the Oyo Bunkai must be analyzed and understood. Many elements and levels of technique are to be found upon careful study and instruction. It has been said that the kata are the encyclopedia of technique for a style. Oyo Bunkai is the understanding of that information.
Karate class at AKA is taught by Bruno Blundo, 4th degree black belt.


History and Lineage of Shidokan Karate :
Grand Master Shugoro Nakazato indicated that originally karate-do was referred to as "TE". He stated that all of the styles that were practiced on Okinawa came under this term and that it was not until 1830 that the name Shorin-Ryu was first used.

Around that date, an Okinawan official, Bushi Matsumura, was sent to China by the King of Okinawa to study the Chinese methods of fighting. It was said that he mastered a form of ShorinJi Kempo and then returned to Okinawa to teach the art. He taught this art in Shuri, the capitol of Okinawa, and referred to it as "ShorinRyu-Gokoku-an-karate" Because of his mastery of this art, the king appointed him as the chief Martial Arts Instructor of Okinawa.
Okinawan karate-do owes a tremendous debt to Ankoh Itosu. Itosu is considered the Father of Okinawan karate-do and is the first one responsible for publicly teaching the art. Circa 1903, Itosu taught the art of Shuri-te at the Central Okinawan Middle School located in Shuri.

Because of this, Shuri-te (now called Shorin-Ryu) grew in popularity, and Itosu saw a need to develop new teaching techniques for the many new beginners. It was during this period of time that he developed the Naihanchin and Pinan series of kata that ShorRin-Ryu presently uses.
Although Itosu is regarded as the Father of Okinawan Karate-do, it was his student, Chosin Chibana, who systematized Itosu's style of karate-do and officially changed its name in 1926 from Shuri-te no karate-do to Okinawan Shorin-Ryu Karate-do.
Chosin Chibana was born on June 5, 1885, at Tottori-cho in Shuri-shi, Okinawa. He began training with Ankoh Itosu in 1900 after dropping out of Okinawa Kenritsu Dai-Ichi Chu-gakko (high school). He was then 15 years old. He studied with Itosu until his teacher's death on August 30, 1915, at age 85. Five years after his sensei's demise he began teaching on his own. His first Dojo was located in Tottoribori. As his reputation spread, he was able to open up a second Dojo in Kumo-Cho, Naha.
Chibana remained on the island of Okinawa during World War II and narrowly escaped death when the Americans destroyed Shuri in 1945. After the war, he once again began teaching Shorin-Ryu in Giho-cho, which is a section of the city Shuri. From February 1954, until December of 1958, he was also the Chief Karate-do Instructor for the Shuri City Police Department. On May 5, 1956, the Okinawa Karate-do League was formed, and he was appointed as its first president.
Chibana's reputation as a karate man continued to spread, not only in Okinawa, but also in Japan. By 1957, he had received the title of Hanshi from the Dai Nippon Butokukai (the Japanese Martial Arts Association), and in 1960 he received the first Sports Award from the Okinawan Times Newspaper for his overall accomplishments in the study of karate-do. On April 29, 1968, Chibana received the 4th Order of Merit from the Emperor of Japan for his devotion to the study of Okinawan Karate-do and Okinawan Shorin-Ryu.
In 1964 Chibana was advised that he had terminal cancer. But, because of his dedication to the art of Shorin-Ryu, he continued to teach even though his body began to weaken as the cancer spread. By 1966, he was admitted into Tokyo's Cancer Research Center for radiation treatment in an attempt to arrest the spread. After some improvement, Chibana once again resumed his teaching of Shorin-Ryu with his grandson, Akira Nakazato By the end of 1968, his condition became worse, and he returned to Ohama Hospital.

Despite the doctor’s efforts to save his life, he died at 6:40 a.m. on the 26th of February 1969. He was 83 years old.
Chibana Sensei left five 9th Degree Black Belts to help spread his system of Okinawan Karate-do. Katsuya Miyahira, Shugoro Nakazato, Yuchoku Higa, and Choshin Nakama are presently teaching Shorin-Ryu throughout the island of Okinawa and in Japan. Kensei Kinjo, another of the 9th Dans, died in 1971 at the age of 76. Katsuia Miyahira called his variation Shorin Ryu Shidokan.
Seikichi Iha is Miyahira's top student, promoted to 10th degree in 2001, representing Shidokan in the U.S. with his Hombu Dojo in Lansing, Michigan.
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