Shotokan is based on the kata of Shuri-te by Yasutsune Itosu. Originally, 15 kata were taught in Japan by Gichin Funakoshi. Later, possibly at the initiative of his son Yoshitaka, another 11 kata were added to the school. The kata Bassai Sho, Kanku Sho, Ji'in, Chinte, Wankan, Nijushiho, Unsu, and Gojushiho (Dai/Sho) originate from Shito-ryu, but were significantly modified. Exactly when and by whom these kata were added to Funakoshi's school is only partially known.

Anker History of Shotokan Born in Shuri on Okinawa, Gichin Funakoshi was accepted as a karate student by Anko Azato. Under him, he learned the authentic Naihanchin (Tekki) kata, which consists of well over 100 movements. Yasutsune Itosu, but possibly Sokon Matsumura before him, later divided this kata into three parts. In 1922, at the age of 50, Funakoshi went to Tokyo to teach karate. Officially, it is said that he was chosen by various Okinawa masters to bring the art of karate to Japan as a sign of international understanding and rapprochement between Okinawa and Japan. And although the Budotukai, the umbrella organization for all Japanese martial arts, was very supportive of karate, it is said that it took him years to build a training group. Funakoshi primarily taught Itosu- school karate, using the original versions of the Heian and Tekki kata. When old pictures depict Funakoshi in Kokutsu Dachi with Heiwan Uke and the caption says he was practicing Heian Shodan, this is correct! At that time, what is now Heian Nidan was known as Heian Shodan, and Heian Shodan was known as Heian Nidan. He also didn't call his karate Shotokan. When asked about the different styles, he replied: "There is only karate!" The Second World War was a great loss for Funakoshi's work, as many advanced students died as a result and regular training was out of the question. At the end of the war, Funakoshi was already over 80 years old and his son Yoshitaka Funakoshi headed the training. Although little is written about Yoshitaka these days, it can be assumed that today's Shotokan can be traced directly back to him. He changed not only the kata but also the underlying biomechanics of the movements and techniques. The kata Sochin is one of Yoshitaka's developments, and the Fudo-Dachi stance and the changes to the Kokutsu-Dachi in length and depth are also attributed to him. After Gichin Funakoshi originally taught 15 kata (Heian 1-5, Tekki 1-3, Bassai-Dai, Kanku-Dai, Empi, Jion, Jitte, Hangetsu, Gankaku), Yoshitaka added the following kata: Bassai Sho, Kanku Sho, Ji'in, Meikyo, Chinte, Wankan, Nijushiho, Sochin, Unsu, and Gojushiho. From Gojushiho, the Dai and Sho versions emerged. With the exception of the Meikyo kata, which is a summary of the Rohai Shodan, Nidan, and Sandan kata, and Yoshitaka's Sochin, these kata came to Shotokan from Shito-ryu through Gichin Funakoshi's contact with Kenwa Mabuni. However, their sequence and execution were extensively modified and incorporated into the typical Shotokan kihon. After Yoshitaka's early death from illness, Masatoshi Nakayama founded the JKA (Japan Karate Association) and referred to JKA karate as Shotokan (Shoto = Funakoshi's stage name, Kan = house). He organized performance training for future instructors (training took place five times a week for four hours) and played a key role in transforming karate into a competitive sport. Famous masters such as Kanazwa, Enoeda, Shirai, Yahara, Kawasoe, Tanaka, Abe, Asai, and Kase testify to the success of this training. These JKA instructors were subsequently commissioned to teach karate worldwide. Kanazawa went to Germany, Enoeda to England, Kase to France, and Shirai to Italy, thus laying the foundation for the success and spread of Shotokan. Nakayama's approach was not without controversy, and some of Funakoshi's older students rejected Nakayama's path, such as Shigeru Egami, who founded Shotokai in 1958. After Nakayama's death, a split also occurred within the JKA's Shotokan system, and many masters founded their own schools: Kanazwa, Asai, Shoij, and Nishijama. Indeed, this is a return to a bygone era when there were no karate styles, only karate masters. And in fact, many of these masters, such as Hirokazu Kanazawa, also practice ancient Okinawan karate.

Shotokan

The Shotokan version of the kata Sochin, for example, is a development by Yoshitaka Funakoshi. The kata Meikyo is not a traditional kata, but a summary of the kata Rohai Shodan, Rohai Nidan, and Rohai Sandan. Empi, Hangetsu, Gankaku, and Wankan are derivatives of Tomari Wanshu, Seishan, Chinto, and Matsukaze. Heian Shodan and Heian Nidan are reversed. Thus, Heian Shodan represents the original Heian Nidan, and Heian Nidan represents the original Heian Shodan. Many great masters do not commit to a specific kata selection, but study kata beyond the boundaries of their own style! Shihan Kanazawa added the kata Tomari Chinto, which is also practiced in Shorin Ryu Seibukan and Matsubayashi Shorin Ryu, to his Shotokan school, and calls it Gankaku Sho. He also practices the Happoren from Shito-Ryu and the Seienchin.

Heian Shodan Heian Nidan Heian Sandan Heian Yondan Heian Godan Tekki Shodan Tekki Nidan Tekki Sandan

Original Kata of Shotokan of Gichin Funakoshi

Bassai Dai Kanku Dai Jion Jitte Empi Hangetsu Gankaku

Taikyoku Shodan Taikyoku Nidan Taikyoku Sandan Heian Shodan Heian Nidan Heian Sandan Heian Yondan Heian Godan Tekki Shodan Tekki Nidan Tekki Sandan

Bassai Dai Bassai Sho Chinte Kanku Dai Kanku Sho Empi Jion Ji’in Jitte Gankaku

Hangestsu Meikyo Wankan Nijushiho Sochin Unsu Gojushiho Dai Gojushiho Sho

The fact that the kata Bassai Sho, Kanku Sho, Ji'in, Chinte, Wankan (Matsukaze), Nijushiho, Unsu, and Gojushiho originate from Shito Ryu, and that the kata Meikyo is clearly a summary of the kata Rohai Shodan, Rohai Nidan, and Rohai Sandan, leads to the conclusion that Gichin Funakoshi was either unfamiliar or insufficiently familiar with these kata. Otherwise, they would not have been adopted from Shito Ryu.