Shotokan karate is one of the most popular of modern styles. It is the most powerful and dynamic of the Japanese systems, and is generally considered to be the most comprehensive, both in the range of its techniques and the number and diversity of its kata. But to understand the basis of shotokan, and to see the rich pedigree of karate, we need to look to its origins.
The style name Shotokan was given to Funakoshi’s karate by his students. Shoto was Funakoshi’s pen name as a writer, meaning ‘pine waves’ and Kan means ‘school’ so those who trained at Funakoshi’s ‘school’ became known as the Shotokan.
In 1948 Funakoshi established the Japan Karate Association and he remained the head of the JKA until his death in 1957. Nakayama was a senior student of the JKA and took over the role of head of the Association. Nakayama began studying Shotokan under Funakoshi Sensei, at TakushokuUniversity in 1932.