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Prior to the Bronze Age, with almost no means of long distance communication, people all around the globe, almost as if they were all apprentices to the same teachers, developed Martial Arts that were similar. The earliest recordings go back to 700 BC from Greece. Around 1000 BC in India there was believed to be a warriors Martial Art called Vajramushti. China's introduction to the Martial Arts is somewhat vague. An Indian Monk travelled on foot in the 6th century, across the Himalayas into Northern China. There he settled in the Songshan Mountains at the Shaolin Temple and introduced the priests of the monastery to a series of 18 exercises. Thus the Shaolin Temple id believed to be the birthplace of systemised Martial Arts. This is especially significant to the development of Ryukyu Martial Arts, as generations of secrecy have a veil of mystery around the development of Okinawan Karate. It is known that this Chinese method of self-defence flourished throughout Asia and eventually found its way to the Ryukyu Islands. In 1906 the powerful Satsuma Clan, led by the Shimazu family had been on the losing side in one of Japan's many civil wars. The victorious Tokugawa Clan, as was the custom, allowed the Satsuma Clan to retain its feudal territories as Tozama Daimyo (outside lord). However, because of the potential threat that all such Tozama rulership held for the victorious faction, close government scrutiny was kept over the Satsuma Samurai In 1609, by Tokugawa decree, the Satsuma Clan was permitted to march against the Ryukyu Islands. This was done to punish Okinawa for refusing to supply Japan with materials needed in her attack on China in 1592, and because the Tokugawa Shogun feared the armed strength of the Satsuma Clan, and felt that an overseas adventure would sooth the frustration of Shimazu's Warriors. The resulting military expedition ended Okinawan's independence and made way for complete Japanese control The Shimazu placed a ban on all weapons. Arms found in an Okinawan's possession were immediately confiscated and the owner severely punished. The bitterness aroused from such a total subjugation (restriction) was difficult for many of the Islanders to bear in silence, and clashes between the two factions began to occur. In such battles the Okinawan's were forced to use the only weapons they had, which amounted to their hands and feet as well as agricultural and fishing tools Disunited resistance gained the Okinawan's very little, so that gradually the various Kempo and Tode styles began to band together in what resulted in the united front by the year 1629. The new style was simply called 'Te' and translated as 'hand'. During the early years of development, Te was shrouded in the utmost secrecy due to the ironclad law that was designed to eradicate every trace of Okinawan Martial Arts. The three leading schools, located in Shuri, Naha and Tomari went underground to avoid detection by the Shimazu samurai. First it became known as an art intended for and understood by a chosen few. Secondly it became extremely violent since its sole purpose was to maim or kill. Because of all the secrecy under which Te was practised, virtually nothing was written about it for the next century. The only history on Karate that comes out of this period is at best scant as it is in the form of stories that have been handed down by word of mouth. The official occupation of Okinawa ended around 1875 and the Island became officially part of the Japanese Empire. However, the public demonstration of Karate did not take place until 1903. Shuri-Te was popularised by Bushi Sokon Matsumura, Naha-Te by Kanryo Kigaonna and Tomari-Te combined with Naha-Te and Shuri-Te and became Okinawan Kempo. |
