Japan Karate Association

Karate's roots go back to the Shao Lin and other ancient fighting arts of China, where physical training methods were used to build the endurance and strength required to carry out the rigid discipline of the religion. These arts eventually spread to Okinawa. Master Funakoshi, founder of modern karate-do, was born in Okinawa in 1868. In 1922 at the age of 54, Master Funakoshi traveled to Japan where he introduced and demonstrated Karate for the 1st time. He remained in Japan instructing and developing Shotokan Karate until his passing in 1957.