EMPTY HAND PATH

“THE EMPTY HAND PATH”

It is a traditional martial art of the Ryūkyū
islands nowadays belonging to Japan,
currently known as the Okinawa prefecture,
based on some styles of Chinese martial arts,
or Wu Shu, and to a lesser extent other
disciplines from Southeast Asia.
 Gichin Funakoshi, founder of the Shotokan
style "father of modern karate" introduced and
popularized karate in Japan.

 In 1917 the first public demonstration was

held.
Politeness, righteousness, Courage, the
goodness, the detachment, the honor, the
loyalty, the self-control, friendship, the integrity.

These have been some of the fundamentals

throughout history.
Sensei (先生?) Is the Japanese term used to
designate a teacher, a sage or a learned person.
Outside of Japan it is used mostly in the world
of traditional martial arts, among them: Aikido,
karate-Do, Judo, Kendo. Literally, sensei means
'the one who was born before', or 'the one who
has traveled the path', a guide.
Shihan (師範?) Is a Japanese language term
used in martial arts from Japan as an
honorific title to refer to teachers of teachers
in a specific style.
In Karate you get this title in fourth dan with
the appointment of Shihan-Dai, later passed
the seventh dan is named Shihan only
Greetings and courtesies:
Before beginning the practice and at the end,
and also before beginning a specific exercise,
simple Rei (greetings) are performed as a
ritual, in order that the practitioners
internalize the values of courtesy and respect
for others. Sometimes the greeting is
accompanied by the expression "Oss!"
Some of those greetings are:
 Seiza: kneeling sitting on his heels
 Za rei: ceremony greeting
 Shomen ni rei: greeting in front
 Shihan ni rei: greetings to the great masters
(present in person or in a photo)
 Sensei ni rei: greeting the students to the
teachers.
 Otagai ni rei: greeting of union between all.
TSUKI
It is called TSUKI (or ZUKI) to those hits
that occur with the KENTOS (knuckles of
the index and middle fingers). The most
appropriate translation is "fist bump"
To love karate, to love
oneself, to love family and
friends: everything eventually
leads to wanting one's
country. The true meaning of
karate can only be acquired
through that feeling.
(Gichin Funakoshi)