Introduction

Shotokan is a school of karate, developed from various martial arts by master Gichin Funakoshi (1868-1957) and his son Yoshitaka. Funakoshi was the man who 'officially' brought karate from Okinawa to mainland Japan, although Kenwa Mabuni, Motobu Choki and other Okinawans were actively teaching karate in Japan prior to this point. Shōtō was the pen name Funakoshi used in his poetry, which means "pine waves" ([1], pg. 85), while kan means "house". Hence shōtō-kan was the name of the hall where he trained his students. Shotokan is one of the world's major karate styles (the seven biggest styles being Shotokan, Shorin-Ryu, Wado-ryu, Shito-ryu, Goju-ryu, Kyokushin, and Kenpo)