Shito Ryu Karate, BOOKS - HISTORY

[KARATEKID2007]

HI ALL, I STUDY SHUKAKI KARATE, WHICH I BELIEVE HAS DEVELOPED FROM SHITO RYU KARATE WHICH ORIGINATED FROM OKANAWI. DOES ANY ONE KNOW WHERE TO BUY BOOKS ON THE HISTORY, STYLE, DEVELOPEMENT AND PRINCIPLES OF EITHER STYLE OF MARTIAL ART?

[Hayashishodan]

I posted this in the Karate part as you put this there as well This is a short history

SHITO-RYU KARATE-DO
SOKE KENWA MABUNI
Founder, Shito Ryu Karate-do




Shito-Ryu is one of the four major Japanese styles of karate in the world. It originated on the Island of Okinawa. In ancient times, the art of Karate could not be practiced openly, so those who chose to practice the art did so secretly, hidden from public view. Lacking formal names, people sometimes referred to the various schools of Karate by putting the names of Grand Masters and the Katas (forms) together thus creating a label for the particular school.

Sometimes karate schools were known by their districts. The three Meccas or most famous centers for Karate on Okinawa were Shuri, Naha, and Tomari. One of the most famous Grand Masters in Shuri was Master Itosu. In Naha, it was Master Higaonna. These two men were the highest Karate authorities of their time. There were however, significant differences between them. Mr. Itosu emphasized speed where as Mr. Higaonna placed more emphasis on power. The Originator of Shito-Ryu, Grand Master Kenwa Mabuni initially practiced under Mr. Itosu and then went on to study under Mr. Higaonna. Mr. Mabuni was not only skilled in Karate, but also practiced weaponry such as Bo, Sai, Tonfa, Kama and Nunchaku. Mr. Mabuni founded his new style of Karate by blending together the names of his two great teachers and the Japanese characters that represent them.
The first character representing Itosu is pronounced SHI (SHE) and the first character representing Higaonna is pronounced TO (TOW). The combination of the two names forms the karate style now known throughout the world as SHITO-RYU (RYU means style). The same idea of combining Japanese characters is true of the term "Karate-do" itself. "Karate-do" is: kara = "empty” - te = “hand” - do = “way" (he empty hand way).

Karate tournaments did not appear in Japan until the middle of the 1950's. Until then, Karate techniques were thought to be too dangerous to practice as a sport. Small tournaments however, allowed basics, katas and one and three-step sparring. By limiting the techniques allowed and by introducing a scoring system, large tournaments became a possibility and sport karate was introduced in Japan, and throughout the World. Currently, the USA National Karate-do Federation (USA-NKF) is the national governing body for sport karate in America and the only karate federation recognized by the US Olympic Committee. The rules of international karate competition are formulated for use in the most prestigious tournaments in the world, by the World Karate Federation (WKF).

[JQJones]

A good place to start is to visit a used book store on a regular basis. I was able to find Fumio Demura's 'Shito-Ryu Karate' as well as books by Bruce Tegner. Tegner received a black belt in Tani-ha Shito-ryu (aka Shukokai ) although the karate presented in his books looks like a cross between Shito-ryu and Shotokan.

How about Amazon.com?

[MagicOPromotion]

Toguchi Added tandaku kata di iche and di ni to Goju ryu he called unified kata in hopes to spread it to all Karate but that failed. Other then that it is basicly the same okinawan Goju ryu. Then you also have japanese goju that is slightly different.

Edit: to remove suspicious link - AngelaG

This post has been edited by AngelaG on Aug 30 2009, 09:24 PM

[MAKid]

If you are in the UK a site at aregato.com provides a list of books which are picked out by them and rotated with new slections regularly. They had some Gojo/Shito Ryu/Shotokan history books recently. As well as some others that make good reading.....they don't sell the books, just point you to places where you can buy them....worth a look