TOTE-JITSU
the Roots of Japanese Karate-do and Taekwondo:
Tote-jitsu is the parential art of both Taekwondo and Karate-do. Tote-jitsu is the original the martial art of Ryukyu Islands. The Ryukyu Islands are also known as Okinawa. Most of the martial arts of Ryukyu’s developed around three of its main cities: Shuri, the Capitol of Okinawa; and the two seaport cities of Tomari and Naha.
The martial arts were called “Te,” or hand (as in the techniques of hand-to-hand combat). There were three distinctive variations of Okinawan martial arts broken down regionally. The styles were named Shuri-te, Tomari-te and Naha-te after their respective cities.
Currently Tomari-te no longer exists having been absorbed by Naha-te and Shuri-te. The two propriotory kata’s, Wahshu and Rohai are still practiced today and are an example of what Tomari-te must have been like. .
The martial arts were also known as Chinese hand or Tote-Jitsu. “To” (pronounced toe as in big toe) is a Chinese character that ambiguously can mean both China and void. The term void is often translated as empty and is what created the confusion as to whether Tote meant China-hand, or Void-hand.
The term void is a Buddhist term that means: vast and boundless, spaciousness, unity, emptiness, absence of distinction, nothingness, oneness, etc…. The Japanese have another word, kara, which also expresses emptiness or void.
Gichin Funakoshi who strove toward for self-mastery, believed that the term “kara” or void better described the ultimate outcome of martial arts training which was oneness with the all mankind. So he changed the name of the martial art he taught and practiced from Tote-jitsu(the title of his first book) to Karate-do.
NOTE:
This explains why in Korea some styles were called Tangsoo, the translation of Tote (Chinese hand) while other styles were called Kongsoo or Karate (Void/Empty hand).
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It all begins in China
"As to the Origins of Tote, there are many theories, however I am inclined to believe that this art was taught by Chinese men since there were many contracts made between Ryukyu and China from ancient days."
Choki Mutobu 1871-1944
Okinawan Kempo Published 1926
Many martial artists in Okinawa were the decendents of Nobility like Motobu. These noble families were given an annual stipend, a place in gentile society, access to the educational system for the eldest son and pre-arranged marriages with other Noble families.
The Okinawan Nobility, in return were required to keep a residence in Shuri Castle, maintain the sanctity of the throne of Okinawa, and protect the king from insurrection and assassination.
These Noble families each developed their own styles of Tote-jitsu. The styles all were different but the thing that made Tote-jitsu distinct and different form Chinese Chuanfa (Kempo in Japanese, Kwanbup in Korean) was the emphasis on the use of the “makiwara” training board (known as the talyun-tae or talyun-bong in Korean).
The principle that distinguished Okinawan Tote-jitsu was called Issne Issatsu one strike taking one life, which is similar to the Taekwondo principle Ilkyung Pilsung, one strike, victory ! Developing this attitude was a product of severe, daily repeated makiwara training. This repeated makiwara forged the fists and feet truly into lethal weapons.
"There are no Karate men who do not use the Makiwara"
Shoshin Nagamine Essence of Okinawan Karate-do’ Founder of Matsubayashi-ryu
In the early years of Taekwondo training many schools practiced and required Talyuntae training. I know that Songmookwan specifically because Grandmaster Ro was a student of Funakoshi required it. In our Jidokwan Dojung, we had a Talyuntae that I used regularly; Grandmasters Charles Stepan and Al Cole, both Jidokwan men and Taekwondo Hall of Fame advisory committee members currently have talyuntae at their homes. In most Kukki Taekwondojung this tradition like many that came from Japan is no longer practiced.
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Who’s Who in the History of Okinawan Karate
Kusankun(Kongsongkun in Korean)
The Chinese martial artist Kusankun was an expert in a style that translated Kumeiai Jitsu and was a form of Chinese Kempo (Kwanbup). In 1756 Kusankun and a few of his disciples went to Okinawa to demonstrate their art. In the ancient account of the demonstration it states that “A large man grabbed a smaller man. The smaller man did a sissor technique to defeat the larger.” One Kusankun’s most famous students was Tote Sakugawa. The kata Kusankun (Kusanku, Kongsongkun) was named after him.
Tote Sakugawa or Sakugawa Chikudun Pechin
Teruya Kanga was born in a village in Shuri. He was known for his physical and marital abilities as well as his indomitable spirit. He eventually changed his name to Sakugawa and was elevated to Chikudun Pechin which is the Okinawan equivalent of Samurai. Sakugawa studied martial arts in Chinese cities of Fuchou and Peking as well as Satsuma in Japan where he studied ken-jitsu.
The book the Bubishi, known as the the bible of the martial arts was possibly brought to Okinawa from China either by Tote Sakugawa or Kusankun.
NOTE: Bubishi besides including pictures of martial arts techniques and application is a book on Dim Mak. Dim Mak, is translated as the touch or death or delayed death touch. The Bubishi includes an intricate study of acupuncture theory and it’s application to the martial arts. The material In Bubishi is similar to the material taught by George Dilman and the Black Dragon Society.
Sokon Matsumura(1792-1887): aka. Buseitatsu, Unyu Bushi Matsumura, or Bucho.
was born into a well know family in Shuri. He was a scholar, calligrapher, and like many youths in Shuri trained in Te. He also trained in the Bo (bong) staff from Tote Sakugawa who had leaned the staff in China. Sokon was the bodyguard for three of the Okinawan kings and some historian say that he was the official Te instructor to the kings court.
As a bodyguard to the king he visited Fuchou China and Satsuma Japan. While in Fuchou, China he visited several Chinese martial arts schools. Also while in China he visited the Shaolin/Shorin/SiRum Temple in Fukien (there were many temples in different locations).
Matsumura is credited with passing on the kata or formal exercises of Karate that were also part of the early requirements of Taekwondo including: Naihanchi/NaepoJin; Bassai/PalSek; Chinto/Chitae; Gojushiho/Oshipsabo; and Kusanku/Kongsongkun the embodiment of Kusanku's teaching as passed on to Tode Sakugawa.
Matsumura was given the title "Bushi" meaning warrior by the Okinawan King in recognition of his abilities and accomplishments in the martial arts. In fact, Matsumura fought many times but was never defeated. His martial arts endeavors has been the progenitor of many contemporary karate styles and especially the two styles that had the most influences upon Taekwondo: the Shotokan of Gishin Funakoshi and Shudokan of Toyama Kanken. Ultimately all modern styles of karate and taekwondo that evolved from the Shuri-Te lineage can be traced back to the teachings of Bushi Matsumura.
Anko 'Yasutsune’ Itosu (1830-1915)
was born in Shuri during the 19th century. Master Itosu was a student of Sokon Matsumura and Kosaku Matsumora. Of his numerous great contributions to the art of Tote-jitsu or karate, was the firm belief of the importance of the development of person's character which had a direct influence of Gishin Funakoshi who changed the name to Karatedo from Tote-jitsu. Itosu’s teaching concentrated on Kata/Poomsae, form patterns, and 'Bunkai', application practice.
Itosu had learned a Chinese form Chiang Nan/ Jae Nam that was very difficult to teach. He broke it apart creating a group of new kata, the Pinans. The creation of 5 Pinan (Pyong Ahn in Korean which was changed to Heian by Funakoshi in Japan. The Taekwondo Hyung know as Palque were adapted from the Pyong Ahn Hyung). He also split both the Kusanku and Bassai katas' into the Sho and Dai versions.
In circa. 1901, master Itosu was the first person to introduce Tote-jitsu high school and college curriculum. This was a critical step in the expansion of the martial arts since prior to this, the art of Tote-jitsu was considered a "secret" art. This introduction into the mainstream quite possibly may have paved the way for the availability for ALL styles of the martial arts to reach the general public. Master Itosu also organized and systemized Tote-jitsu into a standard method of practice.
Karate instructors that were students of Anko Itosu :
Yabu Kentsu (1863-1937),
Hanashiro Chomo (1869-1945), who first used the name karate
Funakoshi Gichin (1886-1957),
Yabiku Moden (1880-1941),
Kanken Toyama (1888-1966),
Kyan Chotoku (1870-1945),
Shiroma Shinpan (1890-1954),
Tokuda Anbun (1886-1945)
Mabuni Kenwa (1887-1952).
The two main Okinawan instructors that had the most influence upon taekwondo were Gishin Funakoshi and Toyama Kanken. Click or their names to get more information about their respective styles of Shotokan and Shudokan
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