Karate in the UFC / MMA Arena !

Karate practitioners often get bombarded with comments from underaged MMA poseurs and wannabes with two weeks training ( They are usually skinny guys with their TAPOUT shirts and boardshorts hanging with mom at Traders Joe or Starbucks). "Karate does not work !" Just look at the UFC ! Hmmm.. Really ?

Now lets take a look at some few great fighters in the UFC and the MMA shall we ?

Chuck Liddle – Koei Kan Karate / Kenpo
George St. Pierre - Kyokushin Karate
Lyoto Machida – Shotokan Karate
Bas Rutten – Kyokushin Karate
Seth Petruzzili – Shito ryu Karate
Gerard Gordeau - Kyokushin Karate
Peter "The Chief" Graham - Kyokushin Karate
Harold Howard – Goju Ryu
Ray Daniels (WCL) - Shotokan /Kenpo
Pat Miletich - Shuri Ryu Karate
Keith Hackney - Kenpo Karate
Frank Mir - Kempo
Jeff Joslin - Wado Ryu


Here are few UFC/MMA fighters who has Karate backgrounds but can't defined the styles at the moment:

Rich Franklin
Jason Dent
Assuerio Silva
Cheick Kongo

With all that said and done, what do you think of karate now ? I thought so !

Listing of Karate Styles From Okinawa

Okinawa, birthplace of Karate. Unfortunately, this gift of karate has been abused by frauds outside of its border. As avid and grateful practitioner of this wonderful art, it is my intent to stop such misused of this cultural treasure. This list are for those who are seeking to train and study the true karate from Okinawa. Please note that this is not a comprehensive nor a final listing of all Okinawan Karate. It will be updated daily.

If the styles aren't listed here, if could be ONE reason:

1) It does not exist

Legends:
[ active ] - Style is still in practiced
[ renamed ] - Same Style but different name
[ Unknown ] - More research needed.
[ Undetermined ] - More Research required.

________________________________________________________________________________

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

Goju Ryu - Founded by Chojun Miyagi [ active ]

Gohaku-Kai - Founded by Tokashiki Iken [ Status: active ]

H

I

Ishimine Ryu - Founded by Shinyei Kaneshima [status: Unknown]

Isshin-Ryu Karate - Founded by Tatsuo Shimabuku [ active ]


J



K

Kobayashi Ryu - Founded by Choshin Chibana [ active ]

Kojo Ryu - Founded by Kojo Uekata [Status: Unknown]

Kushin Ryu - Founded by Shintaro Yoshizato [Status: unknown]

Kishaba Juku Karate - Founded by Chokei Kishaba [ active ]

Kushin Ryu Karate - Kiyotada Sannsuke Ueshima [Status: unknown]


L


M

Matsubayashi Ryu - Founded by Shoshin Nagamine [ active ]

Motobu Kempo - Founded by Choki Motubo [ status: undetermine ]

Motobu Udon Di - Founded by Seikichi Uehara [ status: undetermine ]

Matsumura Shorin-Ryu - Founded by Nabe Matsumura [ active ]

Matsumura Orthodox - Founded by Sokon Matsumura [ active ]

Matsumura Kenpo - Founded by Kuda Yuichi [ active ]

N

Naha-Te - Founder: Kanryo Higaonna [ Renamed:Goju Ryu]


O

Okinawa Kenpo - Founded by Shigeru Nakamura [ active ]

P


Q

R

Ryū-te - Founded by Taika Seiyu Oyata [ active ]

Ryuei Ryu Karate - Founded by Kenko Nakaima [ active ]

S

Sakunai Hayashi Ryu - Founded by Zenpo Shimabukuro [ active ]

Shuri Te - Founder ( Unknown) [ Renamed: Shorin Ryu }

Shorin Ryu - Founded by Sokun Matsumura [ active ]

Seibukan Shorin Ryu - Founded by Zenryo Shimabukuru [ active ]

Shobayashi Ryu - Founded by Eizo Shimabokuro [ active ]

Shorinji Ryu - Founded by Joen Nakazato [ active ]


Shinpan Shiroma Shito Ryu - Founded by Shinpan Shiroma [ Status: Unknown ]

Shogen Ryu - Founded by Kensei Taba [ active ]

Shorin Ryu Kyudokan - Founded by Yuchoku Higa [ active ]

T

Tomari Te - Founder ( Unknown )[ReNamed: Shorin Ryu ]

Toon ryu - Founded by Kyuda Juhatsu [ active ]

Tozan Ryu - Founded by Shinsuke Kaneshima [ Status: Unknown]

U

Uechi-ryu - Founded by Kanbun Uechi [ active ]
V

W

X

Y

Z
_______________________________________________________________________________

Disclaimer: These list are my personal compilations and research. The criteria I used to determined what constitute its ligitimacy is simple. The Karate styles listed above have already been established in pre-war and post war Okinawa . Styles established outside of Okinawa will not be included and subject to 買い主の危険負担 Kainushi no kiken futan (buyer bears the risk).

_______________________________________________________________________________

Listing of Karate Styles From Japan

Please note that this is not a comprehensive nor a final listing. I will make the all out efforts of listing all known and legitimate karate styles that were established and founded in Japan.

Legends:
[ active ] - Style has active Practitioners worldwide
[ renamed ] - Same Style but different name
[ Unknown ] - More research needed.
[ Undetermined ] - More Research required.

________________________________________________________________________________


A

Ashihara Kaikan - Founded by Hidiyuki Ashihara [ active ]

B

C

Chito Ryu - Founded by Chitose Tsuyoshi [ active ]

D

Daido Juku - Founded by Jukucho Azuma Takashi [ active ]

E

Enshin Karate - Founded by Joko Ninomiya [ active ]

F

G

Gensei Ryu - founded by Seiken Shukumine [ active ]

Gosuku-ryu - Founded by Takayuki Kubota [ active ]

Gijomonkai karate - Founded by Yoshiji Kaku [ active ]

Goju Kai - Founded by Gogen Yamaguchi [ active ]

Goju Ryu Taishu-Kai - Founded Shirota Taishu [ active ]

H

Hayashi-ha Shito Ryu - Founded by Teruo Hayashi [ active ]

I

J

Jinen Shindo Ryu - Founded by Yasuhiro Konishi [ active ]

Joshinmon Shorinryu - Founded by Hoshu Ikeda [active]

Jugo Shizen Ryu - Founded by Seijiro Sakihama [active]


K

Kansuiryu Karate - Founded by Yukio Mizutani and Kanji Inoki [ active ]

Kyokushin Kaikan - Founded by Masutatsu Oyama [ active ]

Koei-Kan - Founded by Onishi Eizo [ active ]

Kishimoto-ha Karate - Founded by Kishimoto Sokō [ Status: Unknown ]

Kakutou Karatedo - Founded by Azuma Takashi [renamed: Daido Kudo]

Kushin-ryu Karatedo - Founded by Ueshima Sannosuke [ active ]

L

M



N

Nippon Kempo - Founded by Muneomi Sawayama [ active ]

O

P

Pan Gai Noon Ryu - Uechi Kanbun (renamed: Uechi ryu) [ active ]

Q

R

Ryukyu Shorinryu Gesshinkai Karatedo - Founded by Toshiro Okada

Reiwaryu Ryushinkan - Founded by Shosaku Ueno [active]

S

Seidokaikan - Founded by Kazuyoshi Ishii [ active ]

Shotokan - founded by Gichen Funakushi [ active ]

Shito Ryu - Founded by Kenwa Mabuni [ active ]

Shidokan Karate - Founded by Yoshiji Soeno [ active ]

Seido Juku - Founded by Tadashi Nakamura [ active ]

Shorinji Kempo - Doshin So [ active ]

Shorinji-Ryu Renshinkan - Founded by Isamu Tamotsu [ active ]

Shorinji-Ryu Kenkokan - Founded by Kori Hisataka [ active ]

Shudokan - Founded Kanken Toyama [ active ]

Shindo Jinen-Ryu Karate-Jutsu - Yasuhiro Konishi [ active ]

Shorinryu Seishinkan - Founded by Yoshitoshi Sato [active]

T


Tani-ha Shito-ryū - Founded by Chojiro Tani [ active ]

Taura ryu - Founded by Motomu Ikubo [ active ]

U

V

W

Wado Ryu - Founded by Hironori Otsuka [ active ]

X

Y

Yoseikan Karate - Founded by Minoru Mochizuki [ Inactive ] [ New name: Yoseikan Budo ]

Yoshukai Karate - Founder by Mamuro Yamamoto [ active ]

Z

______________________________________________________________________________

Disclaimer: These list are my personal compilations and research. The criteria I used to determined what constitute its ligitimacy is simple. The Karate styles listed above have already been established in pre-war and post war Japan . Styles established outside of Japan will not be included and subject to 買い主の危険負担 Kainushi no kiken futan (buyer bears the risk).
______________________________________________________________________________

Psuedo Karate Schools Red Flags !

Here some basic guidelines that I have used as checklist to weed out these “pseudo” Japanese / Okinawan karate schools:

The Style - First, we need to clarify the word “Karate” is purely a Japanese dialect. Therefore, if the name of the "Karate" style is a mixture of Japanese, Korean, Chinese terminology and calling this art “Ai Wu Ka Ju Kwon Tae Do Fu Karate” then there is a plausible 100% chance that it isn’t.

Often times, pseudo karate masters would use legitimate “style” name in front of their “fabricated” art. While there are no surefire ways of weeding out these wannabe’s , there are however literatures that you can read to determined the origin of certain karate styles. If the “fabricated” karate style is not listed I would question it with caution.

One particular literature is The Bugei Ryuha Daijiten. This book is a compilations catalog of Koryū Bujutsu (old styles ) and Gendai Budō (modern styles) of Japanese and Okinawan martial arts. The authors Watatani Kiyoshi and Yamada Tadashi has spent all their life compiling this valuable martial arts resource.

The “Grandmaster’ Credential - A visiting Okinawan karate sensei was shocked to see that there are more 9th and 10th Degree black belts here in the state than there are in Okinawa or Japan. He jokingly commented that there must have been some sort of massive clandestine migration of karate masters from Japan and Okinawa in the middle of the night.

The fact is that any real 9th Dan and 10th Dans ranks are honorary ranks bestowed by the Japanese Government and the Okinawan Prefecture. Ask this "sensei " his credential, and watched the floodgates of “excuses” pours out of this “grandmaster” mouth why he can’t produced such credential. If he is able to present a documentation, There is a plausible possibility is that his rank is given by an organization with no with no link nor recognition from Japan or Okinawa.

The truth of the matter is that anyone can be a 10th Degree Black Belt Grandmaster. The criteria is purchase a belt from the nearest martial arts supply store. Come up with your own ligit sounding japanese name for your style. You are now a grandmaster !

5000 years lineage claims - Whew ! That’s like saying that I am the direct descendant of Leonidas from Sparta ! A normal person can surely see how absurd this claim is. The truth of the matter is that karate is less than 100 years old. Even the keikogi (uniform) we wear is no more than 80 years old.

Inheritor Of the secret art from Okinawa - if you get a non-japanese or non-okinawan native claiming to be an inheritor of an secret fight art from the orient. Run !!!! No Okinawan or Japanese fighting art ( Gendai Budo or Koryo) has ever been handed down to a foreigner outside of Japan or Okinawa.

Wrongfully Accused - Media's Portrayal of "Karate"

My heart often skip a beat everytime google or yahoo has some newsbreaking headlines stories that screams " KARATE teacher covicted" , "KARATE Teacher charge with Molestations", "KARATE instructor killed innocent bystanders", KARATE instructor did this" , "KARATE instructor did that"...etc

While reading deeply into some of these stories, It occurs to me that the majority of these convicted "KARATE" instructors aren't karate instructors at all.

I realized that the media of whom we greatly trust are simply and ignorantly inserting "Karate" or "Martial Artist" when reporting news that has something to do with domestic violence, rapes and other felonious wrong doings.

Why ? Because, the media just like the general populace are not well versed in history and tradition of karate. But I still wonder why the media can't write something Black and Blue plumbing employee convicted of assaults !

Hmmmm....Perhaps, the media has this pre-conceived view that Karate must be the main caused of all these violences.

Maybe I am a purist or maybe I'm the only one bothered by this. I still believed that the media should try to do a bit research before assuming that every martial arts is "KARATE" and every child molesters are "karate" Instructors. My understanding is that Journalist supposed to report "Facts" not fiction.

Don't get me wrong, I don't plan to paint Karate as a saint here. I am sure that we have our share of convicted felons who trained in traditional karate-do in our midst. It just seems to me that every convicted or alleged criminals reported by the media are practitioners of Karate !

This blog will served as my medium to undo the damages done the media and their so-called sense of integrity. Here are few headlines:

Headline #001: Popular Karate Instructor Arrested !
Writer: Melissa Maeyer
Media: KVII News 7 (Texas)
News:Nelson Dewey Harvey was arrested on two counts of indecency with a child.
Facts: Nelson Dewey Harvey is the owner and operator of the Harvey's Tae Kwon Do Center in Amarillo.

Headline #002: Martial Arts Instructor Is Accused of Sex Abuse
Writer: Don Kazak
Media: Paloaltoonline.com
News:An instructor at a Menlo Park karate studio was arrested Monday night and charged with 16 counts of child molestation and illegal sexual activities with minors.
Facts: Menlo Park Police Commander Steve Lewis announced the arrest at a news conference Thursday. Lewis said two victims of the alleged crimes have been identified so far, both of them boys, and both of them students at Kim's Tae Kwon Do marital arts studio at 562 Oak Grove Ave.

Headline #003: Karate instructor indicted
Writer: Adam Dolge
Media: Seacoastonline.com
News: Keith Ingraham, 55, formerly of 58 Schanda Drive, was indicted in Rockingham Superior Court on four charges of child pornography, six counts of falsifying physical evidence, and two charges of criminal solicitation to falsify physical evidence, according to court records.
Facts: BRENTWOOD - A former Newmarket tae kwon do instructor

As I have a limited amount of posting allowances for this blog, I can only show few of the hundreds of blatant misused of "Karate" by our trusted media.

The Fallacy of Bushido

Bushido is commonly translated as "ways of the warriors". This is the most misrepresented propaganda used by” karate” academies that has no absolute understanding of this word or its history.

Historically, The code of the Bushido was for the Samurai to have an absolute acceptance of Death not life. Bushido's virtues are not about about being soft, compassionate and respectfull. The Samurai trains in the art of war thus the ultimate objective is to kill and to die with honor.

The Samurai did not have the time to think about world peace or respect for others. They have a duty to their lords. To protect and to conquer the enemy. The code of bushido also requires the follower to commit to the ritual seppuku when he dishonors himself or his retainers.

Unless you can follow the code to the letter and its original intent. You have rights to call yourself a true follower of the Bushido code. However, if you choose preached this code based on your personal convoluted and misguided understanding and interpretation of “bushido as the kinder and gentler version. Please do history a favor and don’t call what you think you know as “Bushido”.

Karate - Gendai Budo

The martial arts of Japan and Okinawa falls into two categories. One is called "koryo" or ancient style. Gendai Budo means modern martial or martial arts created after the meijji restoration.

Karate falls into the Gendai Budo category. Karate origin can be traced as far as back in in the 1300 in Okinawa. However, the word "karate" was not established until 1933, the Okinawan art of karate was recognized as a Japanese martial art by the Japanese Martial Arts Committee known as the "Butoku Kai". Until 1935, "karate" was written as "唐手" (Chinese hand). But in 1935, the masters of the various styles of Okinawan karate conferred to decide a new name for their art. They decided to call their art "karate" written in Japanese characters as "空手" (empty hand).

As for karate styles doing business outside Okinawa and Japan that can be found at every street corners, community centers and gyms, these styles were established after world war II. Although, there are few styles that were established during the 1920-30's such as Shorin Ryu, Wado Ryu and Goju Ryu... ( have no fear , more will be added later).

With this fundamental information, YOU as a prospective student in search of a true martial arts from Japan and Okinawa should be extremely wary of schools that lay claims to have 2000-5000 years lineage. Unless they can provide some sort of documentations in form of ancient scroll or writing worthy of a Smithsonian Institute curator wet dreams. The preferred technique of avoidance is to run as fast as you can !