Karate has been developed over decades from ancient fighting systems.
It is a mix of deadly technique and peaceful philosophy.

Out of necessity, warriors in battle epitomise positive mental attitude, indomitable spirit, and complete awareness of the moment. These philosophies are fostered in today’s karate students and are a valuable and constructive influence in everyday life.

Karateka (Practitioners) strive to combine stillness with motion, expansion with contraction, and explosive power with gentle fluidity. Over many years of dedication they develop effective blocking and evasion techniques, powerful punching and striking combinations, spectacular kicks, and a dazzling repertoire of sweeps, throws and locks.

Records of various fighting methods date back thousands of years. With the development of trade between China and the island of Okinawa some elements of Chinese fighting systems were introduced into those of the native Okinawans. From this mixture a number of slightly differing styles emerged, known overall as Okinawa-te (Okinawan - hand(s)) or Tang-te (Chinese - hand(s)). Successive rulers banned the carrying of weapons and as a direct result there was a tremendous surge in the development of Okinawan-te.

In 1922 Gichin Funakoshi, an Okinawan Master, introduced his particular style to mainland Japan. He changed the name of the fighting system to karate (empty hand). After many years his style developed into the most successful style of Karate, which was called Shotokan by his followers.

The devastatingly powerful techniques created and refined by the early Karateka have been further developed using scientific principles. Because of it’s origins, Karate practice is heavily steeped in Japanese culture and the accepted prime language of Karate is Japanese.

Shotokan.co.uk Karate is based around an equal balance of the three elements of Kihon (basic techniques), Kata (forms) and Kumite (sparring). These are interdependent in Shotokan.co.uk Karate and are all given equal emphasis within the grading syllabus.

Competition Karate has a small but important place within SCUKO Karate. Those Karateka who have ambitions to compete, gained sufficient experience in fundamental practice and have enough maturity are encouraged and developed. In SCUKO Karate, competition training is seen as a separate activity outside of regular classes.