Category Archives: Theories of Historical Karate in Comparative Perspective

In this category I look into the theories and perceptions of historical Karate. Is there a causal relation that can be verified from existing historical sources?

Maintaining the Unaltered Technique

Posted on June 5, 2022 by Andreas Quast

In today’s Okinawa Times is an article on Mr. Nakazato Takeshi, 2nd generation Sōke of Shōrinji-ryū and Chairman of Zen Okinawa Shōrinji-ryū Karatedo Kyōkai. I would like to shortly share some parts of it. As for the context, the founder … Continue reading →

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Jiganemaru @50th anniversary of the return of Okinawa

Posted on May 15, 2022 by Andreas Quast

To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the return of Okinawa, the special exhibition “Ryukyu”, which reveals the history and culture of Ryukyu with more than 700 exhibit items, has opened at the Tokyo National Museum. The exhibition runs from May … Continue reading →

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Sai, Tinbe and the “Expedition to the Southern Islands” 1893

Posted on April 10, 2022 by Andreas Quast

As previously mentioned, in 2021, a list of “100 Footprints of Modern Karate” was published in the Okinawa Times. I have already written about Footprint No. 1 and Footprint No. 2 and today will turn to Footprint No. 3. Footprint … Continue reading →

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Tode, Karate in the Tafaku 1867

Posted on April 10, 2022 by Andreas Quast

Yesterday I wrote about the written notation of tōde 唐手 as found in the play Nizan Waboku (The Reconciliation of Nanzan and Hokuzan) in 1867 and 1891. While it used the same original notation as karate / tōde, it turned … Continue reading →

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Karate, Tōde, and “The Reconciliation of Nanzan and Hokuzan”

Posted on April 9, 2022 by Andreas Quast

As mentioned previously, in 2021, a list of “100 Footprints of Modern Karate” were published in the Okinawa Times. Of course, “Modern Karate” here refers to the period since the establishment of Okinawa Prefecture in 1879. In this list, footprint … Continue reading →

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Was soll das heißen? – Terminologische und technische Implikationen des Nagahama Bō

Posted on March 26, 2022 by Andreas Quast

Eine Terminologie bezeichnet die „Gesamtheit der in einem Fachgebiet üblichen Fachwörter und -ausdrücke“ oder einfach „Nomenklatur.“ Innerhalb der Entstehung von Karate- und Kobudō-Terminologien gibt es einige Punkte zu beachten. Erst einmal entwickelten sich die modernen Karate- und Kobudō-Terminologien erst im … Continue reading →

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The Customary Laws (Naihō)

Posted on January 6, 2022 by Andreas Quast

[Originally published in: Quast, Andreas: Karate 1.0 – Parameter of an Ancient Martial Art. 2013.] The decisions made by the community meetings and semiofficial groups of regional authority were made under extensive use of so-called customary laws. On the basis … Continue reading →

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The Depravity of a Stipend-holding, Samurai-Family’s Sons (1898)

Posted on January 6, 2022 by Andreas Quast

(From a newspaper article of the year 1898) The Depravity of a Stipend-holding, Samurai-Family’s Sons In February of this year, the third son [Kyan Chōtoku] of the stipend-holding samurai-class member Kyan [Chōfu] from Gibo district in Shuri, together with four … Continue reading →

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Preservation of Old Customs

Posted on January 6, 2022 by Andreas Quast

[Originally published in: Quast, Andreas: Karate 1.0 – Parameter of an Ancient Martial Art. 2013.] A major administrative tool for stabilizing newly established Okinawa Prefecture from early on was a policy called “Preservation of Old Customs” (Kyūkan onzon seisaku), in … Continue reading →

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Okinawa Kenpo – Viewed from a different angle

Posted on December 23, 2021 by Andreas Quast

Jūjutsu and jūjutsu-like systems were known since feudal times in Japan under a multitude of names. The two most common of which were yawara and jūjutsu. Others were: kenpō, hakuda, hade, shubaku torite, taijutsu, kumiuchi, kogusoku, koshi no mawari, wajutsu, aikijūjutsu, aiki no jutsu, aikijutsu … Continue reading →

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