The word shotokan is made up of three Japanese Kanji characters. The first two, Sho, which means pine tree, and To, meaning waves, is literally translated as "Pine waves". Pine waves is the sound made by the wind blowing through pine needles. Gichin Funakoshi, the founder of modern Karate, signed his calligraphy works with the name Shoto. His students built the first freestanding dojo in Japan and named it Shotokan. Kan is the Japanese character for building, making the literal translation "Pine waves building". The word Shotokan has become synonymous with the style of karate taught by Master Funakoshi.
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Shorin Ryu karate is one of the main styles coming out of Okinawa that is the basis for major portions of the karate of Japan and Korea. It can trace its origins back through some of the oldest recorded karate masters.
A style of karate brought to Japan from Okinawa by Gichin Funakoshi. He modified Shorin Ryu karate to fit the what was needed in Japan. It was named after his pen name Shoto.
it is an okinowin martial art from japan it is an okinowin martial art from japan