Welcome to our Great Village Shotokan Tigers Karate Club web Page. This Section is a brief look at the history both of Shotokan Karate as well as our own club’s history.
About Us
The Great Village Shotokan Tigers Karate Club started around 15 years ago when I received a phone call from Buck Wile, a Member of the Great Village Baptist church, who asked me if I would be interested in instructing a karate class in the Jr. Church room a few nights a week. Our club later outgrew the church location and the community of Great Village then offered us the use of the Elementary School gym on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. At this time the club was offered free to all ages.
We have had many gradings, a few tournaments, fundraisers, demonstrations, even beach and park days and have had many students enjoy our 15 years together as a club.
History of Karate
Over 1000 years ago a man named Dharma taught students using special training methods to develop strength and endurance at a monastery in China. Later named the Shao Lin art of fighting. This martial art was later blended with indigenous fighting techniques in Okinawa where the Lord of Okinawa had banned the use of weapons. This inspired the development of empty hand fighting and self defence techniques and this martial art was then called Karate which translates to “Empty Hand.”
Karate was taken and introduced to Japan by Gichin Funakoshi at the ministry of education in 1922 and was so impressive that he was requested to teach in Tokyo. This Karate has since spread all over the world and is known as one of the best martial arts to this day.