In 1922 Master Gichin Funakoshi was asked by the Emperor of Japan to arrange a demonstration of Okinawa-te, a Martial Art from the island of Okinawa. The demonstration was so successfull with the Emperor seeing the benefits of the Art (health, fitness, spiritual, personal development, the fighting/combat aspects) that he allowed Funakoshi to develop clubs in Japan. He did this throughout his lifetime. The name was changed to karate-do (it means 'the Way of the open/empty hand') to reflect the fact that it was now a Way of being/to be lived and no longer just in Okinawa.

In 1957 when Funakoshi died his son, Gigo, took up the challenge of developing practices but it was left to Shigeru Egami (Funaksohi's top student), in his will, to re-build the Shoto-kan (Shoto was Funakoshi's pen name and 'kan' means club). This he did but in later forming the Shoto-kai he turned his back on the growing influence of competition karate saying that 'it changed practice methods too much'. 'Kai' means 'to be associated with' so this new group were 'those who wanted to be associated with Funakoshi'. Before he trained in karate Egami trained in Judo and Aikido and he managed to blend these influences with the Way of karate to develop practices around spiritual, personal development and highly effective skills of fighting where the energy of the attacker is used against them and the defender uses 'soft energy', speed and rapport to defeat them.

Today we practice many of the techniques and methods from both Funakoshi and Egami with the development of technique being important as well as the ability to relate to others and use their energy against them. We incorporate strikes of all sorts with blocks/deflections, throws, kicks, holds, chokes, grappling, ground fighting and rapport building that many have commented allow them to understand other people better as well as feel confident in themselves, have a better self image and develop fitness and flexibility (of mind as well as body).

Funakoshi, Egami and more modern Masters have (and still are) leaving us with a legacy of passing on this knowledge and skill to others. We do that using modern teaching, learning and coaching methods whilst paying respect to the traditions of a real (and very old) set of Martial Art principles. This will mean that we pass on elements of etiquette as we practice together but in a modern practice setting. Practices are relaxed in manner but focussed and concentration and attention is developed.

It would be unusual for anyone to be seen breaking wood or smashing bricks in a Shoto-kai group. After all why would you want to ? It's not the wood that endangers life and limb but the person weilding it and it's that person we direct our energy against. We will use wooden weapons from time to time (jo, bo, bokken, shinai etc) but as a means to an end and not an end in themselves. We probably won't encourage you to do one finger press up's and we certainly won't impose our ego's on others to show our prowess. It's just not our Way. Why would we ? So long as WE know what we're capable of why do we need to 'prove' it to others. It's just not our Way. Come and find out more about our Way. It's great fun, it's 'magical', it's confounding, it's soft without being wishy washy, it's very effective, it's a great way of making new friends. It's our Way !