Origins
Funakoshi had trained in both of the popular styles of Okinawan karate of the
time: Shorei-ryu and Shorin-ryu. After years of intense study of both styles,
Master Funakoshi arrived at a new understanding of martial arts, and a simpler
style was created, that combined the ideals of Shorei and Shorin. He combined
and modified the styles, and made his own, though he never named it, always
referring to it simply as "karate". The karate that he transmitted to his
students reflects the changes made in the art by Anko Itosu, including the
Heian/Pinan kata series. Funakoshi himself changed the names of the kata
included in his curriculum, in an effort to make the "foreign" Okinawan names
more palatable to the then nationalistic Japanese mainland. In several cases,
Shotokan kata have been modified, in some places favoring athleticism over
practicality. An example of a modified kata is found in nijushiho where
side thrust kicks were added.
