One would think it inconceivable that Karate Masters would deliberately hide their best self-defense techniques, but it’s true.
Gichin Funakoshi began teaching karate to the Japanese in the 1920s. While the Japanese greeted this new martial art with glee, the old Okinawan Masters weren’t too happy. In fact, they got together and made a ‘secret pact’ not to teach the actual martial arts.
One of the students of the Shozan Kubota era, remembered having learned Karate from Master Funakoshi, and being surprised by the two styles that were being taught to him. There was the style that was taught during the day at the local college, and then there was the very different style that was taught at night.
When Mr. Kubota inquired about this discrepancy, he was told that Sensei Funakoshi was not supposed to teach night karate. That Funakoshi was bound by a secret pact to conceal the true teachings.
The exact phrase concerning this situation was revealed by a saying: ‘Even if you teach the kata, don’t teach the actual techniques.’
This situation was reinforced by Master Kenwa Mabuni who separated his instruction into ‘the original way’ and ‘the other way’.
As to why this situation occurred, there is a theory.
The Japanese had argued with the Chinese for decades over who was the real owner of Okinawa. Eventually, to settle the matter and quell any discontent on the island, the Japanese ordered the Emperor of Okinawa to give up his residence in Okinawa and move to Japan.
Now we must ask ourselves: would the Okinawans teach authentic karate, an art that had proven effective in defending themselves against the samurai, to the people who had stolen the emperor from them?
Probably not, and this could easily be why true bunkai applications of traditional kata were not taught.
This situation has drastic consequences for modern art practitioners. In recent decades, students have often become discouraged with karate.
The art has been divided into two: freestyle and kata.
Students then ask why there is such a disconnect in art.
And, as students become instructors, they begin to search for the true art. Aware of why they are looking or not looking, they are dissatisfied and start doing things like discarding form training, looking to other arts for combat viability, changing forms, etc.
This situation gives rise to the following types of concerns. Are you studying a style with diluted techniques? Are you studying the real thing? Are you studying a style that has been changed due to its ineffectiveness?
This is an interesting question that is rarely expressed, but very real to modern karate students.