Farewell to Cobra Kai

Karate boy (1984) – It is said that the sad Pat Morita was served as Mr. Miyagi (now a shorthand for pop culture, once a “wise martial arts coach”) – it is said that karate has been popularized in the United States. Strangely, the movie was released in Japan under a non-descriptive title The best kid. Anyway, the latest sequel to the series Netflix series Cobra Kai, Bring back the original actors of the film and rekindled the world’s interest in famous Japanese martial arts. The last episode Cobra Kai It premiered on February 13, ending a fascinating story that began in 2018. To commemorate this seven-year journey, let’s go back to the past and talk about the origins of karate.

Cobra Kai | Netflix Media Center

Language nationalism

The translation of the word “empty-handed” is a rather recent invention that dates back to the early 20th century. In 1936, a group of karate masters met in Okinawa and decided to change the role written with “Karate”. By then many Dojos were already using the “empty” character of “Kara” (which, by the way, is the same “Kara” as “Karaoke”, which means “empty band”), but the 1936 conference made it formal formal. Before this, Karate’s “Kara” was written for the Tang Dynasty with a character, which has become synonymous with “China”. Therefore, the original name of martial arts is “Chinese Hand”, which implies its so-called country of origin.

The alternative role in 1936 was not a purely nationalist act (though honestly, it might be one factor). The main reason for the conversion is to better align the name “karate” with the philosophy of art and the Japanese characters that have been acquired over the years. By the way, a master who personally prefers “Chinese hands” and is eager to change his name is a Chojun Miyagi.

Okinawa Karate Training

Okinawa dance, songs and Chinese Kung Fu

Although the seeds of karate may be from China, they are grown in the soil of the Kingdom of Ruikyo (modern Okinawa). Now part of Japan, initially an independent field of China’s influence. Through contact with the Asian continent, the people of Ruijing learned about and occupied Kung Fu.

The popular theory is that the Longjing people take Chinese Kung Fu and blend it with their native place of (Also known as tii, , , , , this or Ball mount) Martial arts, meaning “hand”, thus creating “Chinese hand”, and later Japanese martial artists like Jijin Fenkoshi eventually became “empty-handed”.

However, not everyone agrees with this theory. In an interview in 2023, Kunio Uehara, head of the Secretariat Okinawa Dento Karatedo Shinkokai, Questioning the extent to which China actually influences karate. He disliked the word “fusion” rather than “fusion”, which showed that karate was mostly a rukyuan invention with continental influence. According to Uehara, if the martial arts taught by Mr. Miyagi is a “mix” of something, it is the original TI and other parts of the Ryukyuan culture.

Uehara claims Ryukyuan courtship ceremony Moshby May have an impact on karate. It involves innovative and vibrant dances, accompanied by music and songs, and Uehara sees the similarities between Moashibi and karate movements, bringing the latter mentally close to people like Capoeira. Another evidence of him is the popularity of the word “taeshinobinasai”, meaning “lasting” or “patience” – in traditional rukyu songs, these songs were originally part of Moashibi. Uehara asserts its connection to Karate’s “no strike” principle. (Interestingly, the first rule for Cobra-style karate is “strike.”)

Of course, this is just a theory, and the actual ratio of China and Longjing people’s influence on karate will be a hot topic for the foreseeable future debate. One thing yes Sure.

Karate was not invented by farmers

The latest research shows that one thing is clear: ryukyuan farmers did not invent karate. This popular romance says after the Sartsuma clan invasion in 1609 The first and only Chinese warrior Historically), the people of the southern islands were forbidden from carrying weapons, so they practiced fighting armed forces in guerrilla attacks to fight samurai and ninjas.

It’s one Great The story of failure has always existed in Karate boy and Cobra Kai, But there is no evidence. In fact, TI and other martial arts are pastimes for fiefs holders and other privileged people. We know this because the Ryukyu Kingdom has a strict social class system, only like Peppa (Gentleman) and royalties are engaged in martial arts. Farmers are so busy raising the fields that they do not starve to death. Some suggested that the myth of warrior peasants originated from the low-level ryukyuan nobles who fell into trouble after the fall of the Ruiki Kingdom while still sticking to old customs such as martial arts.

As for Satsuma’s ban on weapons, yes, it did happen – but it was not widely enforced. Researchers in karate history, such as Tetsuhiro Hokama or Kohaku Iwai, show that even after the invasion, the rich and powerful (also known as early karate practitioners) kept the spear, sword and bow practice in public. As for the peasants, most people were not weapons at the beginning, especially because their own king, Sho Shin (Reign 1477-1526), ​​issued a similar ban.

Indeed, the invasion of Japanese “foreigners” may inspire civilians to develop weapons-free combat systems. But if they did, they would never use it, as there was no mention of Ricky Urn Farmers Organisation and Attack of Satsuma Samurai (although apparently they did defend their homes in the initial attack. Or they Do it, but too afraid to use it in practice. Given that the recorded martial arts cases are the hobbies of the upper class and avoiding the Longjing peasants being called “co-husbands”, let’s go with the former.

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