A style of Karate characterised by linear, direct punching, blocking, and kicking techniques from low stances. Shotokan practitioners tend to emphasise simple techniques delivered with absolute perfection and with the greatest speed and power so as to maximise raw fire power.

Shotokan is directly evolved from the form of karate practised by Master Gichin Funakoshi and takes its name from his pen name, "Shoto", and "kan" meaning school or house. Funakoshi claimed that his style of karate was a balanced combination of all the Okinawan styles but an examination of the kata endorsed by Funakoshi shows no sign of any Naha-style forms.

Prior to the death of Gichin Funkoshi in 1957 there was no deliniation between shotokan and shotokai, Funakoshi's school of karate being referred to as the shotokan. After this time, however, there was a separation of styles. The Shotokai style practiced by people like Shigeru Egami and Genshin Hironishi and the Shotokan style embraced by people like Isao Obata and Masatoshi Nakayama.

Books about Shotokan

Cory Searcy's Shotokan Karate Pages
Articles at Karate the Japanese Way