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Shotokai Karate-do

Shotokai karate-do is a non-competitive style of karate derived from Gichin Funakoshi's karate by Masters Yoshitaka (Gigo) Funakoshi and Shigeru Egami. The word shotokai is composed of three kanji characters in Japanese. The "sho" character is taken from the word "matsu" which means pine tree. "To" is the character for waves. Pine waves is the English translation that tries to express what the original Japanese kanji represent, the sound that is produced by the pine needles when the wind blows through them, a sort of wave sound. Gichin Funakoshi, used shoto as a pseudonym when he signed his poetry works. The word kai means organization. Thus, Shotokai means the organization of shoto, or the organization of Master Gichin Funakoshi. "Kan" means building or house, thus Shotokan is the house or building of shoto.

Shotokai does not consider karate a sport so it avoids all type of competitive tournaments. Rather, it stresses karate as a Budo art that is concerned with personal development through the study and practice of karate as a do, a way of life, and the development of the internal energy, ki. Shotokai movements are full of vitality and energy, but they use the principles of harmony and relaxation and avoid the use of brute force. Each Shotokai student in a group has his or her own way of attaining mind-ki-body unity, in a way that permits all students to learn from each other. In a training atmosphere void of distinctions, communication grows and mutual respect arises unhindered. 

Shotokan

Shotokan is the "authorized" Japanese style of karate. It is an Okinawan style founded by Gichin Funakoshi. Shoto was the pen name of Funakoshi. He combined shorin and shorei to a style that would accommodate all body structures. According to Funakoshi "The art of karate strives neither for victory, nor for defeat, but for the perfection of the character of its practitioners."  Shotokan is a "hard" linear style that is a true "empty hand" art, it does not include weapons training. Although originally known for its a lethal attacks, dynamic entry techniques, and its theory of "one strike, one kill," similar to other martial arts, it has evolved into a sport. Shotokan training emphasizes mastering a few techniques rather than learning many techniques.

Shotokai and Shotokan are two names for the same thing. Shotokai is the name of the Organization established in 1935 to raise funds for the building of Funakoshi's main training hall. Gichin Funakoshi held only two positions during his lifetime: one as head instructor of the Shotokan Dojo and the other as director of the Shotokai school.

Shotokan is the name of the building finished in 1936 that was the result of the work done by this organization.  In time, people who trained in karate were not only known for practicing karate but also began to be related to different "styles," even though Gichin Funakoshi was against this. His students began to be known as of the "Shotokan ," the place where they trained, or "Shotokan -ryu", the Shotokan style.

After Master Gichin Funakoshi's death in 1957, Shotokai was heir of his symbol (O-sensei's tiger), the Shotokan and Shotokai names, and more importantly, all his documents and writings, which is why Shotokai is in charge of editing and publishing his works. Shotokai's headquarters in Japan is still the Shotokan dojo, although it has been reconstructed since the original one burned during a World War II bombing. The Shotokan name has been misused by many groups with no respect for Master Funakoshi or his families wishes. For this reason, many uninformed people relate Gichin Funakoshi with sport karate, something he was strongly against.

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