DEVELOPING SPEED IN SHOTOKAN - PT. 1

Speed in Shotokan is developed through training methods like hitting with intent, proper body mechanics, relaxation, and drills focused on explosive power, while also using physical conditioning such as plyometrics and weight training. To improve hand and foot speed, use resistance bands, focus on the "knee drop" for lower body movements, and train with increasing speed and precision in your techniques.

Techniques and training principles

      1.) Hit with intent: Focus on hitting with power and purpose, not just going through the motions.

      2.) Relaxation and power: Stay relaxed until the point of impact, then explosively concentrate all your body's power into the technique. 

      3.) "Knee drop": Instead of pushing off your back leg, drop into your stance by bending your knee and hip to move faster, especially for stepping back or side-stepping.  

      4.) Slow and fast training: Practice techniques slowly and with precision to build a strong foundation, then gradually increase the speed. 

      5.) Use resistance: Use resistance bands on your ankles or hands to build strength and speed.  

      6.) Breathing: Proper breathing techniques are crucial for generating power and for maintaining speed.

Physical conditioning   

1.) Plyometrics: Perform exercises like plyometric push-ups and box jumps to improve explosive power. 

2.) Weight training: Incorporate weight training to build the explosive strength needed for powerful movements. 

3.) Cardio and flexibility: Improve your stamina with cardiovascular exercises like swimming, and increase your flexibility with stretching to allow for deeper stances and movements.

Drills

      1.)  Resistance band drills: Attach bands to your hands or feet while practicing to create resistance.

      2.) Speed bag: Use a speed bag to develop hand speed and coordination.

      3.) Lower body drills: Practice the "knee drop" drill by dropping in place or turning 90° or 180°.

      4.) Kata speed drills: Perform sequences in your kata at different speeds, from fluid to rapid.

 

A Son's Revolution: Yoshitaka Funakoshi's intense training forged modern Shotokan

Shotokan Tiger design by Barron Shepherd

Yoshitaka Funakoshi, also known as Gigo Funakoshi, played a transformative role in evolving Shotokan karate into the powerful, athletic, and technically advanced martial art practiced worldwide today. While his father, Gichin Funakoshi, emphasized karate as a philosophical way of life with a deep focus on kata and character development, Yoshitaka’s vision introduced a dynamic and combative edge. 

Yoshitaka is credited with major technical innovations including the development of longer, deeper stances; refined and powerful kicking techniques such as the mawashi geri (roundhouse kick) and yoko geri (side kick); and the promotion of full extension kicks that enhanced speed and striking power. Drawing influence from his study of kendo and iaido, Yoshitaka emphasized fluid, upright postures that allowed for faster attacks and more efficient movement.

Perhaps most revolutionary was his focus on applying karate in a competitive and combative context. Unlike his father, who approached karate with a more idealistic and philosophical mindset, Yoshitaka embraced free sparring, kumite, and a practical training methodology that stressed raw power and effectiveness. His classes encouraged students to generate powerful strikes that could “crack floorboards,” a stark contrast to the restraint promoted by Gichin.

The training philosophy: "Break the body to free the spirit!"

For Yoshitaka, martial arts training was not merely about performing techniques correctly but about forging an unbreakable spirit through physical hardship. Master Taiji Kase, a contemporary of Funakoshi's, recounted how training involved performing techniques hundreds of times until students were exhausted, pushing them beyond their perceived limits.

This mindset is best summarized by a maxim attributed to Yoshitaka himself: "Break the body to free the spirit!". This approach prepared students to face real-life confrontations with courage and resilience.

Technical innovations that defined modern Shotokan

Yoshitaka's changes were not just in intensity; he fundamentally redesigned the technical aspects of Shotokan.

Deeper, longer stances: He developed more rooted stances, such as kiba-dachi, zenkutsu-dachi kokutsu-dachi, which built leg strength and generated more powerful techniques.

Dynamic kicking: Yoshitaka expanded the Shotokan arsenal to include higher, more explosive kicks like the mawashi-geri (round kick) and yoko-geri (side kick), which were less common in older styles.

New kumite forms: He championed the use of sparring (kumite) as a central training method, introducing foundational kumite forms (gohon kumite, kihon ippon kumite, jiyu ippon kumite) to prepare students for real combat.

Long-range attacks: Moving away from the close-quarters Okinawan style, Yoshitaka focused on long-range attacks to maximize power and speed.

Influence of other martial arts: His innovations reflected influences from other Japanese martial arts, like Kendo and Iaido, contributing to Shotokan's explosive nature.

The generation gap: Father versus son

The philosophies of Gichin Funakoshi and his son Yoshitaka Funakoshi represent a pivotal evolution within the Shotokan karate lineage, shaping the martial art into what millions practice worldwide today.

Gichin Funakoshi, the founder of Shotokan, viewed karate primarily as a way of life dedicated to character perfection. His teachings emphasized kata—the formal patterns of movement—as a core practice, along with philosophical discipline rooted in humility, respect, and lifelong self-improvement. His approach reflected the deeper moral and spiritual dimensions of karate, encouraging practitioners to seek mastery of mind, body, and spirit as one integrated pursuit.

In contrast, Yoshitaka Funakoshi, while honoring his father’s principles, believed that karate also needed to embrace a more combative and competitive aspect. He advocated for emphasizing the raw power of techniques and an athleticism that prepared fighters for intense, realistic encounters. Yoshitaka’s vision brought a dynamic, modern, and sports-oriented dimension to Shotokan, a shift that appeared to contradict but ultimately complemented Gichin’s original teachings. 

Significantly, Gichin Funakoshi sanctioned these changes by his son, demonstrating openness to adaptation and evolution even when it challenged his traditional philosophy. This endorsement helped legitimize Yoshitaka’s approach and ensured his influence on Shotokan’s worldwide spread as a vibrant, athletic martial art.

Tragically, Yoshitaka Funakoshi died young at 39 in 1945 during wartime Tokyo, never witnessing the full global impact of his contributions. Today, Yoshitaka’s influence is undeniable. The intensity of his training, deep understanding of biomechanics, and focus on practical power forged Shotokan’s modern identity—a dynamic martial art balancing philosophical roots with combative effectiveness—continuing to inspire millions of practitioners worldwide.