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Shotokan is a school of
karate, reflecting the style of master
Gichin Funakoshi, who first brought karate from
Okinawa to
Japan. Shoto was Funakoshi's pen name for writing poems,
while Shotokan was the name of the hall where "Shoto" trained his
students. Funakoshi himself never named his style, and always referred to
it simply as "karate".
Shotokan style kata are characterised by deep, long stances to provide
stability and powerful movements. Strength and power are often
demonstrated instead of slower, more flowing motions. The kumite
techniques often mirror these stances and movements.
Shotokan karate is today the most popular style of karate, and is
practiced in hundreds of dojos around the world.
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