In the 6th century an Indian monk named Dharma (Bodidharma), travelled from Asia to China, with the aim to establish the first Zen school of Buddhism.

The area we know as Okinawa (Just off of Japan) used to be called the Ryukyu Islands and were separated into 3 separate islands (Chuzan, Nanzan & Hokuzan).

Peace remained in the Ryukyu Islands until 1609, when a small group of people started to rebel (Satsuma Clan), so the king at that time called King Shimazu made a one off weaponed army to fight this clan.

 Wong Chung-Yoh was a 17th-century teacher of a style of martial arts known as xingyiquan. Xing Yi Quan is one of the Wudang styles of Chinese martial arts.

Chatan Yara also known as Yara Guwa, Ueekata, and Yomitan Yara, is credited with being one of the first to disseminate martial arts (te) throughout Okinawa Island.

Kūsankū also known as Kwang Shang Fu, was a Chinese martial artist who lived during the 18th century. He is credited as having an influence on virtually all karate-derived martial arts.

Takahara Pēchin was an early karate practitioner. He was known as a great warrior and is attributed to have been the first to explain the aspects or principles of the dō (“way”). Pēchin was a social class of the Ryūkyū Kingdom.

Kanga Sakugawa also Sakugawa Satunushi and Tode Sakugawa, was a Ryūkyūan martial arts master and major contributor to the development of Te, the precursor to modern Karate.

Matsu Higa often called Machuu Hijaa is a semi-legendary martial artist in Ryūkyūan history who was a direct influence on the development of karate and kobudo, especially with respect to bōjutsu.

Matsumura Sōkon was one of the original karate masters of Okinawa. The years of his lifespan are reported variously as c.1809-1901 or 1798–1890 or 1809–1896 or 1800–1892. However, the dates on the plaque at Matsumura’s tomb, put there by Matsumura’s family, clearly state that he was born in 1809 and died in 1899.

Anko Asato was a Ryūkyūan master of karate. He and Ankō Itosu were the two main karate masters who taught Gichin Funakoshi, the founder of Shotokan karate. Funakoshi appears to be the source of most of the information available on Asato.

Ankō Itosu is considered by many the father of modern karate, although this title is also often given to Gichin Funakoshi because the latter spread karate throughout Japan.

In 1868 Gichin Funakoshi was born and was very weak as a child / baby because he was born premature. Luckily he went to school with the son of Azato and was soon being taught in secret and at night by Azato himself (Shuri-te). He was later also joined by a 2nd teacher, Itosu who taught him Naha-te.

In 1916, Gichin Funakoshi gave a demonstration at the Butokuden in Kyoto, Japan, which at that time was the official center of all martial arts. Master Funakoshi introduced Karate to mainland Japan in 1916.

On March 6, 1921, the Crown Prince, who was later to become the Emperor of Japan, visited Okinawa and Master Funakoshi was asked to demonstrate karate.

In the early spring of 1922 Master Funakoshi travelled to Tokyo to present his art at the First National Athletic exhibition in Tokyo organized by the Ministry of Education. He was strongly urged by several eminent groups and individuals to remain in Japan, and indeed he never did return to Okinawa.

Master Funakoshi adopted the Kyu/Dan rank system and uniform used in Judo. This system uses coloured belts (obi) to indicate rank. Originally, karate had only three belt colours: 8th rising to 4th kyu: white; 3rd rising to 1st kyu: brown; 1st and higher dan: black.

Behind Funakoshi’s back a group of supporters were building him his very own purpose built karate dojo and named it after Funakoshi’s pen name (Shoto). The hall had a plaque above the door saying ‘Shotokan’ meaning Hall of the waving pines.

Eddie Whitcher was born in 1941 and had a big interest in Judo. He then started karate and was soon the first person in the UK to obtain his 1st Dan by Sensei Kanazawa in 1966.

The Japan Karate Association (JKA) was established by Funakoshi in 1944, so that all his clubs, schools and university clubs from all over Japan could all be associated under one organisation all following the same teachings.

Sensei Michael Randall was born in 1944 and began Shotokan Karate under Jimmy Neal and Terry Wingrove in 1964, after applying for a place in their class. He is one of the very few people still training who has been taught by Masters Murakami and Mochizuki.

Two men, Kanazawa & Enoeda amoungst others, brought karate to Britain in 1965 with the JKA world Tour team. They spent a long while in Germany before coming to the UK. Karate was already being practiced in Britain (Vernon Bell) but this was not Shotokan Karate.

Kanazawa decided to stay on in Britain and formed the first British Shotokan Association, K.U.G.B (Karate Union of Great Britain) in 1967. A few years later he decided he wanted to return home, so left some of him loyal students to take charge.

Sensei Kanazawa held many classes in England and had many important students, including Sensei Michael Randall and Eddie Whitcher. But as Sensei Kanazawa rarely came to Britain in 1977 and 1978, the senior Instructors of ESKA, having trained and graded with Kanazawa Sensei in the late 60`s and through the 70’s formed the English Shotokan Karate Association in June 1979, and is now one of the most senior karate associations in the country.

ESKA is now past its 40th year!!! with its chief instructor being Sensei Michael Nursey (9th Dan). ESKA is one of the oldest and biggest associations in Great Britain and boasts a huge amount of higher grades and black belts.